Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025 creates a special compensation process for people injured by the Gold King Mine spill and Bonita Peak Mining District contamination. It defines BPMD contamination by reference to the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund Site in San Juan County, Colorado, and covered claims as written Federal Tort Claims Act monetary requests submitted to EPA by a specified date. Injured persons are entitled to U.S. compensation for covered damages suffered as a result of the spill. The EPA Administrator must investigate, consider, determine, grant, deny, or settle covered claims within 180 days, applying Colorado law to damages except as the Act provides. Payments are limited to actual compensatory damages and the amount originally claimed, with no punitive damages or pre- or post-payment interest. The bill appropriates up to $3.3 million in emergency-designated funds for fiscal year 2025.
Who Benefits and How
Gold King Mine spill claimants benefit from a specific statutory entitlement to compensation for covered damages. San Juan County residents and businesses benefit if eligible spill losses are paid without further FTCA litigation. Downstream water users benefit from a clearer federal claims process tied to spill-related contamination damages. EPA claims administrators benefit from statutory rules for resolving covered claims within 180 days.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The EPA Administrator must investigate and decide covered claims under the Act's deadline and damages limits. Federal taxpayers bear up to $3.3 million in emergency-designated compensation costs. Claimants cannot recover punitive damages or interest and are capped at actual damages and the originally claimed amount. The Treasury must make emergency-designated funds available until expended for approved claims.
Key Provisions
- Creates a compensation entitlement for covered Gold King Mine spill damages.
- Requires the EPA Administrator to determine covered claim amounts within 180 days.
- Limits payment to actual compensatory damages and excludes punitive damages and interest.
- Appropriates up to $3.3 million as an emergency requirement for fiscal year 2025.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Creates a capped compensation process for Gold King Mine spill claims, requiring EPA to decide covered Federal Tort Claims Act requests and appropriating up to $3.3 million for actual compensatory damages.
Key Policy Areas
Environment, Compensation, Mining
Primary Purpose
Creates a capped compensation process for Gold King Mine spill claims, requiring EPA to decide covered Federal Tort Claims Act requests and appropriating up to $3.3 million for actual compensatory damages.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Gold King Mine spill claimants
- San Juan County residents
- Downstream water users
- EPA claims administrators
Identified Costs
- EPA Administrator
- Federal taxpayers
- Claimants with capped damages
- Treasury Department
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Hurd of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was …
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition …
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
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