Wiens posts agency commitments

Sen. Tom Wiens at Executive Meeting 2/21/08

The following is a summary of the commitments made by EPA, BOR, CDPHE, FEMA at the Allard/Wiens meeting held on February 21 in Denver:

The following is a summary of the commitments made by respective agencies at the Allard/Wiens meeting held on February 21 in Denver:

Environmental Protection Agency:

1. EPA will begin pumping the Gaw next Wednesday Feb. 27.  Purpose to reduce or eliminate the seeps in the California Gulch area.
2. EPA will expand the existing well into the tunnel.  This will take 6 weeks to mobilize and 6 weeks to put final system in place.  Purpose to begin to draw down the water level in the mine pool and reduce water pressure.
3. The above is not the permanent fix.  Still need to get the OU6 containment system implemented.  The design for this system was drawn by an EPA contractor in 2005.
4. EPA will send a letter to Senator Allard regarding past funding efforts.

Bureau of Reclamation:

1. BOR will try to increase the volume of water the plant will treat.
2. I believe they may be able to treat more but expressed caution.  They will analyze the treatment capacity of the LMDT.
3. Need to determine water quality that they expect as things change.
4. Water quality monitoring and sharing of information between the agencies will be important for this.
5. Need pipeline down the hillside and into the plant.  BOR will do engineering specs and obtain access from landowners, homeowners, etc.
6. BOR will conduct a risk assessment as a parallel activity to the above.
7. BOR will calculate the amount of water they are dealing with, water quality and capacity of plant. Also look at potential subsidence.  To be completed one week from date of meeting (by Feb. 28).
8. BOR will also do an analysis of existing funding if expansion of the plant is needed.  If funding is not adequate will have to go to Congress for it.
9. BOR will test the siren and hold a public meeting on Feb. 22.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:

1. Agrees with EPA's long term and short term solutions.
2. CDPHE has a fund that may be able to be tapped (bridge funding).
3. CDPHE will  look into the issue of the Canterbury Tunnel.  Will look at issue to prevent water supply degradation.  Will have answer within one week.

Federal Emergency Management Agency:

1. City of Leadville does not participate in the national flood insurance program.  FEMA says they should get covered.  They will get the flood insurance paperwork to SenatorWiens office by Monday.
2. Will also look for any emergency funding available to Lake County.

All Parties:

1. EPA and BOR will meet next week to work out the pumping and delivery issues.
2. Funding that is needed to move ahead:  requests must get to Allard's office by March 8.
3. All parties agreed to analyze funding sources and report back to the Senators and the BOCC.
4. All parties will attend a conference call next Thursday Feb. 28 to report back to each other on the above commitments.