If you lived near Silverton on Aug. 5, 2015, you remember. A contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency breached the Gold King Mine, spilling 3 million gallons of heavy metal-laden, orange water into Cement Creek, the Animas and San Juan Rivers, and eventually Lake Powell (Herald, Aug. 6, 2015). The image of a neon Animas went global.
Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of that spill – an incident that disrupted lives and livelihoods from Silverton to Durango, the Southern Ute and Navajo Nations.
We reached out to those still engaged in the aftermath. One voice we miss: Bill Simon, who led the Animas River Stakeholders Group for 20 years. He passed away in January (The Land Desk, Jan. 10). His longtime partner, Peter Butler, didn’t mince words: “Despite spending tens of millions of dollars, the EPA work hasn’t amounted to much of a change for the Animas and surrounding mining district.”
The Bonita Peak Superfund site includes 48 waste sources – too many, Butler says. Some release just 1–2 pounds of zinc per day. Butler believes the time and money should be targeted at those putting out 50+ pounds.
Of the $160 million spent so far, the only notable water quality improvement has come from treating Gold King Mine itself.
Video producer Tom Schillaci, who screens his final Acid Mine Nation episode Tuesday a 6 p.m. at the Powerhouse, agrees: focus on worst offenders, apply Best Management Practices, listen to local voices, and compensate businesses.
There’s hope in the bipartisan Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025, but it's stalled in Congress.
“We’re not consulted. We’re informed,” said Butler, who resigned from the Community Advisory Group in 2023 for that reason (Herald, Dec. 21, 2023). Butler believes the Superfund process must change: clear goals, budgets and timelines, smarter priorities, and stable leadership.
A decade on, we see progress – but not enough. We urge Rep. Hurd and others to push for meaningful reform. Our waterways – and communities – deserve it.
