Silverton undecided about Superfund spill money

Silverton officials say they'll try to get enough information by the end of January to decide whether to ask for a federally funded Superfund cleanup of leaking mines north of town.

The Durango Herald reported Friday that would be the deadline to get their request before the Environmental Protection Agency in time for the next meeting to consider Superfund proposals. The EPA reviews the proposals twice yearly.

Silverton officials met Wednesday with EPA and state health department representatives to discuss what the program would mean to the tourist-dependent town in southwestern Colorado.

Discussions were prompted by the August spill of 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater from the Gold King Mine north of Silverton. An EPA-led crew accidentally triggered the leak, tainting rivers in Colorado, new Mexico and Utah.