Remember earlier in August when the Environmental Protection Agency accidentally turned a river orange, and then initially downplayed the magnitude of the spill? Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press show officials knew of the possibility of a "blowout" that could release poisonous wastewater into Colorado's Animas River before they started excavating the nearby mine.
A plan the EPA drafted to prevent contaminants from entering the river was reportedly never completed. In a 71-page safety plan, apparently only a few lines touched on what to do in the event of a spill. Colorado's attorney general has said she is frustrated with the lack of answers the report provides.
The spill has cost the EPA at least $3.7 million so far.
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