Government EPA spill. No pictures. No gnashing of teeth. Where are the environmentalists? https://t.co/P4uoAyVojS
— Melissa Clouthier (@MelissaTweets) August 17, 2015EPA-polluted rivers deemed safe for irrigation, water fountains: http://t.co/yvQGx9Zt7o pic.twitter.com/KYS3pjgwvz
— The Hill (@thehill) August 17, 2015The Navajo Nation is still warning residents not to use the river for crops or livestock watering until it completes its own environmental review.
A team of EPA contractors spilled 3 million gallons of toxic waste, including lead, arsenic and other heavy metals, into the Animas River while evaluating Colorado’s long abandoned Gold King Mine on Aug. 5.
The spill kicked off a flurry of criticism from Republicans, who promised to investigate how the agency allowed it to happen. The EPA has responded by testing water in the Animas and San Juan rivers and providing supplies of safe water for locals. Administrator Gina McCarthy traveled to the area to assess the damage last week.
