Lake County Mine Pool Update

Lake County Board of County Commissioners - 2/19/08

Summary of response activities since the emergency disaster declaration, Wednesday, February13, 2008. Issued by the Board of County Commissioners.

LAKE COUNTY MINE POOL UPDATE
February 19, 2008
5:00 pm

2/13/08

Emergency declared by Lake County Commissioners

2/14/08

11:00 am

Commissioners, State Agencies, Federal Agencies and public have conference call for initial assessment of risk posed by elevated water levels. Meeting is run by Hans Kallam, Director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. Other primary agencies are the Bureau of Reclamation, EPA, and Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Lake County is offered assistance by all agencies and departments of the State of Colorado.

6:15 pm

Governor Ritter signs letter to President Bush requesting that federal emergency aid be made available to fix the elevated ground water problem.

2/15/08

10:00 am

Commissioners, State and Federal agencies and public have a conference call to formulate action plan to reduce the possibility of a blowout at the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel (LMDT) and create a timetable for action. The results of this meeting produced the following:

1. The siren and emergency procedure plan will be tested within the next 10 days or sooner. An incident action plan will be updated from the draft that is in place.
   
   
2. To reduce risk, the Federal agencies will install a pump in the Gaw Shaft, south of Leadville.
   
   
3. All Federal, State and local agencies have agreed to solve this local challenge and eliminate the problem.
   
   
4. Lake County will strive to keep our citizens informed with current updates.
   
   
5. EPA and CDPHE will assist with monitoring water quality in California Gulch and the Arkansas River.

2:00 pm

Commissioners and public meet with Jim Martin, Director, Colorado Department of Health, and Hans Kallam, Director, Colorado Division of Emergency Management, and are briefed on the background of the elevated ground water problem and safety procedures that will be monitored on a constant basis.

2/16/08

10:00 am

Commissioners and public meet w/Senators Salazar and Wiens and toured the LMDT treatment plant and Gaw Shaft area to brief them on risks. Commissioners urge Senators and Wiens help to get funding to lower ground water immediately and requiring that the EPA, BOR, and Colorado Department of Health and Environment work the solution out together.

2/19/08

10:30 am

Commissioners and public meet with representatives from BOR, EPA and CDPHE. EPA agrees to pay for the pump at the Gaw Shaft and is soliciting contractors now. The four-point plan of local citizens and Lake County to dewater at the Gaw, Caterbury Tunnel, LMDT, and keeping surface water from flowing into the mine pool in Evans Gulch by use of fluming was discussed and generally agreed to. The entities need the money and authority to perform these activities. County officials will continue to press forward keeping the agencies on track. The Lake County Board of County Commissioners will meet Thursday, February 21, with Senator Wayne Allard and State Senator Tom Wiens to further the process.

Further updates will be posted as they develop. Log on to our website at www.lakecountyco.com

Lake County Commissioners

Kenneth L. Olsen

Michael J. Hickman

Carl F. Schaefer