EPA halts work at 10 polluted mines, worried about possible spill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspended site investigations and cleanup work at 10 polluted mining complexes due to fears the conditions may lead to spills of contaminated water, the Associated Press reported.
The sites stretch across four states, with three in California, four in Colorado, two in Montana and one in Missouri.
EPA officials are worried that work on each site could lead to a repeat of last month’s massive spill at an inactive Gold King Mine in Silverton, Colo. An EPA team working on the site triggered a 3 million gallon blowout of toxic sludge that contaminated rivers in three states, leading to health warnings.
As a result, the EPA said it is being exceedingly careful about its work on similar sites.
"We want to take extra caution before we initiate any work," EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus told the AP.
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http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/253470-epa-halts-work-at-10-polluted-mines-fearing-possible-spill