Doug Lamborn: “today is, an important day for the citizens of Lake County and all residents of Colorado. They deserve to see what the…”

“today is, an important day for the citizens of Lake County and all residents of Colorado. They deserve to see what the federal government will do to correct problems associated with the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel. The Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel was originally constructed by the federal Bureau of Mines in the 1940's and 1950's to facilitate the extraction of lead and zinc ore for the World War II and the Korean War efforts. The Bureau of Reclamation acquired the Tunnel in 1959 hoping to use the tunnel as a source of water for the Frying pan-Arkansas Project. Although the tunnel was never used for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, water that flows out of the tunnel is considered part of the natural flow of the Arkansas River. With the passage and subsequent signing into law of H.R. 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. 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 up to 1 billion gallons of water may have built up within the mine pool. In November 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation expressing concerns over a catastrophic blowout, and in February 2008, the Lake County Commissioners declared a state of emergency.…”