House Proceeding on Sep 8th, 2009 :: 0:46:55 to 0:50:05
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0:46:52 to 0:47:13( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: i ask my colleagues to support the bill's passage, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from colodo. mr. lamborn: thank you, mr. speaker. the leadville mine drainage dunl was constructed by the bureau of mines in the 1940's and 1950's to get veeng for

0:46:55 to 0:50:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Douglas Lamborn

0:47:14 to 0:47:36( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: world war ii efforts. the bureau acquired it in 1959 hoping to use it as -- for water for a project. water that flows out of the tunnel is considered part of the natural flow of the arkansas river. with the passage and subsequent signing into law of h.r. 429 during the 102nd congress in

0:47:37 to 0:47:59( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: 1992, the bureau of reclamation constructed and continues to operate a water treatment plant at the mouth of the tunnel. groundwater levels at the tunnel have fluctuated in recent years. in addition, a collapse inside the tunnel has increased the tunnel's mine pool significantly leading to new seep and springs in the

0:48:00 to 0:48:20( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: estimates suggest that at one time up to one billion gallons of water may have built up within the mine pool. in november, 2007, the e.p.a. sent a letter to the bureau of reclamation expressing concerns over a catastrophic blowout. and in february of 2008, the lake county commissioners

0:48:21 to 0:48:42( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: declared a state of emergency. emergency measures are currently being undertaken by the environmental protection agency and the bureau of reclamation to relieve water pressure in the vicinity. their success has been notable to date. however, many of the problems reported at this site are not new. legislation addressing this matter and authorizing the

0:48:43 to 0:49:03( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: secretary of the interior to rehabilitate its tunnel dates back to at least 1976. in response to the request for action from the local together -- again worked together with new york city mark udall from colorado and reintroduced h.r. 3123. this bill would direct the

0:49:04 to 0:49:25( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: bureau of reclamation to relieve water pressure behind certain blockages in the tunnel, permanently manage the mine pool behind any blockage to prevent releases of contaminated water and manage the tunnel in such a way to prevent failure of the structure. i look forward to seeing this situation remedied so that concerns about human safety and

0:49:26 to 0:49:46( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: environmental integrity may be appropriately and responsibly addressed. i remind members that only minor technical changes have been made since the bill was originally passed by the house of representatives in the previous congress. i urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and i yield -- ieserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance

0:49:47 to 0:50:05( Edit History Discussion )

Douglas Lamborn: of his time. the gentleman from arizona. mr. grijalva: i have no other speakers, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. mr. lamborn: i yield back the balance of my time, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from colorado yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from arizona.