EPA Officials Get Grilled In Washington Over Gold King Mine Spill
DENVER (CBS4) - The first of what are now four scheduled congressional hearings into the Gold King Mine spill took place Wednesday in Washington. The U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology questioned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials and its contractor on the project.
It was Aug. 5 when the Gold King Mine gushed what became three million gallons of toxic water from inside. Video taken as it was happening shows a torrent of water pouring from the mine to the depths below. It spilled into Cement Creek, and then into the Animas River, turning it orange to Durango, New Mexico and on into Utah.
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith had harsh words for the EPA, which accepted blame.
"Had the EPA exercised the same care in the decision as an ordinary prudent person this whole incident could have been avoided," Smith said.
Pictures have now been released that show a small hole where the EPA work on mine leakage began. The water then begins flowing out fairly slowly. Soon it turned into a raging river of dangerous chemicals.
When CBS4's Rick Sallinger visited the Gold King Mine not long after the spill the owner, Todd Hennis, insisted the water came from an adjoining mine. On Wednesday EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus indicated that was true.
"After the Sunnyside Mine installed bulkheads in the American Tunnel, water seeped into natural fractures that allowed it to seep into the Gold King, Red and Bonita mines," Stanislaus said.
PHOTO GALLERY: Gold King Mine Tour
The water from the mine spill was so strong it inundated a work truck at the site.
Now, for the first time, the contractor working with the EPA at the mine appeared in public. Dennis Greany is president of Environmental Restoration.
"The Gold King incident was terrible, it was retching to watch after the release," Greany said.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy was asked to testify but she declined, sending others in her place. More hearings are set for next week in front of other committees.
LINK: Watch The Recently Released Videos Of The Mine Spill
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.