stanislaus?that is right. >> with that in mind, i would like to yield the rest of my time, i think it is important, for the member who is most closely affected by this and continues to have questioned if he wishes. mr. chair, the gentleman from colorado, i would like to yields to him if possible. >> you mentioned the good samaritan bill. i generally support. in this instance, it would not have helped. we were working on a mine and there was a major release. in connection with the $8 million the epa has spent so far , what has been done for the town of durango with that $8 million? couldhaps mr. stanislaus answer that. we will next week be submitting an invoice to the epa for direct costs associated with emergency response. a number of other direct costs to the city. white-water rafters, hotels, any of the private businesses that would have a claim for last of ink -- loss of income or loss of business. stanislaus, explaining mitigation that took place a mealy after the release -- explain the mitig

stanislaus, would you start us off. >> sure. good morning, chairman smith, ranking member johnson and members of the committee. i am with the epa's office of solid waste and emergency response. that is responsible for epa's cleanup program. thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the gold king mine release and subsequent epa response. located within the watersheds of san juan mountains in southwestern colorado are some 400 former mines, which were the focus of large and small-scale mining operations for over 100 years. the gold king mine is located in the upper animus water should which consists of three mainstreams. the animus river, cement creek and mineral creek. in 1991, mining ceased at the last big mine in the region, sunnyside. subsequently, based on a permit issued by the state of colorado, sunnyside installed three bulk heads that drained its mine while trying to treat the waters draining into upper cement creek through a water treatment facility. after sunny side installed the bulk heads, water seeped

stanislaus? >> so, we're called to address superfund mining sites around the country. that's only a small subset of mines. we get involved and dot work we've been doing on this and other mines around the country. there are -- clearly -- just in colorado there are 23 neu mines just in colorado. and hundreds of thousands of mines around the country. and that responsibility is split between other federal agencies and states. >> mr. greeny -- >> thank you. your time has expired. now, the gentleman from ohio, mr. johnson is recognized for his questions. >> thank you, mr. chairman. ki get the first slide, please? mr. stanislaus, this is the public website where epa has been releasing information about the gold king mine spill, including videos captured by epa contractors that show the blowout as it happens. according to the website, and i want to you look over on the far right-hand side there, epa removed profanity contained in the audio of the videos and obscured visible license plates for privacy pur

stanislaus, would you start us off. >> sure. good morning, chairman smith, n ranking member johnson and members of the committee. i am assistant manager for the epa's office of solid waste and emergency response that is responsible for epa's cleanup ps program. thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the gol king mine release and subsequeno epa response. located within the watersheds of san juan mountains in locate southwestern colorado are some 400 former mines, which were the focus of large and small-scale mining operations for over 100 s years. the gold king mine is located ia the upper animus watershed whicd consists of three mainstreams.es the animus river, cement creek and mineral creek. these mines have had a history containing heavy mines and water instability. in 1991, mining ceased at the c. last big mine in the region, sunny side.sed o subsequently, based on a permit issued by the state of colorados sunny side installed three bulk heads that drained its mine while continuing to treat the waters draini

stanislaus, has epa actuated the money cost to this spill? >> at this moment, we've ? expended about $8 million of direct response cause. >> how about mr. benn, as far a the navajos, what he's asking$8 for. have you factored that cost inte your figures? >> well, we have begun to pay response cost by those who havew asked local governments.el we're going to do that separately. we're going to be working through that process and completing the process within six months.be >> thank you mr. abraham, the gentleman from colorado is recognized for his questions. >> okay. thank you. i'd like to welcome my fellow e coloradans to washington, d.c.,, gentlemen, thank you for your testimony, all of you, thank you for your testimony today. t part of this is i feel like, you know, we're in the early stages of litigation, and i, the chairman, i think, maybe a frustrated litigator wanting to figure out who was negligent, who wasn't negligent, who's responsible for this, what happened. appreciate the fact that the epa got to the department of health in colorado quickly, who got to durang

stanislaus, is the problem going to be cleaned up in new mexico, is a going to be cleaned up? >> we have worked with the state of new mexico and other state in he nomination -- the navajo nation. we have shown that it has been restored to pre-spill conditions. there is a long-term solution. lots of discussion among stakeholder groups about discussion of potential superfund's. as i identified in my opening fromment, there is a load a lot of minds, 330 million gallons per year. the animus stakeholders identified that concern as well as the state of colorado is a need for a long-term solution. >> can might friend, dave appears, from new mexico go home until his constituents that he can -- that they can drink the water? water has returned to pre-incident conditions. >> field back. >> we have no other matters with questions, so let me thank forof our experts their testimony. i think both members of the inle for their interest cleaning up the problem and making sure it doesn't happen again. i am looking forward to the conclusion of this investigation. we do want someone to be held a