** EPA, Utah reach mine spill settlement after five years
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Thursday, August 6, 2020
Gold King Mine Spill, Mor, Flickr ([link removed])

Five years ago, the Gold King Mine in southern Colorado released tons of toxic waste that turned the Animas River bright orange. The release sent heavy metal-laden wastewater downstream which affected three states and two tribes. Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency finally settled ([link removed]) a lawsuit with Utah, providing $360 million for reclamation of abandoned mine sites. Funds from the settlement will address the hundreds of unreclaimed mines in the area, many of which continue to leak ([link removed].) heavy metals such as lead and arsenic into the watershed.

While the settlement is a step in the right direction to ensure clean water in the region, many are concerned about how long the process is taking. Lawsuits from New Mexico and Native American tribes are still pending at this point. Senator Tom Udall stated ([link removed]) , "It's outrageous that five years after this spill, families in the Navajo Nation and New Mexico have yet to see compensation they deserve. EPA's inaction and refusal to take responsibility have been shameful."
Quick hits


** It’s Trump Jr. vs. Trump Sr. Over an Alaskan Mineral Mine
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New York Times ([link removed])


** Utah, EPA reach settlement over Gold King Mine spill
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Durango Herald ([link removed].) | KUTV ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** The West's growing outdoor voting bloc poised to shape 2020 elections
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Campaigns and Elections ([link removed])


** Migratory bird protection decisions await hatching
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Bernhardt confirms feds are monitoring Confederate statue protesters' social media feeds
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Yahoo News ([link removed])


** Opposition grows to new Colorado rule requiring purchase of hunting, fishing license to access some public lands
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Opinion: Mr. President, you’re no Theodore Roosevelt
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Opinion: Nevada should take lead on national preservation effort
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Las Vegas Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
This election cycle, a lot divides us. But we know public lands unite us now more than ever. In the Mountain West, public lands and the lifestyles they support are bringing people together in a time of isolation, distance, and political tension. As we near November’s historic elections, the outdoor voting bloc is one to watch.”
—Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities, Campaigns and Elections ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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Anticipation builds as you climb that winding mountain road to a glorious view
@GreatBasinNPS ([link removed]) . Pic by Norman Lathrop ([link removed] ([link removed]) ) #Nevada ([link removed])

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