An exclusive look inside the Gold King Mine in Silverton, where 3 million gallons of wastewater rushed from on Aug. 5, 2015, flooding the Animas and San Juan rivers.
Kerry Guy, Environmental Protection Agency on-scene coordinator at the Gold King Mine cooperation, stands in the Gold King Mine tunnel July 27. Stabilization work on the mine, which blew out Aug. 5, 2015, resumed this summer. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Stabilization work continues at Gold King tunnel this summer. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
EPA workers continue to stabilize the Gold King Mine in Silverton on July 27. A blowout of the mine on Aug. 5, 2015, prompted Silverton officials to seek Superfund designation to clean up the area after decades of mining activity. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Workers inside the Gold King tunnel work to stabilize the rock July 28 at the mine north of Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Workers inside the Gold King tunnel work to stabilize the rock July 28 at the mine north of Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Workers inside the Gold King tunnel work to stabilize the rock July 28 at the mine north of Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Workers inside the Gold King tunnel work to stabilize the rock July 28 at the mine north of Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kerry Guy, Environmental Protection Agency on-scene coordinator at the Gold King water treatment plant, looks over a bladder that was cut open to remove solids that have been collected from the water flowing out of the Gold King Mine. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kerry Guy, Environmental Protection Agency on-scene coordinator at the Gold King water treatment plant, looks over a bladder that was cut open to remove solids that have been collected from the water flowing out of the Gold King Mine. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Treatment ponds and facility that the EPA built near the Gold King Mine are seen from a flight provided by EcoFlight in late June near Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gold King Mine, on the left, and treatment ponds and facility that the EPA built near the Gold King Mine are seen from a flight provided by EcoFlight in late June near Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Bandora Mine near Silverton sits above South Mineral Creek and leaches into it as seen from a flight provided EcoFlight in late June. The mine part of the proposed Bonita Peak Mining District, which the EPA is considering for Superfund designation. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Thousands of mining claims were pulled throughout the San Juan Mountains, including Red Mountain, leaving behind mineral deposits and other toxic mining remnants that are compromising waterways. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Idarado mining operation sits next to U.S. Highway 550 south of Ouray. Idarado, a former gold mine is one of dozens of mines that operated in the area over the last 100 years. This photo was taken during a flight provided by EcoFlight. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Thousands of mining claims were pulled throughout the San Juan Mountains, including Red Mountain, leaving behind mineral deposits and other toxic mining remnants that are compromising waterways. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Thousands of mining claims were pulled throughout the San Juan Mountains, including Red Mountain, leaving behind mineral deposits and other toxic mining remnants that are compromising waterways. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Paul Peronard, Environmental Protection Agency on-scene coordinator at the Gold King water treatment plant is one of many companies working in the area to stabilize the mine. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
