The EPA reportedly knew they risked a massive river wastewater spill

Animas River
(Image credit: Theo Stroomer/Getty Images)

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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.