Argo Mill building and proximity to Clear Creek
The Idaho Springs community has received mixed responses regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) clean up of the superfund site. Specifically, many residents have seen the clean-up as a blessing to the community. Since the site’s registry onto the superfund site list in 1983, clear creek has turned from a yellow river, to one that runs clear, thus living up to its name. In addition, many community leaders believe the EPA cleanup will help contribute to the economy, as tourists may visit the old mines in the area (Elliott 2016).
Conversely, other community members have noted that difficulty of the extensive cleanup process. Overall, the cleanup process has lasted 30 years, and has cost around 60 million dollars. Furthermore, cleanup efforts still remain in the 400 square-mile superfund site that includes the Argo Mine and Tunnel, as well as surrounding communities such as Clear Creek and Idaho Springs (Environmental Protection Agency 2021). In addition, residents of these communities have also noted the lack of communication between the EPA and community leaders, thus they have felt that the cleanup process lacked representation of what the community members wanted, especially in a town of only 1700 members. Finally, many town members were afraid of the stigma regarding a town that had a superfund site. Since these towns rely mostly on tourism to stimulate their economies, members were afraid that the label of a superfund site would deter tourists (Elliott 2016).
Overall, one thing community members can agree on is that they are glad to see Clear Creek become clear once again. In addition, even though the region still remains on the superfund site list, it has not deterred tourists (Elliott 2016). The site still gives tours in the old Argo Mine and Tunnel.