The U.S. EPA has issued guidance for the safe removal and remedial actions associated with hard rock mining. The action by the U.S. EPA was taken in response to the 3 million gallon spill at the Gold King Mine in Colorado which was triggered by the US EPA’s remedial activities at the site. The U.S. EPA has stated that the guidance document’s purpose is to assist its regional offices in physical year 2016 to plan for clean-up activities at hard rock and mineral processing sites which have fluid hazards such as the Gold King Mine. The 12-page guidance document states that its main purpose is to prevent accidental releases from mining sites during remediation activities.
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