Black and white image of the Gold King Tramway & American Tunnel in Silverton, Colo. Shows a series of structures carrying metal buckets to some buildings in the background. Structures are built on the side of the mountain, surrounded by fallen and stripped trees.

The Gold King Mine, a previously insignificant site, came to the nation's attention on August 5, 2015, when toxic material from the mine poured into a tributary of Colorado's Animas River, severely damaging the ecosystem for miles downstream. Although the EPA has been blamed and has accepted responsibility for the spill it is not entirely at fault. The complete list of causes for this environmental disaster extends back to the Nineteenth century and...