,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #biej  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #ah1 #bjaf ,mr4   
,g>dn] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,hat*7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to require !     
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal          
,protection ,ag5cy to receive1 process1 
& pay c]ta9 claims relat+ to ! ,gold ,k+
 ,m9e spill4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act 
may be cit$ z ! ,gold ,k+ ,acc\ntability
 & ,comp5sation = ,taxpay]s or ! ,gold  
,k+ ,,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds   
t--  7#a7 on ,augu/ #e1 #bjae1 !        
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy caus$ !
 release ( approximately #c1jjj1jjj     
gallons ( contam9at$ wat] f ! ,gold ,k+ 
,m9e into ,cem5t ,creek2  7#b7 !        
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy takes  
full responsibility = ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e  
spill2  7#c7 ! pe] review] ( ! ,corps ( 
,eng9e]s to ! report ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( !  
,int]ior relat+ to ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e     
spill express$ conc]ns ab\t ! indep5d5t 

nature ( ! report & ! int]nal           
communications & decisions ( !          
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy relat+ 
to ! spill2  7#d7 ! ,environm5tal       
,protection ,ag5cy %\ld be held to !    
same /&>ds z ! private sector w\ld be if
 ! private sector caus$ a simil> spill2 
7#e7 ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy 
%\ld hold acc\ntable ^? individuals     
responsible = ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill2 & 
7#f7 s9ce response activities took place
 aft] ,octob] #ca1 #bjae1 !             
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy %\ld   
reimburse reque/s = response activity   
exp5ses incurr$ aft] t date4  #c4       
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7           
,adm9i/rator ,! t]m ,adm9i/rator means !
 ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal         
,protection ,ag5cy4  7#b7 ,gold ,k+ ,m9e
 spill ,! t]m ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill means
 ! dis*>ge on ,augu/ #e1 #bjae1 (       
approximately #c1jjj1jjj gallons (      
contam9at$ wat] f ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e nor? 
( ,silv]ton1 ,colorado1 into ,cem5t     
,creek t occurr$ :ile contractors ( !   

,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy 7      
conduct+ an inve/igation ( ! ,gold ,k+  
,m9e4  7#c7 ,indep5d5t contractor ,! t]m
 indep5d5t contractor means any p]son1 z
 ( ,augu/ #e1 #bjae1 t-- 7,a7 ent]$ into
 a contract ) a ,f$]al ag5cy 7z def9$ 9 
section #bfga ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code7 = goods or s]vices relat+ to !  
,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill2 &  7,b7 0 n an    
employee ( ! ,gov]nm5t 7z def9$ 9       
section #bfga ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code74  7#d7 ,injur$ p]son ,! t]m     
injur$ p]son means a p]son t--  7,a7    
suff]$ injury result+ f ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e
 spill2 &  7,b7 is--  7i7 an individual2
  7ii7 an ,indian tribe1 tribal         
corporation1 or o!r tribal organization2
  7iii7 a corporation1 bus9ess1         
p>tn]%ip1 company1 association1 insur]1 
c\nty1 t[n%ip1 city1 ,/ate or political 
subdivision ( a ,/ate1 s*ool di/rict1   
dit* company1 special di/rict1 wat]     
di/rict1 wat] company1 ! ,animas-,la    
,plata ,op]ation1 ,ma9t5ance &          
,replacem5t ,association1 or o!r        

non-,f$]al entity2 or  7iv7 a legal     
repres5tative ( an individual or entity 
describ$ 9 any ( clauses 7i7 ?r\gh      
7iii74  7#e7 ,injury ,! t]m injury means
 any damage to1 or loss (1 prop]ty1 or a
 p]sonal injury or dea?1 caus$ by a     
neglig5t or wrongful act or omission ( a
 ,f$]al (fic]1 employee1 contractor1 or 
subcontractor :ile act+ )9 ! scope (    
(fice1 employm5t1 or contract1 "u       
circum/ances 9 :i* ! ,f$]al (fic]1      
employee1 contractor1 or subcontractor1 
if a private p]son1 w\ld be liable to ! 
claimant 9 accordance ) ! law ( !       
jurisdiction 9 :i* ! act or omission    
occurr$4  #d4 ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill      
claims pursuant to ! ,f$]al ,tort       
,claims ,act  7a7 ,responsibilities ( ! 
,adm9i/rator  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an injur$  
p]son may br+ a claim aris+ out (1 or   
relat+ to1 any injury result+ f ! ,gold 
,k+ ,m9e spill "u *apt] #aga ( title    
#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7commonly kn[n 
z ! ,f$]al ,tort ,claims ,act7 & !      
,adm9i/rator %all receive1 process1 &   

pay ^? claims 9 accordance ) ?is        
section4  7#b7 ,tim+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al     
,not)/&+ section #bfge7;a7 ( title #bh1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 n lat] ?an #ij days
 aft] ! date on :i* an injur$ p]son     
submits to ! ,adm9i/rator a claim "u ?is
 section1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all aw>d or   
d5y ! paym5t ( ! claim4  7,b7 ,p>tially 
paid claims ,9 ! case ( a claim = :i*1 z
 ( ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !      
,adm9i/rator has p>tially aw>d$ paym5t  
to an injur$ p]son1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all 
aw>d ! rema9+ paym5t n lat] ?an #fj days
 aft] t date ( enactm5t4  7,c7          
,previ\sly fil$ claims ,9 ! case ( a    
claim = :i*1 z ( ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 n few] ?an #ij days h pass$ s9ce 
! date on :i* an injur$ p]son submitt$  
to ! ,adm9i/rator a claim "u ?is        
section1 n lat] ?an #fj days aft] t date
 ( enactm5t1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all aw>d or
 d5y paym5t ( ! claim4  7b7             
,applicability ( o!r law  7#a7          
,applicability ( exception ,section     
#bfhj7;a7 ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates    

,code1 %all n apply to claims br\ght "u 
?is section4  7#b7 ,indep5d5t           
contractors ,= purposes ( a claim br\ght
 "u ?is section1 ! def9ition ( ! t]m    
,f$]al ag5cy "u section #bfga ( title   
#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 %all be       
consid]$ to include an indep5d5t        
contractor4  7c7 ,all[able damages  7#a7
 ,prop]ty loss ,a claim t is paid = loss
 ( prop]ty "u ?is section may include   
o!rwise-uncomp5sat$ damages result+ f ! 
,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill =--  7,a7 a co/    
result+ f lo/ tribal or nontribal       
subsi/5ce f hunt+1 fi%+1 firewood ga!r+1
 timb]+1 graz+1 or agricultural         
activities1 or f lo/ use = traditional  
or c]emonial uses1 conduct$ on l& or    
wat] damag$ by ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill2  
7,b7 a co/ ( re=e/ation or revegetation 
on tribal or non-,f$]al l&1 to ! ext5t t
 ! co/ ( re=e/ation or revegetation is n
 cov]$ by any o!r ,f$]al program2  7,c7 
any co/s borne by any injur$ p]son to   
det]m9e ! ext5t (-- 7i7 ! damages to    
agricultural l&2 or  7ii7 any o!r       

damages cov]$ by ?is ,act2  7,d7 any    
co/s borne by an injur$ p]son to pay =  
wat] supplies or equipm5t to treat wat] 
dur+ ! p]iod = :i* a wat] supply ( !    
injur$ p]son 0 compromis$ by ! ,gold ,k+
 ,m9e spill2 &  7,e7 any o!r loss t !   
,adm9i/rator det]m9es to be appropriate 
= inclusion z loss ( prop]ty4  7#b7     
,bus9ess loss ,a claim t is paid = an   
injury "u ?is section may include       
damages result+ f ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill
 = ! foll[+ types ( o!rwise-uncomp5sat$ 
bus9ess loss3  7,a7 ,damage to tangible 
assets or inv5tory4  7,b7 ,lo/ bus9ess  
income4  7,c7 ,ov]head co/s4  7,d7      
,employee wages = "w n p]=m$4  7,e7 ,any
 o!r loss t ! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es to  
be appropriate = inclusion z a bus9ess  
loss4  7#c7 ,f9ancial loss ,a claim t is
 paid = an injury "u ?is section may    
include damages result+ f ! ,gold ,k+   
,m9e spill = ! foll[+ types (           
o!rwise-uncomp5sat$ f9ancial loss3  7,a7
 ,an insurance d$uctible4  7,b7 ,lo/    
wages or p]sonal income4  7,c7 ,em]g5cy 

/aff+ exp5ses4  7,d7 ,debris removal &  
o!r cleanup co/s4  7,e7 ,any o!r loss t 
! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es to be           
appropriate = inclusion z a f9ancial    
loss4  7d7 ,rec\pm5t = improp] paym5ts  
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 dur+ !
 #ac-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on :i* a
 claim is aw>d$ "u ?is section1 !       
,adm9i/rator may take su* action z is   
necess>y to recov] paym5ts made "u ?is  
section ) respect to fraudul5t claims & 
claims made ) inaccurate in=mation4  7e7
 ,s\rce ( paym5ts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,any   
comp5sation or aw>d aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t   
made pursuant to a claim "u ?is section 
%all be paid by ! ,adm9i/rator f        
unobligat$ balances 9 ! appropriations  
acc\nts ( ! ,environm5tal ,protection   
,ag5cy4  7#b7 ,int5t ( ,congress ,x is !
 int5t ( ,congress t no additional funds
 be appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is ,act4   
#e4 ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill claims pursuant
 to ! ,compreh5sive ,environm5tal       
,response1 ,comp5sation1 & ,liability   
,act  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,adm9i/rator %all1

 consi/5t ) ! national cont+5cy plan1   
receive1 process1 & pay "u !            
,compreh5sive ,environm5tal ,response1  
,comp5sation1 & ,liability ,act ( #aihj 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifja et seq47 claims    
relat$ to ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill4  7b7  
,eligible claims ,! ,adm9i/rator %all   
receive1 process1 & pay "u !            
,compreh5sive ,environm5tal ,response1  
,comp5sation1 & ,liability ,act ( #aihj 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifja et seq47 claims    
relat$ to ! ,gold ,k+ ,m9e spill t      
o!rwise w\ld be ineligible "u t ,act or 
! national cont+5cy plan if ! response  
action c>ri$ out by ! claimant is n     
inconsi/5t ) ! national cont+5cy plan z 
describ$ 9 section #ajg ( t ,act 7#db   
,u4,s4,c4 #ifjg74  7c7 ,tim+  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date  
on :i* an injur$ p]son submits to !     
,adm9i/rator a claim "u ?is section1 !  
,adm9i/rator %all aw>d or d5y ! paym5t (
 ! claim4  7#b7 ,p>tially paid claims ,9
 ! case ( a claim = :i*1 z ( ! date (   
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator has 

p>tially aw>d$ paym5t to an injur$      
p]son1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all aw>d ! rema9+
 paym5t n lat] ?an #fj days aft] t date 
( enactm5t4  7#c7 ,previ\sly fil$ claims
 ,9 ! case ( a claim = :i*1 z ( ! date (
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 n few] ?an #ij    
days h pass$ s9ce ! date on :i* an      
injur$ p]son submitt$ to ! ,adm9i/rator 
a claim "u ?is section1 n lat] ?an #fj  
days aft] t date ( enactm5t1 !          
,adm9i/rator %all aw>d or d5y paym5t ( !
 claim4  #f4 ,effect ( ,act2 r$uction 9 
paym5t  7a7 ,effect ( ,act ,?is ,act    
does n dim9i% ! ability ( ! ,adm9i/rator
 to c>ry out ! responsibilities ( !     
,adm9i/rator "u any o!r provision ( law4
  7b7 ,r$uction 9 paym5t ,to prev5t a   
claimant f receiv+ twice ! damage aw>d =
 ! same injury or claim-- 7#a7 any      
comp5sation or aw>d aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t "u
 section #d %all be d$uct$ f any paym5t 
aw>d$ aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t "u section #e2 &
  7#b7 any comp5sation or aw>d aga9/ !  
,gov]nm5t "u section #e %all be d$uct$ f
 any paym5t aw>d$ aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t "u  

section #d4  #g4 ,wat] quality program  
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 response to ! ,gold ,k+ 
,m9e spill1 ! ,adm9i/rator1 9           
coord9ation ) affect$ ,/ates & ,indian  
tribes1 %all develop & implem5t a       
program = long-t]m wat] quality monitor+
 ( ! ,animas ,riv]4  7b7 ,requirem5ts ,9
 c>ry+ out ! program describ$ 9         
subsection 7a71 ! ,adm9i/rator %all--   
7#a7 collect wat] quality samples &     
s$im5t data2  7#b7 provide ! public ) a 
means ( view+ ! samples & data ref]r$ to
 9 p>agraph 7#a7 by1 at a m9imum1 po/+ !
 in=mation on ! website ( !             
,adm9i/rator2  7#c7 take any o!r        
relevant measure necess>y to assi/      
affect$ ,/ates & ,indian tribes )       
long-t]m wat] monitor+2 &  7#d7 c>ry out
 additional program activities1 z       
det]m9$ by ! ,adm9i/rator4