Bill · S. 568· Senate(119-S-568)
Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/13/2025
- Last activity
- 2/13/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Michael Bennet
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025," aims to authorize money for people, groups, and businesses affected by the 2015 Gold King Mine wastewater spill. It targets "injured persons" who submitted written requests for compensation to the EPA on or before August 5, 2017. The law covers specific damages like personal injury, lost business income, livestock relocation expenses, and diminished crop yields. The EPA Administrator is tasked with investigating and settling these claims. Compensation is limited to actual damages and cannot include interest or punitive damages. Finally, the bill appropriates up to $3,300,000 to pay out these claims.
Yes· 3 of 12
Would farmers be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically compensates for diminished crop yields and livestock relocation expenses.
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
The bill compensates businesses for lost income resulting from the mine spill.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill targets financial relief to residents and businesses in the San Juan County area.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Recovery for Specific Losses: The bill allows for the reimbursement of documented damages such as personal injury, lost business income, expenses for relocating livestock and water supplies, and loss of agricultural crops (Section 2, (4)).
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Compensation for Underserved Claimants: It provides a way for individuals or businesses whose initial claims were denied or not fully compensated by the Administrator to receive payment (Section 2, (6)(A)).
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Right to Judicial Review: If a person is unhappy with the Administrator's final decision, they have the right to take the matter to the United States District Court for the District of Colorado to try and change that decision (Section 3, (f)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Limitations on Damage Types: The bill specifically excludes compensation for emotional distress and costs related to response efforts (Section 2, (4)(B)).
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Loss of Future Legal Claims: Once a person accepts a payment under this Act, they cannot pursue any other covered claims regarding the same subject matter against the United States (Section 3, (d)(1)-(2)).
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Limitations on Compensation Amounts: Payments are strictly limited to actual compensatory damages and the amount originally claimed; they cannot include interest or punitive damages (Section 3, (b)(3)).
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Strict Eligibility Requirements: To be considered an "injured person," a business must still be in operation by the time of payment and cannot be involved in any mine-related business (Section 2, (6)(B)).
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Restrictions on Business Income: While lost business income is covered, the bill specifically excludes lost income from vacation rentals (Section 2, (4)(A)(ii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Farmers+7Good For Business Owners+6Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5Improves Rural Development+4Improves Environmental Protections+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+4Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado