An EPA crew triggered a spill of some 2,400 gallons of water from an abandoned silver mine above Crested Butte on Wednesday.
The Denver Post reports the spill happened at the Standard Mine Superfund cleanup site, which is located near a creek that helps supply water to Crested Butte.
"We believe the situation is under control and we believe the town's water supply has not been affected," Mayor Aaron Huckstep told the Post.
Rep. Scott Tipton, who represents the area, said he has yet to be contacted by the EPA.
"While initial reports are that the water was not contaminated, another spill caused by the actions of the EPA calls further into question this agency’s ability to adequately execute these types of projects," he said in a statement referring to the disaster at the Gold King Mine near Silverton in August.
There, EPA staff and contractors caused 3 million gallons of bright orange toxic wastewater to spill into area waterways. Striking images of the disaster garnered international attention and Congressional inquiries into the EPA.
The agency told the Post it was working on a statement on the matter.
