On August 5th of this year, the Animas River in Colorado turned a bright orange color. The 3 million gallon leak was a result of the Environmental Protection Agency investigating pollutants at at the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado.
This mine accident calls to attention a huge problem that Colorado and other western states are facing- as of 2011, there are at least 33,000 abandoned hardrock mine sites in 12 western states that are causing environmental problems and contamination of surface water and groundwater.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that drainage from mines has contaminated 40% of watersheds in the West. 1,645 miles of rivers have been contaminated by 230 old mines in Colorado alone. Scientists expect this problem to continue getting worse.
All of this is a result of many years of non-existent mining regulations. Miners would drill through the rock, dislodge iron sulfide, and in result create sulfuric acid. This acid ate through the mine and caused the mine's waste water to become toxic.
It would cost around $72 billion to clean up these hazards, and most of the money (if not all), would come from taxpayers. This is because the owners of the mines have most likely passed away.
What do you think America should do about this? How would you feel if you were a taxpayer and had to pay for something you did not cause?
Personally, I would be a little upset that I had to pay for this, but I would do it anyway for the health of America and the health of my state. I think it would be a wise decision for America to pay to have this cleaned up, especially since it might be affecting the tourism of some states.
Read the full story here
Replies
Great job Kara!
I would be kind of upset about it too, especially if I didn't cause it, but like you said Because of the health of myself and others i'd pay for it.
I think they should clean the mess up and I think everyone should help clean it up.
I agree! This is definitely a big problem that we need to solve as soon as possible!
I agree with you! I think we should clean this up sooner, rather than later.
I think that we should buck up for a little bit and pay the taxes to get the waste cleaned up. If not we will end up having long-term problems instead. I think not being able to afford all of our luxuries for a few years is a lot better than contracting an illness from the polluted water.
I agree with you! It is bad enough that we let this problem go this long, I think it needs to be taken care of!
I wouldn't like it at all of I had to pay for something I didn't cause. Something definitely needs to be done, we could eventually start drinking the toxic water and not even know.
I agree! This needs to be cleaned up immediately, no matter the expense!
I think America should get it this problem resolved. I'm sure it's killing off a lot of fish, and will probably enventually contaminate our drinking water. I would be livid, there are most definitely ways this could have been prevented.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next