Gardner and Tipton push EPA to repay all costs of mine spill response

Associated Press

Dec. 19, 2016, 12:43 p.m.

Interior of the Gold King Mine. (Flickr/EPA)

Two members of Colorado’s congressional delegation are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to fully reimburse state, local and tribal agencies for the cost of responding to a toxic mine waste spill triggered by the EPA.

Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton said Monday a law passed this month removed some of the obstacles the EPA cited in turning down $20.4 million in requests.

The EPA says it paid $4.5 million in claims but rejected the others, in some cases because the costs came after a cutoff date set by the agency. The EPA said it was following federal law.

An EPA-led crew inadvertently triggered the spill at the Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado while doing preliminary cleanup work in August 2015.

Rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were polluted.

Mercy Housing gives out laptops at their Decatur Place Apartments in Sun Valley. Oct. 1, 2020.

A new statewide zoning law probably won’t fix Denver’s housing problem, but elected officials hope it leads to more affordable housing

The city has started brainstorming how it can adopt a state law passed during the recent legislative session.

Things to do in Denver this weekend, June 11-13

McGregor Square officially opens, and block parties are BACK.

A rendering of the residential and office buildings that will be phase 1 of Hurley Place. (Courtesy of Semple Brown)

The first phase of Hurley Place, two 12-story mixed-use towers in RiNo, will begin in 2022

Bernard Hurley's mixed-use development will soon be underway.

Juneteenth on Welton Street, June 15, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Denver Days: Hundreds of block parties return to the city — here’s how you can host one

Bring your sunglasses and sunscreen!

The Park Hill Golf Course. June 4, 2021.

People want to turn Park Hill Golf Course into a grocery store, athletic fields and other things

You don't have to read 236 pages about an old golf course to better understand what's happening next, because we did it for you.

The Tattered Cover's new location at McGregor Square. June 8, 2021.

Take a look inside the new Tattered Cover at McGregor Square

It's a peek at the direction the new owners are headed with the storied store.

An anti-fascist protestor yells at an Arapahoe County Sheriff’s officer as they block off the road leading to a "patriot" rally in support of police on October 10, 2020 at Civic Center Park. The event, a soup drive planned in response to the “patriot” rally, became tense and ended when one person was shot.

Initiative keeping low-level offenders out of police custody re-ups contract for services

Denver's LEAD program works alongside STAR to reduce community contact with police.

Denver police investigate an officer-involved shooting at 11th Avenue and Lincoln Street. July 1, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Police: Man shot by Denver cops in Northeast Park Hill pointed gun at officers after randomly shooting at people at a park

The incident marked the fourth fatal police shooting in Denver in the last four weeks.

Denver Democratic Socialists, dressed as grim reapers, protest a lack of eviction protections in front of the Capitol. May 26, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Low-income Denverites will be able to get an attorney for free during eviction proceedings

Council voted unanimously to pass a bill that basically codifies giving low-income residents free legal representation.

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Feb. 15, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

B-Side Music Fridays are back at the MCA

Denverites can check out featured local bands both in person and online.

A rendering of the bridge that was originally slated for summer 2019. (Wenk Associates)

What ever happened to the pedestrian bridge at the Taxi campus in Globeville?

Unfortunately, the news isn't great.

Abel Adame drove from Salt Lake City to watch the U.S. and Mexico national teams face off in the CONCACAF Nations League finals at Mile High Stadium. June 6, 2021.

Denver was awash in Mexican pride during the Nations League soccer tournament

"It's unbelievable, and I'm just happy to have it in my backyard. I love it. I love it, man."

Park Hill Golf Course dispute has devolved into two basically identical ballot measures

What does that even mean?

The Denver Central Market is adorned with murals. Five Points, June 3, 2021.

CRUSH is leaving RiNo. What does that mean for local business owners and artists?

“I think it helps all of us work harder and try to make those connections better. So I don’t necessarily see things like this as a bad thing. I think it’s just life.”