"The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday laid out the next steps it will take to clean up wastewater flowing from dozens of old mines in southwestern Colorado, including dredging contaminated sediment from streambeds and digging ditches to divert water away from tainted rocks and soil.

The work is part of the EPA's interim plan to keep toxic heavy metals from flowing into rivers while the agency searches for a more permanent solution under the Superfund program.

The interim plan concentrates on controlling or removing contaminants at 26 sites including campgrounds, mine waste piles, ponds, and rivers. It will cost about $10 million and take up to five years, the agency said."

Dan Elliott reports for the Associated Press June 15, 2018. [2]