Sen. Mark Udall and Rep. Doug Lamborn have re-introduced legislation to deal with a clogged mine drainage tunnel in Leadville.
The tunnel carries water from old mines to a treatment plant. Water trapped in the tunnel could force its way out and potentially flow into the Arkansas River and destroy homes, said Udall, a Democrat from Eldorado Springs.
A leak would especially threaten a mobile home park that houses 200 residents, said Ken Olsen, the Lake County Commissioner.
Lamborn, a Colorado Springs Republican, said a well has relieved some of the tunnel’s pressure, but the situation requires a more permanent fix.
Because of confusion over whether the Bureau of Reclamation or the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for fixing the blockage, no long-term solution has been found.
Udall and Lamborn’s legislation will charge the Bureau of Reclamation with treating the blocked water.
“This piece of legislation will eliminate the legal blockage so we can deal with the physical blockage,” Udall said.
Udall and Lamborn introduced a similar bill last year, when both were U.S. representatives, while former Sen. Ken Salazar brought a bill to the Senate. The legislation was passed by the House, but was never voted on in the Senate.
Now that Udall is in the Senate, he and Lamborn hope the bill will pass.
Claire Trageser: 303-954-1638 or ctrageser@denverpost.com
