It’s encouraging that Rep. Scott Tipton and Sens. Bennet and Gardner have brought forward a discussion draft of a bipartisan Good Samaritan bill in Congress. Please don’t overlook the fact that mining pollution is more than a local problem. It’s regional in scope. And our fellow residents in Creede, Lake City, Ouray, Breckenridge and other communities in Colorado – and across the West – also need Good Sam as a tool for addressing these long-festering sites.

Let’s keep our eyes on the ball and work as a community toward a comprehensive, multipronged solution to this problem. Learn more about our local, grass-roots initiatives at www.sanjuancleanwater.org. Join the dozens of Durango businesses and hundreds of individuals who are supporting a plan for our beloved Animas River. Together, we can make a difference.

Ty Churchwell

Durango