Leadville Tunnel disaster imminent

First of all I got this info from Bill (Doc), so thanks for keeping us posted. If there is anything we can do to help people there please let me know.

Here is an article I found and also one other from the paper below...first the info locals got:

LEADVILLE TUNNEL please read this.

Newspaper:

Sen. Salazar weighs in on tunnel threat
By Kirk Mitchell The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/16/2008 05:48:28 PM MST

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar visited the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel today, where officials are striving to stave off a gigantic spill of toxic materials.
Salazar met with Lake County commissioners to discuss a four-point plan for swiftly dealing with a blocked tunnel that threatens to blow out.
"This is a serious issue, and the Bureau of Reclamation needs to act with urgency," Salazar said.
On Friday, Gov. Bill Ritter asked President Bush to take immediate action to "avert a catastrophic event."
Local, state and federal officials agreed Friday to a four-point plan including immediately pumping water out of the mine shaft beginning next week, conducting a risk assessment, creating an incident action plan and testing groundwater for contamination.
Colorado health officials estimate it will cost about $5 million to pump the tunnel out and permanently address safety issues.
Salazar earlier wrote a letter to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Robert W. Johnson, requesting a report of possible blockage in the drainage tunnel and the likely effects of contaminated water on California Gulch and the Arkansas River if there is a discharge.
The tunnel, which is owned and operated by the bureau, has a major blockage, and behind the blockage is about 1 billion gallons of toxic acid and metal-laden water, now almost 200 feet high.
Because of a buildup of pressure, the blockage could blow, inflicting numerous deaths and the destruction of property, the Lake County commissioners said in a news release on Wednesday.
"As the Bureau moves forward to address the blockage I will monitor their actions closely and provide any assistance that I can," Salazar said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com