Posted on 08/22/2015 5:18:03 AM PDT by bestintxas
Managers at the Environmental Protection Agency were aware of the possible risk for a catastrophic “blowout” at an abandoned mine that could release “large volumes” of wastewater laced with toxic metals, according to internal documents released late Friday.
EPA released the documents following weeks of prodding from news organizations like The Associated Press. EPA and contract workers accidentally unleashed 3 million gallons of contaminated wastewater on Aug. 5 as they inspected the idled Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado.
Among the documents is a June 2014 work order for a planned cleanup that noted that the old mine had not been accessible since 1995, when the entrance partially collapsed. The plan appears to have been produced by Environmental Restoration, a private contractor working for EPA.
"This condition has likely caused impounding of water behind the collapse," the report says. "ln addition, other collapses within the workings may have occurred creating additional water impounding conditions. Conditions may exist that could result in a blowout of the blockages and cause a release of large volumes of contaminated mine waters and sediment from inside the mine, which contain concentrated heavy metals."
A May 2015 action plane for the mine also notes the potential for a blowout. There are at least three current investigations into exactly how EPA triggered the environmental disaster, which tainted rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah with lead, arsenic and other contaminants. Water tests have shown the contamination levels have since fallen back to pre-spill levels. However, experts warn the heavy metals have likely sunk and mixed with bottom sediments that could someday stirred back up.
Officials in the affected states and elsewhere have slammed the agency’s initial response. Among the unanswered questions is why it took the EPA nearly a day to inform local officials
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Note how the article says the release is 'accidental'.
When is the last time a news organization said that about a spill by any company? The implication by omitting that adjective is always it could have been deliberate.
Sure they have ... nothing to see here, folks - move along ...
I think this was done purposley, this would not happen in calfornia, connecticut, vermont or new york
After poisoning a river with tons of heavy metals, the same EPA will drop the hammer on power companies releasing that horrible deadly poisonous gas called CO2. The very same gas produced by all carbon-based animal life on Earth.
...one of the nicest rivers to fly fish and float in the 4 corners region. EPA is responsible for this disaster . Were this a commercial company there would be billions of dollars in fines sought and bunny huggers from all over the world would be banging their drums and craping on the steps of those responsible ......... (((crickets))) .......doom on the EPA idiots.
My opinion on the issue.
Stay Safe !
My gut says....”Sabotage”!!
This was “Regulatory-Terrorism”!
This INTENTIONAL CONTAMINATION was DESIGNED to create a superfund site, which will stop development and serve as a warning against mining.
This is how FASCISTS expand their empire and INCREASE THEIR CONTROL OVER YOU!
I caught my first fish out of the Animas at Farmington on South Miller Street back in 1956. At the old bridge.
Wish I was there now.
Of course they knew. They knew because it was planned. A guy ratted them out in the local newspapers days before the “accident” happened. It wasn’t bad enough that it was planned but worse that they still thought they were so above the law and common decency that they went ahead with it after they were outted.
Great memories indeed ..... there or below the dam at navajo in the San Juan.... love that area. There at least a dozen times a year,
Stay Safe lets hope for the best...:o)
I used to own property just up the La Plata river just past Jackson Lake.
Wish I still had it.
Epa does nothing as bad water dumped in to the Saint Lucie and Caloosahatchee is killing each river
But hey big money interest and all ya know.
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