Leadville tunnel pumping delayed by month
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 15, 2008 at 1:14 p.m.
Updated April 15, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.
Pumping water directly out of the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel likely won't begin until mid- June, a month later than scheduled.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it had awarded a contract to Layne Christensen Co., and that the previously announced mid- May date for the finishing of a key well was too optimistic.
"Our primary concern is getting this job done properly," said Robert E. Roberts, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 8. "That means securing the best equipment and engineering skills to construct the well, pump the water backed up in the tunnel, and transport it for safe treatment."
The Lake County commissioners this winter declared an emergency when they learned that pressurized water built up in the tunnel because of a structure collapse could suddenly burst through the tunnel walls.
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April 15, 2008
2:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
MarineGrunt writes:
Good thing were about to run into our Spring runoff!
April 15, 2008
3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
OK, now, is EPA paying the property owner - a Lake county commissioner - the $20,000 he was demanding?