1.This Act may be cited as
the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel
Environmental Improvement Act of 2008
.
2.Leadville Mine
Drainage TunnelSection 705 of
the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law
102–575; 106 Stat. 4656) is amended to read as follows:
705.Leadville Mine
Drainage TunnelThe Secretary
shall operate and maintain the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel in a manner that
protects human health and
environment.
.
3.Water quality
investigationsSection 708 of
the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law
102–575; 106 Stat. 4657) is amended—
(1)by striking sections (a) through (d) and
inserting the following:
(a)In this section, the term study area
includes—
(1)the Leadville
Mine Drainage Tunnel;
(2)groundwater and
surface water, including tributaries, affected by any blockage of that Tunnel;
and
(3)the upper
Arkansas River watershed, from the headwaters of the east fork of that River to
the confluence with Two-Bit Gulch.
(b)The Secretary, in cooperation with the State of Colorado,
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other Federal
agencies, shall—
(1)investigate the
study area; and
(2)not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel
Environmental Improvement Act of 2008, and annually thereafter until the study
required by this section is complete, submit to the State, the Administrator,
and Congress a report that describes whether, and how, any blockages in the
Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel have affected, or are affecting, water quality
and aquatic life in the study area.
;
(2)in subsection
(e), by striking (e) Nothing
and inserting the following:
(c)Nothing
;
and
(3)by striking
subsection (f) and inserting the following:
(d)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated—
(1)to carry out
section 707, such sums as are necessary; and
(2)to carry out this
section—
(A)$500,000 for use
in planning and carrying out investigations; and
(B)such additional
sums as are
necessary.
.
4.Environmental
remediationTitle VII of the
Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law
102–575; 106 Stat. 4655) is amended by adding at the end the following:
709.Environmental
remediation
(a)The Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Colorado, shall—
(1)immediately take
such actions as are necessary to reduce the water level in the mine pool
associated with the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel, in a manner consistent with
subsection (b), to prevent the risk of a catastrophic rupture and flood;
and
(2)thereafter, take
such actions as are necessary—
(A)to maintain the
water level in the mine pool at a safe level; and
(B)prevent further
mine pool migration.
(b)California
Gulch Superfund Site Operable Unit 6
(1)As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of
this section, the Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Colorado, shall implement
those portions of the remedy selected by the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, dated September 2003, and any modifications or amendments to
the remedy, including explanations of significant differences, for the
California Gulch Superfund Site that pertain to managing the Leadville Mine
Drainage Tunnel and related mine pool.
(2)Authorization
of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subsection
$40,000,000.
.
5.The table of
contents for the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992
(Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4600) is amended—
(1)by striking the
item relating to section 705 and inserting the following:
Sec. 705. Leadville Mine
Drainage Tunnel.
;
and(2)by adding at the
end of the items relating to title VII the following:
Sec. 709. Environmental
remediation.
.