Bill > HR1315

This bill provides a comprehensive compensation framework for victims of the 2015 Gold King Mine wastewater spill in Colorado, which released over 3 million gallons of contaminated water into the Animas and San Juan Rivers. The legislation allows specific types of "injured persons" - including homeowners, farmers, livestock grazers, and certain businesses - to seek monetary compensation for damages directly resulting from the spill, such as lost business income, livestock relocation expenses, agricultural crop losses, and personal injuries. To be eligible, claimants must have submitted a claim to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator by August 5, 2017, and not have previously received a settlement over $2,500 or had a court judgment related to the incident. The bill limits compensation to actual, documented compensatory damages and explicitly excludes punitive damages and emotional distress claims. The EPA Administrator will investigate and process claims within 180 days of the Act's enactment, with claimants having the option to accept the EPA's determination or pursue alternative legal remedies. The Act appropriates up to $3.3 million for claim payments and provides for judicial review of the Administrator's decisions in the U.S. District Court for Colorado. Ultimately, the bill aims to provide a structured, time-limited mechanism for affected individuals and businesses to receive fair compensation for verifiable damages caused by the Gold King Mine environmental disaster.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1315/all-info