HB 18-1301

House Bill 18-1301, also known as "Protect Water Quality Adverse Mining Impacts," aims to ensure that mining operations in Colorado have a clear plan for ending water treatment once environmental standards are met. The bill requires mining companies to provide proof that they will not need long-term water treatment and mandates financial assurance to cover the costs of necessary water quality treatments and monitoring, eliminating the option for companies to self-bond with their own financial statements. This legislation is now signed into law, meaning it has been officially enacted and its provisions are enforceable.

Official Summary

Current law does not address reliance on perpetual water treatment as the means to minimize impacts to water quality in a reclamation plan for a mining operation. Section 1 of the bill requires most reclamation plans to demonstrate, by substantial evidence, an end date for any water quality treatment necessary to ensure compliance with applicable water quality standards. Current law allows a mining permittee to submit an audited financial statement as proof that the operator has sufficient funds to meet its reclamation liabilities in lieu of a bond or other financial assurance. Section 2 eliminates this self-bonding option and also requires that all reclamation bonds include financial assurances in an amount sufficient to protect water quality, including costs for any necessary treatment and monitoring costs.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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