Article Summaries
Friday,
April 21, 1987
Remnants of Silver Cliff mining
Slippery Creek at risk
Jose Rodriguez catches
dead fish, and Megan Lee Jones overhears his description.
Jones investigates potential contamination while at work at
the County water management.
Heavy metals from past MH Mining activity likely spread into
water sources, which could pose a threat to the impoverished community
along Slippery Creek, as well as to the wealthy community along Trout
Lake.
Monday,
May 8, 1987
Water Management finds source of recent water contamination
Megan Lee Jones discovers
a recent landslide of a tailing pile at the former MH Mining site.
Heavy rains would have carried the remnants into Slippery Creek,
which feeds into the virtually stationary Trout Lake.
Mayor Millhouse says that the city will work to stabilize all
tailing piles. Water
Management advises that no one eat, drink, or catch fish from Slippery
Creek.
Saturday,
September 23, 1998
Colorado Health Dept. denies health risks from area water
Community forms coalition
Megan Lee Jones resigns
from Water Management to form STAC to devote time to resolving the
water contamination problem.
SPHD discovered high numbers of residents with heart and lung
disease, but attributed sickness to poor health standards rather than
water quality. The possibility
that lead and cyanide have permeated into the well water is suggested.
Mark D’Zine proposes that homes using well water be connected
to the city water system.
February
5, 2002
Local Libertarian Party Fears Government
Encroachment on Individual Liberties
Property rights Advocates Fearful of Long-Range Forest Planning
Sunday,
October 6, 2002
Slippery Creek residents both furious and scared
Mine tailings a health hazard?
William Burroughs at SPHD
researches and finds that contamination from metals is not causing
health problems in Slippery Creek.
Megan Lee Jones discounts his research, saying that it didn’t
include specific cases in the community.
Jones conducted her own study, finding high levels of lead
in residents’ bloodstreams.
Mark D’Zine contacted the EPA for potential involvement with
the Superfund program. Trout
Lake leaders worry that a Superfund designation could deteriorate
all tourism profit generation.
Sunday,
October 27, 2002
The faces of Slippery Creek
Community rallies EPA
The article provides a
demographic and economic summary of the Slippery Creek neighborhood.
The community is mostly impoverished, Hispanic, and uneducated.
They do not have the money to purchase clean water as an alternative
to their well water, which was advised by the SPHD.
Many residents feel discriminated against by the SPHD.
Thursday,
November 7, 2002
Silver Cliff Mayor Millhouse
Responsible for mine contamination?
The article offers a history
of Jake Millhouse’s rise in the community to his election of mayor
of Silver Cliff. A popular
political figure, Millhouse’s reputation is in decline because of
his hands-off approach to the water contamination issue. In
an interview with the Mayor, he discussed the many positive things
he has done for the community without mentioning the controversial
issue at hand.
November
11, 2002
Development Threatened in the Name of Environmental Protection
The Debate Surrounding the Future of Silver County Region Ensues
Elaine Green summarizes
the history of contamination in the area and describes the purposes
and processes of EPA’s Superfund program.
Many attendees are in favor of Superfund designation, but those
with a specific stake in Trout Lake (homeowners, tourism attractors)
dislike that the dredging process will disrupt summer activity on
the lake. Mayor Millhouse
approves of the designation, though believes that federal money pay
for the project because MH Mining is not to blame.
EPA employees will determine if designation is appropriate
within a week.
November
13, 2002
Environmentalists Act as
“Arbor Armor” in Silver County
Activists Go to Extreme Measures to Protect Forest
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