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| EPA says it isn't monitoring an estimated 161,000 abandoned mines | EPA says it isn't monitoring an estimated 161,000 abandoned mines |
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| The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it has no system for monitoring hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines that pock the American landscape, or knowing which one could be the source of the next big toxic spill. | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it has no system for monitoring hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines that pock the American landscape, or knowing which one could be the source of the next big toxic spill. |
| “EPA does not maintain records of the number of mines or tailings dams in the US,” a spokesman for the federal agency told the Guardian. In the western US, the EPA estimates there may be 161,000 abandoned “hard rock” mines, where metals such as gold, silver and copper were once dug. But the nationwide threat left by these bygone miners remains largely unknown and unwatched. | “EPA does not maintain records of the number of mines or tailings dams in the US,” a spokesman for the federal agency told the Guardian. In the western US, the EPA estimates there may be 161,000 abandoned “hard rock” mines, where metals such as gold, silver and copper were once dug. But the nationwide threat left by these bygone miners remains largely unknown and unwatched. |
| Over decades, old mines fill up with rainwater. The concern for the humans and habitats around them is that this water, filled with heavy metals leached from mineshaft walls, will one day find its way into river systems. This can happen slowly or through sudden collapse. Two weeks ago, three million gallons of poisonous, orange water gushed from the long dormant Gold King Mine and fouled Colorado’s Animas and San Juan rivers. | Over decades, old mines fill up with rainwater. The concern for the humans and habitats around them is that this water, filled with heavy metals leached from mineshaft walls, will one day find its way into river systems. This can happen slowly or through sudden collapse. Two weeks ago, three million gallons of poisonous, orange water gushed from the long dormant Gold King Mine and fouled Colorado’s Animas and San Juan rivers. |
| “The spills are frustratingly difficult or impossible to predict,” said Ron Cohen, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines. “I don’t want to say they happen every day, but they happen several times a year around the southwest US, some big and dramatic, some small and not press-worthy.” | |
| The Damocles sword left hanging above communities is not restricted to the US. Worldwide spill data is limited, but reports collected by one website indicate at least several major incidents happen every year. | The Damocles sword left hanging above communities is not restricted to the US. Worldwide spill data is limited, but reports collected by one website indicate at least several major incidents happen every year. |
| Cohen said: “Many of the spills are from a different feature than the Gold King Spill. Most are from failures of the dams that were poorly built for storing tailings.” | Cohen said: “Many of the spills are from a different feature than the Gold King Spill. Most are from failures of the dams that were poorly built for storing tailings.” |
| He described seeing whole settlements in South Africa destroyed by such collapses. In Mexico last year, two major incidents shut off water to tens of thousands of people. The Mount Polley mine tailings dam collapse, one of Canada’s worst environmental disasters, occurred just weeks earlier. | He described seeing whole settlements in South Africa destroyed by such collapses. In Mexico last year, two major incidents shut off water to tens of thousands of people. The Mount Polley mine tailings dam collapse, one of Canada’s worst environmental disasters, occurred just weeks earlier. |
| A recent study by environmental campaign group Earthworks found the rate of serious tailings dams disasters is increasing globally. According to the UN Environment Programme, abandoned mines and dams are a “major unresolved environmental and social problem for the industry”. | A recent study by environmental campaign group Earthworks found the rate of serious tailings dams disasters is increasing globally. According to the UN Environment Programme, abandoned mines and dams are a “major unresolved environmental and social problem for the industry”. |
| Related: How developing countries are paying a high price for the global mineral boom | Related: How developing countries are paying a high price for the global mineral boom |
| In the US, tailings dams are monitored by state or federal agencies. But old mines are forgotten, unless someone sounds the alarm. | In the US, tailings dams are monitored by state or federal agencies. But old mines are forgotten, unless someone sounds the alarm. |
| “EPA does investigate or respond to incidents that are brought to our attention,” said the agency spokesman. | “EPA does investigate or respond to incidents that are brought to our attention,” said the agency spokesman. |
| John Hayden, a public affairs executive at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SMME), said quantifying the potential impact was impossible. | John Hayden, a public affairs executive at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SMME), said quantifying the potential impact was impossible. |
| “Funding cleanup efforts is also complicated. Unless a state agrees to a designation as a federal superfund site, the state is often left with funding cleanup with limited budgets,” he said. | “Funding cleanup efforts is also complicated. Unless a state agrees to a designation as a federal superfund site, the state is often left with funding cleanup with limited budgets,” he said. |
| Unlike extractors of gas, oil and coal, hard rock mining companies do not pay a federal royalty. In 2012, a government report found the hard rock mining industry dug up $6.4bn worth of minerals in 2011. If it had paid comparable royalties to those levied on fossil fuel companies (about 12%), the government would have received $800m. | Unlike extractors of gas, oil and coal, hard rock mining companies do not pay a federal royalty. In 2012, a government report found the hard rock mining industry dug up $6.4bn worth of minerals in 2011. If it had paid comparable royalties to those levied on fossil fuel companies (about 12%), the government would have received $800m. |
| Reformers argue this money could be used to clean up abandoned mine sites, but moves to change laws have met resistance from congressional Republicans and the industry. One such amendment was introduced in February by Arizona congressman Raúl Grijalva. | Reformers argue this money could be used to clean up abandoned mine sites, but moves to change laws have met resistance from congressional Republicans and the industry. One such amendment was introduced in February by Arizona congressman Raúl Grijalva. |
| Grijalva said the Gold King Mine collapse focused attention on the major threat to lives, health and the environment posed by “the toxic legacy of mining in the west”. | Grijalva said the Gold King Mine collapse focused attention on the major threat to lives, health and the environment posed by “the toxic legacy of mining in the west”. |
| “While this particular incident was a mistake by EPA, the underlying problem is the huge number of abandoned hard rock mines that are effectively ticking time bombs threatening our rivers and our lands. Congress must provide robust funding to clean up these mines,” he said. Grijalva’s bill, which would skim a royalty of 8% from the income of mining companies who operate on federal land, remains in committee. | “While this particular incident was a mistake by EPA, the underlying problem is the huge number of abandoned hard rock mines that are effectively ticking time bombs threatening our rivers and our lands. Congress must provide robust funding to clean up these mines,” he said. Grijalva’s bill, which would skim a royalty of 8% from the income of mining companies who operate on federal land, remains in committee. |
| Under laws passed in the late 1970s, new mines have to pay a bond to cover the eventual cleanup of the operation once it is done. A spokesman for the National Mining Association (NMA) said Grijalva’s proposed royalty “would likely be the highest of any competing mining region in the world and would kill new investment, high-wage jobs and tax revenue to local communities”. | Under laws passed in the late 1970s, new mines have to pay a bond to cover the eventual cleanup of the operation once it is done. A spokesman for the National Mining Association (NMA) said Grijalva’s proposed royalty “would likely be the highest of any competing mining region in the world and would kill new investment, high-wage jobs and tax revenue to local communities”. |
| Instead, the industry prefers a “good Samaritan” approach in which miners would voluntarily clean up threatening sites as part of their social programme. Existing liability laws currently prevent even this approach. Both industry and environmentalists have been calling for these laws to be amended for years. | Instead, the industry prefers a “good Samaritan” approach in which miners would voluntarily clean up threatening sites as part of their social programme. Existing liability laws currently prevent even this approach. Both industry and environmentalists have been calling for these laws to be amended for years. |
| But Bonnie Gestring, from Earthworks, said relying on the goodwill of miners and individuals “doesn’t solve the fundamental problem, which is the need for a dedicated funding source to deal with thousands and thousands of mines”. | But Bonnie Gestring, from Earthworks, said relying on the goodwill of miners and individuals “doesn’t solve the fundamental problem, which is the need for a dedicated funding source to deal with thousands and thousands of mines”. |