Senate Joint Memorial 16-001 Summary

• Urges Congress to pass legislation establishing Good Samaritan liability exemptions under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)

• Identifies Colorado's 22,000+ abandoned hard rock mines, with at least 500 currently polluting streams, as a significant public health and environmental threat requiring third-party remediation efforts

• Cites the August 5, 2015 Gold King Mine spill that discharged 3 million gallons of acid mine drainage into the Animas River, turning it mustard yellow and requiring closure for recreation, fishing, irrigation, and drinking water purposes

• States that nonprofit organizations, corporate entities, and communities with mine reclamation expertise are discouraged from voluntary remediation due to liability risks under federal environmental law

• Directs that copies of the memorial be sent to Colorado's congressional delegation to advance the Good Samaritan liability protection proposal