The measure comes after the Gold King Mine spill last August. That mine is regulated by the federal government, as are many historic shuttered mines.
State mining officials were limited in how they could help address the Gold King blowout. State Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, is a sponsor of the bill and says it allows for more flexibility.
“All of those mines we’re going to label as legacy mines can now have access to these emergency funds,” Donovan said.
The state has up to $100,000 in a fund that can now be used if there’s an event outside its jurisdiction.
