S.Amdt. 4179

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Bennet, aims to add funding to the bill under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) section for "Environmental Programs and Management."

Purpose and Changes

The amendment intends to provide up to $3,300,000 to pay compensatory damages for documented claims related to the August 5, 2015, Gold King Mine incident.

• Who can receive payments: Homeowners, livestock grazers, farmers, recreation companies, or other businesses.
• What is covered: Personal injury or death, loss of property, lost business income (excluding vacation rentals and mine-related businesses), expenses for relocating livestock and alternative water supplies, and lost income from agricultural crop loss or diminished yield. These specific losses must have occurred between August 5, 2015, and December 31, 2015.
• Requirements: Claims must have been submitted as written requests for a specific sum to the EPA by August 5, 2017. The EPA can request more documentation and decide if that documentation is adequate.
• What is not covered: Payments cannot include interest, punitive damages, emotional distress, response costs, amounts exceeding the original claim, or amounts already paid.
• Exclusions: People who already had a court judgment or a settlement agreement with the U.S. exceeding $2,500 regarding the Gold King Mine incident or the Bonita Peak Mining District are not eligible.

Legal and Financial Terms

Accepting a payment is final and releases the claimant from further claims against the United States regarding the same subject matter, though it does not affect rights to Federal entitlement program benefits. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement.