Chairman Barrasso Demands Answers from EPA Administrator on Gold King Mine Disaster
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, demanded answers from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, who testified at an oversight hearing titled: "EPA's Gold King Mine Disaster: Examining the Harmful Impacts to Indian Country." The hearing provided an opportunity for committee members to demand answers from the EPA regarding the impact of the Gold King Mine disaster on Indian Country.
Click here to watch Chairman Barasso's full exchange with Administrator McCarthy
On the Long-Term Effects of the Spill:
Chairman Barrasso began by asking about the potential long term health effects the pollutants from the EPA spill might have on the tribal communities along the San Juan river.
"During the EPA briefing for committee staff last week, the agency officials were asked why resources like water and hay for livestock, and additional environmental testing, were being pulled back from the tribes.
"The agency officials told committee staff this resource decision was based on the Center for Disease Control's recommendation that there would be no threat of health impacts or exposure.
"According to the EPA's own Children's Environmental Health Facts website- "currently, no level of lead in blood has been identified as safe for children.'
"I believe that as a doctor, we need to be concerned about that.
"The agency released three million gallons of toxic pollutants and heavy metals--including lead--into waterways which cross these lands of the tribes.
"Can you tell this committee and the tribes represented here today that you know there is not going to be any health impacts to the tribal communities and their children from this poisonous spill? Because at this point resources have been pulled back because they say that everything is safe.
On Accountability at the EPA:
"Since the responsibility for this spill lies with the EPA, the agency, I believe, has to go above and beyond the standard response to address the needs of the communities impacted -- specifically the tribal communities.
"Private entities that pollute are held to a very strict standard by the EPA and are routinely investigated by the EPA and the Justice Department.
"So the question to date is, has anyone been fired at EPA as a result of this spill?
"Has anyone at EPA been disciplined, suspended, re-assigned, anyway sanctioned in anyway as a result of the spill?
"Has anyone been held accountable for the actions that have resulted in this spill?
On an Independent Review of the EPA
"There are at least three ongoing reviews or investigations of this spill--the first being an internal review, conducted by the EPA.
"The second is a technical review to be conducted by the Department of the Interior that you referred to.
"The technical review is limited to looking at causes and recommendations for solutions, not really to investigate negligence or criminal wrong doing by the EPA.
"The third review is one requested by Congress to EPA's Inspector General, not by you but by Congress, to look at actual wrongdoing and negligence.
"So is it safe to say that without Congress, not one independent investigation of negligence by EPA would be providing an impartial review?"
Tribes Impacted by the Spill
During the second panel, President Russell Begaye of the Navajo Nation testified that there is now little trust that the EPA will help mitigate the disaster they caused. In his written testimony, President Begaye stated "Recent events relating to this spill have led to a complete shift in that relationship as USEPA has sought to quiet our legitimate concerns, and has made repeated missteps in its response efforts. We have serious concerns about the strong conflict of interest USEPA has with respect to this investigation and the emergency response necessary."
Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council Member James M. "Mike" Olguin also testified on the EPA's slow response to the spill. "In the first days of the spill, however, it was largely the local jurisdictions who were responding to the incident. As of Friday, August 7th, EPA still did not have a coordinated effort in Durango," said Council Member Olguin. "In the absence of a federal presence, local jurisdictions, including the Tribe, worked together as members of the Southwest Incident Management Team in coordinating a response." He also testified that the EPA Administrator had not contacted the Chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe until this week, on Monday, September 14th.
Click here for more information on all the witnesses' testimony and to watch video of the entire hearing.
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