Republicans call Interior's mine spill report 'whitewashed' (Gold King Mine CO)

Associated Press ^ | Dec 9, 2015 5:59 PM EST | Matthew Brown

[Olog-hai]

Republicans alleged a "whitewash" of a Colorado mining accident that unleashed 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater and requested a nonpartisan investigation after the Interior secretary said Wednesday there was no evidence of criminal negligence.

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cleanup crew doing excavation work triggered the spill in August at the inactive Gold King mine near Silverton, Colorado. It fouled rivers in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico with contaminants including arsenic and lead, temporarily shutting down drinking water supplies and raising concerns about long-term effects to agriculture.

The accident prompted harsh criticism of the EPA for failing to take adequate precautions despite warnings a blowout could occur. Yet Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said a review by her agency showed the spill was "clearly unintentional." ...

[Fungi]

Abolish the EPA and stop administrative laws. Only the legislative branch can legislate laws—including “regulations.”

[rockinqsranch]

“Only the legislative branch can legislate laws—including “regulations.””

Amen.

[rawcatslyentist]

With any luck the good intentions paving crew will have the highway open real soon.

[con-surf-ative]

Yeah, it seems the “Oops!” defense didn’t work out so well for BP in the Deepwater Horizon blowout.

But I forgot, the government can do no wrong.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

No mention of the geologist’s letter to the local paper (Edgerton or Claraton, ??) about the dangers of how they were testing the depth of the water in the mine, weeks, if not months before the disaster.

I know the article with the geologist’s letter of warning were posted at FR.

If someone can find it, please post it.

The leadership of the Dept. of Interior and EPA are corrupt, incompetent, and stupid leftists, all rolled into one.

[CedarDave]

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[SC_Pete]

Assign a special prosecutor. What happened was criminal negligence.

[Scrambler Bob]

“clearly unintentional.”

That would be if govt was actually ‘transparent’. [pun: clearly - - - transparent, for any libs reading]

I rephrase:

Unclearly intentional.

EPA is the enforcement arm of the Fascists.

[dodger]

Imagine the weeks of page one news had this occurred with a Republican President ... The New Yourk Times along with Enemedia would be ahowl.