1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gold King Mine Spill Accountability Act of 2018 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) On August 5, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency caused a blowout at the Gold King Mine in Colorado that released approximately 3 million gallons of heavy-metal-laced mine wastewater into the Animas and San Juan Rivers. (2) In October of 2015, the Bureau of Reclamation issued a report that detailed how the Environmental Protection Agency incorrectly concluded that the water level inside the Gold King mine was only partially full of wastewater and used this conclusion to develop a plan to open the mine in a manner that appeared to guard against blowout, but instead led directly to that failure . (3) On January 13, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the agency was not legally able to pay compensation for the claims relating to the Gold King Mine spill brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act. (4) On August 4, 2017, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the agency will reconsider claims relating to the Gold King Mine spill. 3. Compensation for victims of Gold King Mine spill (a) Federal tort claims (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) , each injured person shall be entitled to receive from the United States compensation for a claim filed, or civil action brought, under chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act ), arising out of or relating to an injury resulting from the Gold King Mine spill. (2) Nonapplicability of limitation Notwithstanding section 2672 of title 28, United States Code, the Administrator may provide compensation for a claim under this section in an amount greater than $25,000 without prior written approval of the Attorney General (or a designee), as the Administrator determines to be appropriate. (b) Office of Gold King Mine Spill Claims (1) Establishment There is established within the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Gold King Mine