The EPA has drawn criticism from lawmakers and state officials over a toxic spill unleashed last week while the agency was inspecting a dormant gold mine in Colorado. Over three million gallons of mine waste spilled into the Animas River after a backhoe breached a wall that held contaminants that had accumulated in the mine for decades. The governors of Colorado and New Mexico and the Navajo Nation all declared emergencies in the wake of the spill.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said she was “disturbed” by the lack of information provided by the EPA to environmental authorities in her state. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) called for a congressional investigation into the EPA’s response and to ensure the agency is held to the same recovery standards as private companies.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy publicly apologized for the incident on Tuesday and said the agency would move swiftly to contain the spill. She said there was a “downward trajectory” of contamination levels in the Animas River and that no health effects had been reported.
NBC News said the spill could have political and financial ramifications for the EPA. The incident comes at a time when the agency is already under fire in some circles for its strict climate change agenda. In addition, the EPA will be on the hook for any damages to people who suffered injury or property damage as a result of the incident.
