Bill > S568

This bill provides a compensation mechanism for individuals and businesses affected by the Gold King Mine wastewater spill that occurred on August 5, 2015, in San Juan County, Colorado. The legislation defines specific terms such as "injured person" and "covered damages," which include lost business income, livestock relocation expenses, agricultural crop losses, and other direct financial impacts from the environmental incident. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator will be responsible for investigating and processing claims submitted by eligible parties who suffered damages, with claims needing to have been originally filed by August 5, 2017. Claimants can seek compensation up to the amount they originally claimed, limited to actual compensatory damages and excluding punitive damages or interest. The bill appropriates up to $3.3 million for claim payments in fiscal year 2025 and allows claimants to choose between pursuing compensation through this act, filing a federal tort claim, or bringing a civil action under other legal provisions. The Administrator must process claims within 180 days of the act's enactment and submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing the claims and their resolution. Importantly, accepting compensation under this act will serve as a complete release of claims against the United States related to the Gold King Mine spill.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/568/all-info