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New Mexico Files Suit Against Colorado Over Chemical Spill. Was the EPA to Blame?

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Published on: June 25, 2016

There is finally going to be legal action against one of the parties responsible for the massive acid spill that took place in Colorado last year. Many in the mining industry pointed to the EPA’s role. They were heading up a reclamation project and inadvertently released millions of gallons of toxic waste.

This has led to a legal suit.

The Washington Times reports:

The New Mexico Attorney General has filed a bill of complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court against the state of Colorado over last year’s Gold King Mine spill, arguing that Colorado contributed to the resulting contamination with its “reckless actions” and lax oversight.

“The Gold King Mine release is the result of two decades of disastrous environmental decision-making by Colorado, for which New Mexico and its citizens are now paying the price,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement. “New Mexicans rely on the Animas and San Juan rivers for drinking water, ranching, farming, tourism and much more, so our communities must be compensated and protected from future health and safety risks.”

As I reported, the EPA was the one who called for and headed up the project. But as we all know, poop runs downhill.

In response, Colorado is pointing out the EPA’s part.

The Times continues

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said Thursday she had “done what I can within the bounds of my power and authority as Attorney General to resolve this matter without litigation.”

“It is unfortunate that New Mexico has chosen to sue the State of
Colorado over the Gold King Mine spill when it was EPA’s actions that sent acidic mine drainage pouring into the Animas River last August,” said Ms. Coffman in a statement. “It is unclear to me how suing Colorado furthers the states’ mutual goal of holding the EPA to its promise to ‘take full responsibility’ for turning our rivers yellow.”

Last month, New Mexico sued the EPA, an agency contractor, and two mining companies over the accident, citing harm to residents, farmers and local businesses. Colorado and Utah, which was also affected by the spill, have not taken legal action so far against the EPA.

One should wonder if the EPA is responsible.  All indication is that they are, then why have Colorado and Utah taken legal action?

Article reposted with permission from Constitution.com

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