The daunting mess that mining companies have left the Gov. to clean up

[Quixote1818]

Of known abandoned mine lands on public lands. Most of the sites are abandoned hardrock mines. As of January 2, 2015, the inventory contained over 48,100 sites and 89,500 features. Approximately 20% of the sites have either been remediated, have reclamation actions planned or underway, or do not require further action. The remaining 80% require further investigation and/or remediation.






http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands/abandoned_mine_site.html

[locks]

1. Thanks for the information

I knew there are 55,000 abandoned mines in Colorado but had no idea of the thousands and thousands in the west. Seems pretty hopeless that we can ever stabilize all of them but we can start by standing up to the Repugs who want to destroy the EPA.

[Quixote1818]

2. Mines up there have been leaking for years and still are

If the EPA hadn't done anything that water would have breached the collapsed rock eventually. Mining in the area had turned the river orange many times in the past but people have just forgotten it use to happen. See bottom link.

Who knows how many things like this the EPA has prevented over the years. If the EPA ever shut down it would be a catastrophe for the entire world.


http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_28624471/animas-river-spill-gold-king-mine-one-many-area-releasing-heavy


https://www.hcn.org/articles/when-our-river-turned-orange-animas-river-spill