Leadville Mine Tunnel Bill Update
Congressman Lamborn’s Statement on the House Floor
Lamborn: "Only minor technical changes have been made since this bill was originally passed by the House of Representatives in the previous Congress."
On September 29, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3123, the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2009. The legislation will help bring a long-term solution to the problems associated with the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel (LMDT) in Lake County. The tunnel carries water from old mines to a treatment plant north of town, and local officials worry that a blockage in the tunnel could give way, releasing a flood of water and toxic debris that has built up in the tunnel.
H.R. 3123 assigns responsibility of fixing and maintaining the drainage tunnel to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Because of legal confusion over which federal agency is responsible for repairing the blockage, neither the Bureau of Reclamation nor the Environmental Protection Agency has been able to agree on a long-term solution to the problem.
"I am pleased that in the year since I first introduced this legislation, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Environmental Protection Agency have worked together to make progress in addressing problems associated with the drainage tunnel. However, a long term solution is still needed. Today’s House vote is a big step toward that solution.” -- Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
Senator Mark Udall (CO) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate, the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2009, and S.1417.
Last Congress, Members of the House passed similar legislation.
Click here to see bill text for H.R. 3123.
Click here to see bill text for S. 1417.
With the passage and subsequent signing into law of HR 429 during the 102nd Congress (1992), the Bureau of Reclamation constructed and continues to operate a water treatment plant at the mouth of the Tunnel. This treatment plant removes metal contaminants from the water.
Groundwater levels at the tunnel have fluctuated in recent years. In addition, a collapse in the tunnel has increased the tunnel’s mine pool significantly, leading to new seeps and springs in the area. Estimates suggest that, at one time, up to 1 billion gallons of water may have accumulated.
Emergency measures are currently being undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Reclamation to relieve water pressure in the vicinity. However, legislation addressing this matter and authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to rehabilitate this tunnel dates back to at least 1976.
In response to the request for action from the local community, I have again worked together with Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) in a bipartisan manner and reintroduced H.R. 3123. This bill would direct the Bureau of Reclamation to relieve water pressure behind certain blockages in the tunnel, permanently manage the mine pool behind any blockage to prevent releases of contaminated water, and manage the tunnel in such a way to prevent failure of the structure.
I remind Members that only minor technical changes have been made since this bill was originally passed by the House of Representatives in the previous Congress. I respectfully request your support for this legislation. Human safety and environmental integrity needs to be appropriately and responsibly addressed.
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