About that "EPA" toxic spill . . .

[annabanana]

Last edited Wed Aug 12, 2015, 01:29 PM - Edit history (1)

The government of the State of Colorado fought "superfund cleanup" status for DECADES! They, and the company that owned the mine feared that no one would invest in reopening the mine if it was designated a Superfund site!

I wish the EPA spokespeople would at least mention the history of the stockpile of toxins at the site.

Yes, they goofed. But there would have been no poison to start with if it hadn't been for serious mismanagement of the site for a long long time.


and remember . .

Typically, when there's a disastrous spill, there are months lost fighting the corporation to get acknowledgment that there's even a problem.. nevermind getting access and starting cleanup.

[procon]

1. I'm scratching my head.

The mine is just one of hundreds of old, abandoned mine operations, all pf them leaking poison into the river for decades. All that toxic waste was improperly stored and allowed heavy metals to leak into the Animas River for years. The mine operators ignored the problem and failed to take any action to clean it up or minimize the risk, and the surrounding community resisted more extensive EPA cleanup. When the EPA hired contractors to assess the the situation, that work crew inadvertently shook loose a haphazard dirt and debris dam that had been holding back a massive amount of water laced with arsenic, lead, and other toxins.

But here's the crucial part of the backstory that isn't getting mentioned:

"Ever since the 1980s, the agency has wanted to declare parts of the Silverton region a Superfund site, which would trigger federal funds for intensive cleanup efforts. But local residents have long resisted this move, out of concern that the bad publicity would drive away tourists.'

http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9126853/epa-mine-spill-animas


Now there is a rush to pile on the EPA and blame them rather than the mining industry polluters that created the problem and failed to fix it to save their profits, and the community that prevented the Superfund site cleanup to protect their tourist revenue.

[tabasco]

2. A lot of disruptors exposed themselves as a result of this incident

spewing anti-EPA garbage one would expect to see on FR.

[annabanana]

3. bingo. . . . .n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. According to local news that mine has been out of use since 1923.

[former9thward]

5. The company that owned that mine has been gone since 1920.

Yet you are trying to blame it for something happening almost 100 years later. The EPA has taken complete and total responsibility for the spill. They own it. That upsets some for some reason.

[tabasco]

6. Reading is fundamental

In 1991, Sunnyside Gold Corp. closed its last big mine in the region, American Tunnel. After long negotiations with the state, Sunnyside began cleanup efforts and eventually plugged American Tunnel in three places to prevent further toxins from leaking out.

Unfortunately, the water in the mines then backed up and found an outlet elsewhere. In 2006, acid drainage began leaking out of the nearby Red and Bonita mines, which had long been abandoned. The company that had taken ownership of these mines in the meantime, Gold King, soon ran into financial difficulties and could no longer treat the water that was pouring into the Upper Animas River. After a brief period when fish had returned, the Animas was poisoned yet again.

Now enter the EPA. Ever since the 1980s, the agency has wanted to declare parts of the Silverton region a Superfund site, which would trigger federal funds for intensive cleanup efforts. But local residents have long resisted this move, out of concern that the bad publicity would drive away tourists.

I can't believe you're still here.

[LanternWaste]

8. Honesty is fundamental... reading is simply a mechanism to arrive there.

Honesty is fundamental... reading is simply a mechanism to arrive there. Though I've little doubt the poster you responded to read the article, I do not believe that his bias and creative manipulations of the truth allows for any great amount of accuracy from him in regards to the EPA.

[former9thward]

9. Calling me a liar by indirectly posting to another poster.

Your continuing personal attacks on me are not surprising but at least you should do it directly.

[tkmorris]

11. I aint him, but fine

That leaves you either not reading it, or not understanding it. You pick.

[former9thward]

12. I understand it.

I understand people are trying to blame companies even though the EPA has said it was their fault. I guess you have not read or understand that.

[former9thward]

10. So you think this is not the responsibility of the EPA.

Maybe Obama should fire its director for accepting total responsibility.

[tabasco]

14. I think you were intentionally spreading misinformation

and I called you on it. Please stay on topic.

[former9thward]

15. What was the misinformation?

That the EPA said the release was their fault? Or your attempt to shift blame despite their statements?

[tabasco]

16. Your statement: "The company that owned that mine has been gone since 1920."

1. The first link posted in this thread clearly refers to a private business owner as of 2006.

You asserted there was no private business owner since 1920.

HOPE IT HELPS!

2. Now, please provide any proof, link, quote, whatever, that I attempted to shift blame for this incident to anyone but the EPA. Your failure to do so will be further proof that you are a liar.

[WestCoastLib]

7. Clearly the answer is to defund the EPA

Dems are notoriously bad at controlling the narrative. Although, in part that is because the populace is too lazy to pay attention and digest an involved discussion.

But, I doubt that many dems will use this as an opportunity to discuss why the EPA needs to have more oversight over private corporations who create these messes, along with more funding to be able to hire brighter and better people, and have more time to invest in scouting, planning and prep for this type of cleanup work.

Instead, they will let the narrative become "Government organizations are incompetent and shouldn't be given money"

[annabanana]

13. The Repub response to EVERYTHING. . .n/t