EPA Tells Navajo Nation That Colorado Spill Will Take ‘Decades’ To Clean Up

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Frustration is mounting among residents of the Four Corners region as EPA seen as slow to respond to contamination

By: Susan Montoya Bryan Ellen Knickmeyer The Associated Press, Published on Wed Aug 12 2015
--clip


All along the way, signs are posted warning people to stay out of the water. Farmers have stopped irrigating and communities have closed water intake systems. Bottled water on the Navajo Nation is becoming scarce.

Begaye said his tribe is bearing the brunt of the massive spill that was accidentally unleashed by EPA workers inspecting the long-idled Gold King mine near Silverton, Colorado, on Aug. 5. Two-thirds of the San Juan River crosses Navajo land before reaching Lake Powell.

“This is a huge issue,” Begaye said. “This river, the San Juan, is our lifeline, not only in a spiritual sense but also it’s an economic base that sustains the people that live along the river.

“When EPA is saying to me it’s going to take decades to clean this up, that is how long uncertainty will exist as we drink the water, as we farm the land, as we put our livestock out there near the river,” he said. “That is just, to me, a disaster of a huge proportion.”

Frustration is mounting throughout the Four Corners region among officials and residents who say the EPA has moved too slowly and hasn’t been forthcoming about the dangers of the spill. The Navajo Nation feels even more slighted given its status as a federally recognized tribe and sovereign nation.


Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/08/12/epa-tells-navajo-nation-spill-will-take-decades-to-clean-up.html

---

EPA Works To Combat Growing Anger After Spill

By Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer
Updated 9:26 PM ET, Wed August 12, 2015

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts (CNN)The Obama administration was scrambling Wednesday to manage growing anger over a government-caused spill on the Animas River in Colorado, announcing investigations into the incident while declaring contaminant levels in the water had returned to pre-accident levels.

Despite the pronouncement, however, damage to the Environmental Protection Agency's standing in the region appeared far from recovered, with state and tribal officials describing a lackluster initial response to the Aug. 5 incident that unleashed 3 million gallons of mustard-colored mine waste into the river near Durango.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, said he shared his constituents' anger at the spill and the EPA's subsequent response to it. The Navajo Nation, situated downstream in New Mexico, said they planned to take legal action against the federal government. And the attorneys general of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico were on a fact-finding mission at the spill site before determining their own legal paths forward.

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/12/politics/epa-political-fallout/index.html

[niyad]

1. this is completely unacceptable.

[Warpy]

27. It is, but other than sending tankers of water for the people and their stock,

I'm really not certain what can be done. That, at least, needs to be done.

That particular mine had been leaking 250 gallons of heavily contaminated water a minute into that river system. That's why the EPA were there. People along the Colorado River Basin were being slowly poisoned. The blunder by the EPA just made it quicker.

The whole west is in severe drought right now and has been since the early 90s and it shows no sign of letting up. This could well be the coup de grace against heavy development in Arizona and around Las Vegas.

The other part of the story is that old mines and mine tailings are all over the southwest, the men who pulled their fortunes out of them having skedaddled a century ago, leaving the messes behind. One thing you learn fast out here is that wild fish are catch and release, they're too heavily contaminated with lead, mercury and cadmium to eat. You want to eat fresh trough, to to a stocked pond and pay for the privilege of dunking a hook into it.

Maybe having a quarter of this country poisoned will shake the PTB out of their dreams of bigger and better military crap and make them realize that true national security means cleaning up the garbage and restarting newer and cleaner industries, but I doubt it.

[niyad]

32. sadly, everything you are saying is correct. we have lots of mines around here, as well,

and the ptb don't seem to care how toxic and deadly they are. a housing development is built right on a gold ore processing site, and we are told there are no worries.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

30. Yes. The pictures of this mess are shocking, imo.

I've never seen anything like it.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Another consequence of the GOP cuts to the EPA...but how will be it all be framed to deflect from that?

Ignoring this major environmental disaster for days was effective, then blaming the EPA worked for a few days - blaming anything but the reality of GOP hate of all things environmental, logical, or sensible, or even anything simply natural, has to be covered up again.

[Purveyor]

4. It was the EPA's incompetence that cracked this mine open and that is what is being deflected.

If they didn't know what the fuck they were doing, they should have found professionals that do.

No, I'm not going to give the EPA a pass on this one just because of who is in charge of the EPA.

I've tired of hypocrisy some time ago.

[Fred Sanders]

7. I am not sure of the details - was it incompetence, negligence or a preventable accident?

When an underfunded and under attack government agency is accused, even admitting, it failed at something, I have to be suspicious of any quick rush to blame that agency.

[Calista241]

13. The EPA has a budget of $9 Billion dollars annually.

That is a shitpot full of money, and yes, it was less than they asked for, but it's still a shitpot full of money. With that much money, they shouldn't be going around half-assing their jobs and fucking shit up.

[Fred Sanders]

14. No idea what the GOP is doing to the EPA or want to do, or willfully having no idea, which is worse?

[former9thward]

26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.

But you may not want to know that fact since it does not fit with your narrative.

[CreekDog]

29. It has not

Look at the numbers. You are wrong yet again.

[former9thward]

38. I did look.

You are wrong yet again. Are you ever right?

Reagan went from 3.0 billion to 5.1 billion

Bush I went from 5.1 to 6.9 billion

Clinton went from 6.9 to 7.5 billion

Bush II went from 7.5 to 7.6 billion.

[CreekDog]

40. You said increased every year, now you're moving the goal posts

Why would anybody trust an attorney who is either just carelessly wrong as often as you are or worse, is purposely lying?

What ethics did they teach you in law school?

And my question is even more valid since you recently said all people cheat on their taxes.

Why do you continually post false things? To deceive people here or because you are ignorant of the topics you post on?

[former9thward]

43. Post the figures.

Show where I am wrong. You and the other poster tried to imply the EPA budget has been cut or slashed. By who, no one knows. Your attempts at deception fail, stalker friend.

[CreekDog]

44. here, though you posted that they went up every single year

and you seem to have no idea what the figures are, yet you still said that.

typical. wrong, uninformed, or just basically dishonest about that which you are ignorant.

1977 2,764 (amounts in millions of dollars)
1978 5,499
1979 5,403

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1980 4,669

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1981 3,026

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1982 3,674
1983 3,688
1984 4,064
1985 4,346
1986 3,446

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1987 5,344
1988 4,968

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1989 5,081
1990 5,380
1991 6,004
1992 6,461
1993 6,737
1994 6,436
1995 5,710

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

1996 6,268
1997 6,478
1998 7,022
1999 7,243
2000 7,313
2001 7,601
2002 7,841
2003 7,925
2004 8,390
2005 7,959

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2006 7,583

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2007 7,533

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2008 7,393

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2009 14,754
2010 10,165

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2011 8,565

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2012 10,785
2013 8,413

former9thward (15,339 posts)
26. The EPA budget has gone up every year since it was created.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1176151

2014 9,124

source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals

[former9thward]

46. LOL

The budget has gone up with every president. I am happy I give you something to do everyday. Your life would be pretty empty without someone to stalk.

[CreekDog]

49. maybe you should stop making things up

i realize that you cannot resist making statements that pretend to be researched and reliable.

but if you aren't going to bother doing the work or doing the hard work of making sure what you've made up is correct, don't say it.

nobody is forcing you to post a bullshit statement, yet you do it.

if you want to make the statement do the research FIRST.

[Fred Sanders]

31. What are you talking about?? Have you no idea?

[former9thward]

39. Yeah, I have an idea Fred. How about you?

Reagan went from 3.0 billion to 5.1 billion

Bush I went from 5.1 to 6.9 billion

Clinton went from 6.9 to 7.5 billion

Bush II went from 7.5 to 7.6 billion.

[CreekDog]

45. you said the budget has gone up EVERY YEAR since it was created

you ARE making that statement up and it is a lie.

why do you post crap that is so easily proven wrong?

the falsehoods you post indicate a lack of scruples, the idea that you think you'll get away with them indicates a lack of brains.

[former9thward]

47. Don't you think poor Fred can handle his own posts?

I have confidence in him, you should too!

[CreekDog]

50. this is about your posts and your lies

and yes, when you try to put one over on people here, if i catch you i will correct it myself if nobody else has.

the reason you do this is getting more and more plain for everyone to see.

[former9thward]

51. The PMs I get about you.

Hilarious.

[CreekDog]

52. if you'd like to change the subject away from the lies you post, can't say i blame you

[Dustlawyer]

16. Evidently not enough to inspect all of the chemical plants and refineries, investigate all of the

leaks, fires, and spills. They do not even come close to doing this job. Refineries and chemical p,ants are "self reporting." That means the honor system! That is how bad things are. These industries should pay the costs associated with their enforcement, not be in charge of their own enforcement!

[Sunlei]

35. agree, the Corps should pay all the costs to clean up their mess.

That means clean it up, not settle toxic sludge in ponds that will break or ruin the land for hundreds of years in future.

[former9thward]

48. Who is going to pay for mines that went out of existence 100 years ago?

[happyslug]

17. Nine Billion Dollars for all 50 states? That is the price of two Aircraft carrier.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier

But the price of the Carrier only, the planes are extra (and are approximately the same as the carrier itself). Please note that does NOT include the Fuel (the Jets the fly from a Nuclear Carrier burn oil), water, food and the pay of the crew. We have 12 carriers but only one EPA.

Furthermore the EPA's Budget is only 8.6 Billion for 2015, up from 8.2 billion for 2015, but only 4.5 billion cover water:

http://www.epa.gov/

EPA Budget in PDF:

http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100LK5H.PDF?Dockey=P100LK5H.PDF

IN HTML:

http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P100LK5H.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=2011%20Thru%202015&Docs=&Query=&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX%20DATA%5C11THRU15%5CTXT%5C00000014%5CP100LK5H.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=1&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=p%7Cf&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x

?-i+-r+75+-g+7+D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEXD%7E1%5C11THRU15%5CTIFF%5C00000913%5CP100LK5T.TIF

?-i+-r+75+-g+7+D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEXD%7E1%5C11THRU15%5CTIFF%5C00000913%5CP100LK5T.TIF

[happyslug]

19. That is still more then the 4.5 billion the US is spending on Water quality,

Only 4.5 Billion of the 8.6 Billion of the EPA Budget for 2016 is for water quality.

[AtheistCrusader]

22. To chase after every single corporate interaction with all land, sky, and water within the US?

To look for intentional and unintentional contamination of all kinds? Seriously? We're the #2 manufacturing center on the planet. 9bn is woefully underfunded.

[NCjack]

25. According to report USEPA FY-2016 Justification of Appropriation

Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations (# EPA-190-R-15-001), its enacted FY-2015 budget is $8.1 B. [link:www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-02/documents/epa_fy_2016_congressional_justification.pdf|]

For all practical purposes, most of that FY-2015 money is spent. The Administrator will squeeze out what is possible, but it is peanuts. There may be some prior years' carryovers, but again, peanuts. And, any money found will require congressional approval for repurposing. Who knows how long it will take for Congress to complete its posturing and act on a request. Easily, we will be into FY-2016 (on Oct 1, 2016) before any money flows. The President's FY-2016 Budget is $8.6 B. For the projects needed, that is peanuts. That's $8.6 B to protect 0.319 B people (USA pop.), which is an average of $0.07 per day per person to mitigate pent-up problems. That is what we pay to have EPA stand between us and major polluters. When Amtrak had its last major accident, a contributing factor was the lack of federal funds. The response from Congress was punishment -- the Amtrak budget was reduced. Ultimately, Amtrak has to reduce services. That's probably what will happen to EPA. If it does, the risk to all of us increases.

[niyad]

10. exactly.

[niyad]

11. speaking of professionals--I thought I remembered that the los alamos fire was started when

a "controlled burn" got out of control. but, looking at a wiki entry, says a tree fell on a power line. hmmmmm.

[ChazII]

24. I am reaching this point as well.

Like you, the EPA does not get a pass.

[Sunlei]

33. a lower mine shaft opening covered by a landslide, apparently drained out into the water for years.

The local areas authorities didn't want superfund cleanup offered decades ago.

Locals thought Superfund clean-up activities would harm their local tourist industry.

I don't know why EPA Feds were there, perhaps checking the 'settlement' ponds to see if they were still maintained.

[Sunlei]

34. I guess the settlement ponds were not maintained as EPA had to dig 4 ponds for

the toxic mine sludge to settle in before 'overflowing' to the waterway.

[PSPS]

3. The deesired result from decades of relentless GOP attack and underfunding

[cilla4progress]

5. I live out west.

The forests are on fire.

Our rivers are poisoned.

The water resource is dwindling.

There is a pattern here ...

[niyad]

6. scary, isn't it?

[cilla4progress]

8. Many nights I go to bed

feeling terrified.

I no longer expect people will wake up. Bernie-mentum is hopeful, but I've lost my optimism.

[Fred Sanders]

9. And the EPA and all environmental protection and preservation are under attack by...guess who?

[jwirr]

12. The spill is in the Four Corners area? They have gone though so much in that area. These mines

have been polluting for decades and now this. And while the Navajo Nation will take legal action these cases involving Native Americans have been known to be stalled in the courts forever. Every now and then a tribe will win a case and get a lump sum payment and no one even remembers what it is all about anymore.

[AuntPatsy]

15. And some on the media are declaring success at cleaning it up....insane that anyone believed

that criminal falsehood....

[McCamy Taylor]

23. Are we sure it was accidental? Maybe someone wants Navajo land.

[The Straight Story]

28. You might find this interesting

From about a week before the spill


http://www.silvertonstandard.com/news.php?id=847

[Cal Carpenter]

37. Wow.

While I disagree strongly with his angle on things, his prediction about the failure of this effort is quite stunning.

[Sunlei]

36. gold mines have discharged 'waste' for as long as they have been there, 100 years?or more

[LanternWaste]

41. For at least 25 years the EPA had attempted to designate the areas as a Superfund site.

For at least 25 years the EPA had attempted to designate the area (San Juan county) as a Superfund site.

Locals resisted the designation because they were concerned that designation would scare off potential mining investments, despite the fact that the designation would have allowed a much more thorough cleanup of toxic metals which have been depositing and building up in the area for over seventy-five years.

[deathrind]

53. /\ This

But people are still going to kick the EPA...

[closeupready]

42. Pisses me off, this shit. If you've been near there, it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Now harmed by EPA mismanagement. Dammit.