This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

EPA Admits Spilling Millions Of Gallons Of Toxic Waste Into Colorado River - Stunning Aerial Footage

Tyler Durden's picture




 

By John Vibes via TheAntiMedia.org,

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal organization in charge of fining and arresting people and companies for damage done to the environment, spilled over a million gallons of toxic waste into the Animas river in Colorado this week. The waste came from an abandoned mining operation and turned the entire river a disgusting shade of bright orange.

The EPA admitted earlier this week that the spill occurred while workers from the agency were using heavy machinery to open the Gold King Mine, an operation that was shut down some time ago. While trying to enter the mine, the machines busted a shaft that was filled with wastewater, creating a leak into the river.

At first, the EPA attempted to downplay the spill and act like there was nothing wrong, but they were heavily criticized for those initial statements.

Dave Ostrander, the EPA’s regional director told reporters in a later statement that “It’s hard being on the other side of this.”

“We are very sorry for what happened. This is a huge tragedy. It’s hard being on the other side of this. Typically we respond to emergencies; we don’t cause them. … It’s something we sincerely regret,” he said.

However, some people are not willing to let the EPA off that easily, even some politicians have rightly pointed out that the EPA should be treated in the same way that any company or private individual would be treated if they poisoned the river.

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, who is from the area where the spill occurred said the EPA must pay for their mistake.

“If a mining operator or other private business caused the spill to occur, the EPA would be all over them. The EPA admits fault and, as such, must be accountable and held to the same standard,” Tipton said.

In a statement released this Thursday, Taylor McKinnon, of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, said that

Endangered species downstream of this spill are already afflicted by same toxic compounds like mercury and selenium that may be in this waste.  Taylor McKinnon, of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement Thursday. “These species are hanging by a thread, and every new bit of toxic exposure makes a bad situation worse. EPA’s downplaying of potential impacts is troubling and raises deeper questions about the thoroughness of its mine-reclamation efforts.”

Aerial footage below:

The EPA actually has no concern for the environment, they just happen to use the environment as a cover story to create laws and gain an advantage for the companies that lobbied for exemptions to the agency’s regulations, and to collect money in fines. There are solutions outside the common government paradigm, and that is mainly the ability for individuals, not governments, to hold polluters personally and financially accountable.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:11 | 6409282 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

Ok, how large of a fine do they have to pay?  I vote BP gets to decide.  

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:15 | 6409295 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Wasn't the EPA created only by executive order and not by act of Congress?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:21 | 6409318 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

At least they apologized, unlike our Department of Defense that has killed millions on behalf of higher profits for the MIC.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:22 | 6409326 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

The EPA has obviously outsourced management of this to China.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:27 | 6409341 AlaricBalth
AlaricBalth's picture

Had it been AlaricBalth Chemical Company instead of the EPA responsible for this disaster I would already be charged with environmental terrorism and enjoying a nice water boarding experience. This SNAFU will be swept under the proverbial rug by the current regime in Washington.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:30 | 6409348 NoDecaf
NoDecaf's picture

Yes yes yes.... Charge them a fine, and increase my taxes to pay for it. Then increase the EPA budget so they don't "make the same mistake"

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:35 | 6409362 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Prolly more democratic QE, qualitative easing.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:45 | 6409403 J S Bach
J S Bach's picture

Mmmmm... now we can get orange roughy from Colorado instead of Australia.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:48 | 6409414 PrayingMantis
PrayingMantis's picture

 

 

... Extreme Pollution Assholes ...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:54 | 6409437 MillionDollarBonus_
MillionDollarBonus_'s picture

This was an honest yet tragic mistake. This is exactly why I have repeatedly suggested that we set up secondary government departments tasked with overseeing the existing departments. This will ensure that our government is 100% accountable for its actions.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:02 | 6409451 Brit_Abroad
Brit_Abroad's picture

I do so enjoy your comments. The sarc is so thick you could spread it on bread and eat it all up

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:14 | 6409507 SafelyGraze
SafelyGraze's picture

the epa, by law, keeps the environment safe. 

safe for the birds.

safe for the fish.

and that is why, by law, this was not a spill.

and why, by law, it was not toxic.

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:05 | 6409738 chunga
chunga's picture

This is the same fiendish mob that runs flak for monsanto and banned primatene mist because it causes global warming.

http://www.rt.com/usa/monsanto-glyphosate-roundup-epa-483/

Despite a number of studies linking exposure to the chemical with diseases including types of cancer, the EPA is increasing the amount of glyphosate allowed in oilseed and food crops.

Oh, and there's this...in case anybody doesn't see things their way.

http://www.examiner.com/article/more-federal-agencies-buy-multithousands...

Sources have further indicated that ammunition and firearms have been delivered to multiple agencies of the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Internal Revenue Service, among others.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:22 | 6409805 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

The Animas flows through parts of NM that I have relatives in.  I've fished that river, and it is a kick-ass river to fish.  This really fucking sucks.  Fuck you, EPA.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:37 | 6409865 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

WTF is the EPA doing opening up a closed gold mine in the Rockies?  Re-enacting Ayn Rand?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:16 | 6410061 SamAdams
SamAdams's picture

Precisely the question I have...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:08 | 6410343 Four chan
Four chan's picture

there will be pigs.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:17 | 6410377 ReasonForLife
ReasonForLife's picture

It's painful to watch this happen to such beautiful nature.  For all concerned about their water, I would recommend taking a look at this filtration company, they are US Made Systems that remove heavy metals, radiation, fluoride and lot more: http://www.pureeffectfilters.com/

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:38 | 6410461 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

All that is well and good, and misdirected, because, and I repeat, WTF is the EPA doing opening up a closed gold mine in the Rockies?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:46 | 6410488 chunga
chunga's picture

My best guess would be that EPA goons were they looking for pollution so they could fine the mine operator.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:55 | 6410524 rccalhoun
rccalhoun's picture

Fire the managers that didn't do their due dilegence before digging.  FIRE and never re-hire.  Only in my fantasy.

Were the EPA personel playing on the CAT machinery?  probably.  it was probably like a kids party with grown men operating tractors they had little experience on.  I know...im in the grading and paving business.   fuck them.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:59 | 6410539 ZD1
ZD1's picture

Gina McCarthy, the Director of the EPA who has a clipped butch haircut and looks like a mean prison guard, has yet to comment on the spill.

She did take to her Facebook page to brag that she was on PBS talking about the EPA's Clean Power Plan and global climate change.

With her Bachelor of Arts in social anthropology, she believes that she's a scientific genius on the factors that effect the climate.

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/GinaMcCarthyEPA

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:27 | 6410678 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

Just another Dike (yes pun). I think GOD is assembling them all in one place for a single strike from heaven.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:53 | 6410795 knukles
knukles's picture

Yeah, and out in CA they're still forcing us to wash (waste) 100's of millions of gallons of fresh water through the Sacramento River water system to save a fucking extinct species.  I mean, it's gone, people.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:19 | 6410897 Buzz Fuzzel
Buzz Fuzzel's picture

Which side of the Continental Divide is it on?  I hope it's flowing toward California.  They love the EPA.

 

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:40 | 6411121 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

So

Who

Goes

To

Jail?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 19:15 | 6411935 ZD1
ZD1's picture

Maybe Gina McCarthy, the Director of the EPA, and her diverse EPA staff all need to take a swim in that river? 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 16:42 | 6411331 ultraticum
ultraticum's picture

It ultimately ends up in Kalifornia.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:09 | 6411027 ebear
ebear's picture

"WTF is the EPA doing opening up a closed gold mine in the Rockies?"

Is that a rhetorical question, or do you just lack the ability to do a web search?

http://www.kunc.org/post/why-was-environmental-protection-agency-messing...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:38 | 6411109 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

Your options are too narrow, and your critical thinking skills sorely lacking.  The article says NOTHING, other than, whoa! what a fuck up, like, oops, k? And still I wonder how people who do NOTHING for a living decide that they will save Mother Earth via playing with dynamite. 

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 16:15 | 6411235 free shit plz
free shit plz's picture

I like how the haus faggot with the first comment is still crying that a corporation was slapped on the wrist for fucking an ocean. And that they are too stupid to realize the EPA would pay a fine with taxpayer's money. That'll learn 'em!

Please remove the corporate fuckstick from your shfingshfing haus, they dont need fanboys they have politicians.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 16:27 | 6411270 ebear
ebear's picture

My options are too narrow?

What the fuck does that even mean?

As for saying NOTHING, sorry, but what that article doesn't say speaks volumes about the agenda behind it. They could have looked up the facts just as you could have, and just as *I* did.

To do critical thinking you first have to assemble some facts.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:38 | 6411113 TemporarySecurity
TemporarySecurity's picture

I used to live in the area.  The Animas river was truly one of the most beautiful rivers around. Google images of it or the Durango Silverton narrow gauge.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:30 | 6410147 monkeyboy
monkeyboy's picture

Is this bullish for gold?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:26 | 6410422 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

Bullish for, 'Let them eat toxic sludge!'

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:17 | 6411051 ebear
ebear's picture

No, but it's bullish for bullshit.

Read all 8 pages of it, if you have nothing better to do.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:08 | 6410344 curbyourrisk
curbyourrisk's picture

What else was in that mine?  What is being stored there?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:59 | 6409988 chunga
chunga's picture

It's sickening...I so wish I had the discipline to ignore all this. You know if you got caught fishing without a license, some other jackboot outfit would come along and impound your tackle and lock you up. Fuck them is right, I hope I live long enough to see their world crash down on their heads.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:36 | 6410175 Muddy1
Muddy1's picture

And the Animas HAD some nice flyfishing.

Those effin EPA employees who caused this should be sent to prison.  Employees of a private company would be and the company fined.  Hopefully, Colorado and New Mexico can figure out a way to fine the effin federal agency and their worthless employees.  Downstream is Utah, and Arizona with National Parks. 

This is disgusting.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:42 | 6410214 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

Can hardly wait until the EPA is put in charge of disposing our nucular wastes.

 

 

[PS: Bush spelling]

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:52 | 6410991 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

"NSA admits to spilling millions of emails into Utah sink hole..but does not apologize"

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:50 | 6410980 Tarzan
Tarzan's picture

True that, digusting

And their explanations are likely lies to boot...  We'll find the truth tattered and torn some day down the road...

I think I'll have to force myself to ignore this crap long enough to go broil up some of the Snapper we caught this weekend,

before these bastards outlaw fishing all together, and arrest me for eating THEIR fish, FOR YOUR SAFETY.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:49 | 6411147 MansaMusa
MansaMusa's picture

Stfu you racist chunga

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:13 | 6409764 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

Funny.... USUALLY when the EPA monitors environmental pollution that the government favors/causes, they usually just ban any coverage and keep their mouths shut.

Example: radiation. When Ft. Calhoun Nuclear Plant was flooded, they just got a no-fly zone declared around the plant so no news choppers could get disturbing footage. When Fukushima blew up or our Hanford site had a 'leak' or our WIPP had a fire and spewed radiation, they just turned off the radiation monitors and say nothing. 

The surprising thing here is that 1) they allowed any pictures of this, and 2) they didn't deny it outright. Too hard to cover up, so I suppose they are stuck admitting guilt since it's pretty obvious. I'm damn sure they will not have EPA people running aound gathering toxin samples or reporting them - even though they would have been all over this if it were someone they could fine (and somehow profit from) a private company causing this. I wonder if they're monitoring fish kills or sampling anything? 

F'king EPA loosers. Why do we even fund that agency?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:24 | 6409813 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

There is no covering that up.  I've fished that river on private property held by relatives.  There is private land up and down that river that would involve kicking people off their land to shut them up.  That's not going to happen.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:12 | 6410878 Cruel Aid
Cruel Aid's picture

study up, it will eventually happen. its the plan, its water after all. There is a war on ranchers via water.

WRT epa, they are the ones who wouldnt allow capturing the macundo bp wells surface oil because they couldnt capture enough of it. 99.something % of it... so they sunk it with corexit and its still there. ask george washington. im sure he has ammo on that.

My kneejerk was 'what is the reason/endgame that they perpetrated this'.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:03 | 6410003 wisefool
wisefool's picture

F'king EPA loosers. Why do we even fund that agency?

The same reason we fund the IAEA, DOE, and don't forget the Brain Trust at NIST who said WTC7 fell from ordinary office fires.

If you don't pay your taxes, Lois Learner will get one of her 75 I.Q. submissive gimps like Rudi Juliani, The Bush Boys. Cheney. Chertoff, etc. to transfer that all that degredation and violence they have spooled up.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:02 | 6410493 ZD1
ZD1's picture

Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution does not authorize Congress to legislate in the area of the environment, therefore, the EPA is unconstitutional. All 50 states of the Union have their own version of the EPA as authorized under the 10th Amendment. There is no need for a federal agency. The states of the Union can handle their own environmental needs as authorized by their legislatures.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:28 | 6410684 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

50% of the Government is the same way. Hell maybe more.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:38 | 6409607 Reichstag Fire Dept.
Reichstag Fire Dept.'s picture

But...who will watch the guys watching the government?! Where is Pol Pot when you need him??!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:16 | 6410063 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Pol Pot was a great genius!

He tried to rebuild the ancient Cambodian water works to try to make Cambodja big again like in history.

Okay... he failed bigtime and a few million people died...

BUT THAT SHOULDN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T TRY IT ALL ALLOVER IN AMERICA!!

And with America's surplus population, there's plenty  of room for error!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:23 | 6410408 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

"It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but its life"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTsXHXMkJA

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:56 | 6409696 michelp
michelp's picture

To MDB: 'This is exactly why I have repeatedly suggested that we set up secondary government departments tasked with overseeing the existing departments.'

This already exists with the Auditor General.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:52 | 6409950 ZD1
ZD1's picture

A controversial decision made on July 20 by Obama's Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel now requires Federal Inspector Generals to get permission to review sensitive documents from the very agencies they are monitoring.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/05/igs-to-ask-lawmakers-to-remov...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:59 | 6410292 lunaticfringe
lunaticfringe's picture

Wow, there is simply no end to what this asshole will do. Can't wait to see the pardon list next year.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:53 | 6410798 Arnold
Arnold's picture

Instead of screaming 'beer' the voices in my head are chanting kafka.

Thanks a pantload.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 17:12 | 6411464 Beam Me Up Scotty
Beam Me Up Scotty's picture

Sure right. So MOAR government overseeing other government is going to solve the problem. Maybe we need some overseers overseeing the overseers too. Just think how bullish our economy would be with all of the overseer jobs created!!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:51 | 6410790 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

So you are all in favor of the Department of Redundancy Department?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:32 | 6411091 Mentaliusanything
Mentaliusanything's picture

'Honest yet tragic' - MDB your da best. Only 1 in 3 understand your gift and that is the Tragedy.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:47 | 6411137 ebear
ebear's picture

"This was an honest yet tragic mistake."

You got that exactly right, and the party to blame is the town of Silverton, NOT the EPA.

If they weren't so concerned about the impact on tourism which owes its very existence to the historical mines which are the cause of the problem, this might not have happened. In other words.... NIMBY.

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20130803/NEWS01/130809831/Superfund...

Or you can spin this as "Revenge of the EPA" for resisting federal assistance for a problem originally created by the State of Colorado. I mean, why would you want millions of federal dollars pouring into your area creating employment and cleaning up a known and serious hazard when you can make a lot more money selling trinkets and train rides to fat ass Californians who get spooked at the mere mention of "superfund?"

Either way, you'll never get the whole story from the hacks at Antimedia.org who have just as big an agenda as everyone else involved in this mess.

As for ZH running this article, all I can say is gold isn't the only thing being stacked around here.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:46 | 6409406 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

To be judged by intent rather than result, unlike how the rest of us receive our "justice". We must recognize that to have a prayer of having a large centrally commanded system to function and not implode, accountability of consequence must exist....but it doesn't.

We will never learn who caused this and what happens to them.....unless they are a private sub contractor, which in that case will be sued and publicly disgraced.

The first rule of government employment is to NEVER trash a fellow employee.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:18 | 6409526 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

The EPA announced in a press conference that SHIT HAPPENED and they're sorry.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT FROM THEM??!

There's little children starving in America euh.... I mean Africa, and nobody's talking about that.

Now who should be sorry do you think?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:41 | 6409624 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

I wonder if I could use that approach should I ever be accused of doing something wrong.

Okay, done wondering. I'm nobody. I know the answer.

And one minor adjustment to what you wrote: "There's (sic) little African children starving in America..." #blackchildrenmatter

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 23:03 | 6412600 mkkby
mkkby's picture

Jeeezus, you fuck tards are stupid.  Do you realize these mines all leave behind massive lakes of toxic waste?  Eventually THEY ALL leak into rivers because the only thing holding it back is a dirt berm or plug. 

In other words, this would have happened anyway, after a large rain or flood.  The EPA screwed up, but at least they are trying to get ahead of disasters waiting to happen.

EXACTLY ZERO of these mines would ever be started up if the companies had to properly treat their waste chemicals.  The crime is that we let them get away so cheap, which is another form of socializing losses on the taxpayer. 

Once again, the CEOs got to take away their profit, while sticking the rest of us with the bill.

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:31 | 6409581 Kayman
Kayman's picture

No personal responsibility. Government employees are immune from retribution. The law presumes good intent and competence.

The law is a ass.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:54 | 6409428 MillionDollarBonus_
MillionDollarBonus_'s picture

.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:14 | 6409776 wanderintheland
wanderintheland's picture

You get a junk just because we love you so much, MDB.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:17 | 6410072 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Kruggybear approves of this broken window.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:54 | 6410258 LibertarianMenace
LibertarianMenace's picture

Proggie "logic" is amazing in't it?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:37 | 6409367 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

We're from the government and we're here to help fuck things up.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:18 | 6409523 caconhma
caconhma's picture

What a fuck can you expect from a government led by a Kenyan community organizer?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:25 | 6409554 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Let's give them a hand:

 

THE RUSSIANS ARE FLYING A DRONE OVER AMERICAN AIRSPACE!!!

OBAMA HAS ORDERED TO RETALIATE WITH THE SAME FORCE AND 50 NUCLEAR BOMBERS HAVE LEFT TO MOSCOW AND BOMB THE SHIT OUT OF THEM!!

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:23 | 6409810 PGR88
PGR88's picture

You missed a step, otherwise it exactly happens as follows:    Increase the EPA budget, so they can give $hundreds-of-millions in grants to 3rd party groups, like Sierra Club, for "education and outreach."    These groups can then sue the EPA and have favorable courts then force the changes the EPA wants

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:25 | 6409820 Antifaschistische
Antifaschistische's picture

they must be held accountable...yes, the EPA must fine themselves a large amount for this!!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:34 | 6409355 Stackers
Stackers's picture

The good ole' government cure all of "Oops we're sorry" ....... worked for the IRS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whbwwd0DR1M

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:48 | 6409413 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

"When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money."

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:07 | 6409473 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Thanks ewik, so profound...  Only the socialist leftists understand this as they FEEL so deeply..

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:01 | 6410304 LibertarianMenace
LibertarianMenace's picture

Proggie "logic" is amazing in't it? We can afford environmental conservation because we have chopped down those trees and mined that coal. Unless, of course, they have other goals.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:05 | 6410008 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Yet we are all busily consuming everything which you just described.

Why do we want to condemn those who enable us, the businesses that provide our goods, services and jobs, rather than the customer? An admission of ignorance? Is ignorance actually a defense or an excuse to willingly be treated as mindless sheep? Shall we live like the fundamental Muslim and cover our women's body from foot to top of head so as to not be "tempted"? Punish those who would dare to do so? Admit that we are animals with NO self control, no response but our most base instincts? WE are doing this.

Sure, punish fraud and criminality. But do not conflate that with our consumptive choices. WE have a choice, not only in our direct actions, but also in what we believe, what we choose to think. To believe that everything we are seeing is not somehow a result of our actions, is ignorance reinforced by a bias against any personal responsibility.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:57 | 6410277 jaxville
jaxville's picture

  Actually....  One day I ate some gold leaf.  I was surprised that it had a bit of taste to it.....sort of metallic.  Probably better for me than the breakfast I had earlier that day.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:49 | 6409417 de3de8
de3de8's picture

More government incompetence . Nothing will happen to these employees either

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:17 | 6410383 Dig Deeper1
Dig Deeper1's picture

If you shut down the containment grid we can't be held responsible.  Yes, it is true this man has no penis.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 15:54 | 6411162 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

We'll be able to confirm when dead pigs are sighted floating down the Animas river. Till then the jury is out.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:31 | 6409349 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

I've heard they bought stocks in the EVIAN water company now they've contaminated LAKE MEAD!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 17:25 | 6411528 Oldrepublic
Oldrepublic's picture

you mean the Department of Death!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:21 | 6409321 Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

Something in that spill was wante in the water supply and a US Corp could not be convinced to take the fall for it!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:33 | 6409356 Stormtrooper
Stormtrooper's picture

Created by the Clean Water Act of Congress in the 1970's after the Cuyahoga River caught fire several times.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:31 | 6410441 ZD1
ZD1's picture

Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution does not authorize Congress to legislate in the area of the environment, therefore, it is unconstitutional. All 50 states of the Union have their own version of the EPA as authorized under the 10th Amendment. There is no need for a federal agency. The states of the Union can handle their own environmental needs as authorized by their legislatures.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:47 | 6410156 Hippocratic Oaf
Hippocratic Oaf's picture

Fukin  EPA meant to hit the "clear solution" problem in the river intead of the "orange 15" color dye.

Either way, we'dve seen it.

FUCK the EPA!!!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:32 | 6410446 martens50
martens50's picture

You're right, HB. President Nixon (D-CA) signed an executive order on 12/2/1970. It was approved by a committee in each of the 2 houses.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:21 | 6409297 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

how large of a fine do they have to pay?

 

You can't prosecute the government.

 

Just thank goodness we have these guys. Pretty sure I would have caught it after about a mile or so.

 

Oh wait....that doesn't look right. Maybe we should turn that valve off.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:24 | 6409329 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

And what will a fine do?

THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA WILL BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT 80% OF THEIR WATER IS CONTAMINATED!!

Plan B will be to put seawater in a bottle and catch the vapor when you put it in the sun...

It's like a big neon sign that says: WE WANT EVERYBODY OUT OF CALIFORNIA SO WE CAN SELL IT TO THE CHINESE!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:27 | 6409344 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

Drear Amerikan Overrords - 

Yuuu owe us rots and rots of money.  Wre wrill take Carrifornria as compenstration in 2021.  Yuu have breen forwrarned.  

<3

Chrinese Govrenment 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:58 | 6409980 CynicLaureate
CynicLaureate's picture

That would be great for the USA...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:02 | 6410831 Arnold
Arnold's picture

New neighbors, i'll have the spouse make a casserole!

(chinks instead of spics instead of spooks instead of the fey folk.. The neighborhood was shot anyway.)

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:20 | 6409531 robertsgt40
robertsgt40's picture

I'm guessing Corexit won't help here. 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:12 | 6410037 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Nah, it only helps against Global Warming and Teenage Mutant Mexico Gulf Turtles.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:29 | 6409577 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

OK, how large a fine do US Tax Payers need to pay, cause that is where this will end up....

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:41 | 6409625 Fun Facts
Fun Facts's picture

Environmental Poisoning Agency

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:57 | 6409701 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Fine?!?! Why does it seem that the water supply for the South West and CA is under criminal attack?

Powell and Mead way down so lets add some poison to it as well? At some point there are larger questions.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:13 | 6409773 post turtle saver
post turtle saver's picture

"The EPA actually has no concern for the environment."

Oh, fuck you right up the ass...

I'm no fan of big government but a) that's just your fucking opinion man, and b) that opinion is DEAD WRONG

any dumbfuck that downvotes me is likely not old enough to remember what pollution, smog etc. was like in the USA before the EPA came onto the stage... they're the reason the US doesn't have air, water, and field soil like China's, frankly... anyone here who bitches and complains about that has likely been told to clean their fucking act up by the EPA in the past and has an axe to grind...

yes, this is a result of EPA work and the EPA should be held accountable, but let's not forget why they were there to begin with... that mine has been a toxic cesspool for as long as anyone can recall, the EPA didn't do that the mine owners did, period end of story...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:26 | 6409824 wanderintheland
wanderintheland's picture

No, you're right turtle. I saw it it too and you get an upvote from me.

The real problem is that there are plenty of old mines in this country that are just toxic accidents waiting to happen. I'm surprised something like this hasn't occured sooner. Expect more.

I used to live/work in that area, near Durango. The Florida River attaches to the Animas, and it's great fishing, or at least it used to be.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:41 | 6409897 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

And yet it's not the previous mine owner's that caused this disaster. Is it? No. it's some fucktard at the EPA.

Whem the smoke clears, you come back to us and post exactly how many EPA fucktards lose their job over this.

In my way of thinking, the head of the EPA should tender their resignation immediately. Will that happen? Hardly.

Standard Disclaimer: I call on Gina McCarthy to resign immediately.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:51 | 6409943 stormsailor
stormsailor's picture

lose their jobs?  how silly they will be given raises and promotions to oversee the thousands of new employees they hire to help with the disaster.  their budget will be increased by congress because obviously they need more oversight and controls to see that this trav-sham-mockery does not happen again.

 

another 2 or 3 billion a year should cover it.

 

problem solved, and as a bonus new jobs.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 16:17 | 6411243 ebear
ebear's picture

If people (and their governments) were more honest, we wouldn't need gold and silver for money and these mines would never have existed. Therefore, I blame society.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:45 | 6409913 Kolchak
Kolchak's picture

Nice try but hey, where was the epa when this mine was being converted to a toxic waste site?  Oh that's right they got paid to shut till cleanup was needed.

 

They were there to begin with because they got paid to look the other way when it was being made.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:23 | 6410103 wisefool
wisefool's picture

I am old enough. I am also old enough to remember when the government and government alone got us involved in a completely "trumped" up nuclear arms race with the soviets, who at their best had 1/10th of our arsenal.

I am sorry this happened. I never could afford gold, nor would I know what to do with it. But this will pass. We need the EPA to clean up our nuclear stuff first. Then worry about re-opening gold mines. Gorbechev wrote in his memiors that the USSR did not collapse because of our super spies. Not because of russian industrial waste. Not because of communism. not our bresinski's spreading freedom to afganistan. They were not jealous of our shining city on the hill, thousand points of light. He said the USSR colapsed because of Chernobyl. Priorities folks. Priorities.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:32 | 6409864 iClaudius
iClaudius's picture

$1

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:38 | 6410197 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

"

 

“If a mining operator or other private business caused the spill to occur, the EPA would be all over them. The EPA admits fault and, as such, must be accountable and held to the same standard,” Tipton said."

 

So what is that standard? Is it a fine? Frivolous lawsuit ending in ridiculous settlement amounts? Who gets the money? How about a firing line? Talk is great, but just like with the IRS--let's do something tangible already!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:16 | 6410368 ReasonForLife
ReasonForLife's picture

..

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:11 | 6409284 bigdumbnugly
bigdumbnugly's picture

any other good news this morning?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:12 | 6409286 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

Greece is going to borrow 86 Billion EURO.  Because the last 250 Billion they have borrowed didn't work -- this next 86 Billion Euros will do the trick.  

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:17 | 6409302 bigdumbnugly
bigdumbnugly's picture

indoubatedly.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:19 | 6409528 detached.amusement
detached.amusement's picture

www.dictionary.com it helps with spelling too

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:57 | 6409700 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

Good suggestion, but it's not always easy to tell on ZH if English is the primary language of posters here. Having grown up in the US, I never bothered noticing how screwy homophones are in English until I met my (Chinese-born) wife. Consider:

red -> read -> reed -> lede -> lead -> led -> red... Each pair sounds similar, but words like read and lead can be pronounced more than one way and have other words that sound the same. Non-English speakers can be confused.

A few of my favorites:

I support whirled peas.(Or was that world peace?)

The bullet missed me by a hare's breath. (Hair's breadth, unless a rabbit breathed just hard enough to alter the trajectory of the bullet.)

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:52 | 6409953 stormsailor
stormsailor's picture

heh,heh,heh.................he said homophones.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:43 | 6410218 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

If you have a problem with homophones, don't wear assless chaps.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:12 | 6410363 SubjectivObject
SubjectivObject's picture

You may have missed it, but homophones fuck you in the ear!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 14:10 | 6410871 Arnold
Arnold's picture

Never the less, compared to the necessary context nuance required to read, much less understand even the universal Mandarin is beyond me.

Gud Nglish iz nut.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:25 | 6409335 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Obama's golf handicap has improved!

The country can cheer once again as their best president ever since Donald Duck keeps getting better!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:00 | 6409447 SillySalesmanQu...
SillySalesmanQuestion's picture

He'll go down as the best duffer in Presidential history...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:11 | 6409488 Realname
Realname's picture

Did you mean to say, 'fluffer'?

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:38 | 6409608 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

I pity the course supers after Hussein has played a round.

Probably drives his cart on every green

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 10:10 | 6409759 clade7
clade7's picture

If I was President, I would too, and my cart would be a big fuckin tank, or maybe a backhoe with a cooler of beer in the front bucket, driven by a hot naked lady...I'd be playing barefoot, and 'Happy Gilmoring' off the tees...

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:44 | 6410221 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

As long as he is niggardly with his mulligans.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:42 | 6409627 Mr. Magoo
Mr. Magoo's picture

How about some Monday humor

Fed’s Fischer: U.S. Labor Market Nearly at Full Employment; Inflation ‘Very Low’
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:12 | 6409288 Never One Roach
Never One Roach's picture

" It's only a tiny leak, " the PM of japan told his peeples.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:34 | 6409358 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

We've got this one! We're sending in a robot!

.                                     Crying TEPCO CEO

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:33 | 6409585 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Crying TEPCO CEO

 

That was a big freakin deal....there's no crying in Japan.

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:40 | 6409382 negative rates
negative rates's picture

5000 gal/min and no end in sight is not tiny, NOW THAT'S A LEAK!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:17 | 6409289 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

the epa sounds just like tepco

we are veddy soddy zis happened, it vill not happen again!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:24 | 6409547 fredquimby
fredquimby's picture

Japs with a German accent? Wierd.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:13 | 6409291 wesson
wesson's picture

Video from RT ...

 

Stop Russian propaganda !

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:15 | 6409296 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

Its a video of a river.  Gas yourself.  

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:17 | 6409305 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Video from RT ...

 

Because Fox and MSNBC are facing huge budget cuts.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:23 | 6409328 847328_3527
847328_3527's picture

The EPA...the Veterans Admin...The State Dept...more and more incompetence. I'm so Glad Barry forced more gubmint control of health care down our throats. They'll fix everything.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:32 | 6409353 NoDecaf
NoDecaf's picture

Video from RT...

Because FOX CNN MSNBC are just so fucking trustworthy.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 09:56 | 6409366 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Megyn Kelly asks Donald Trump why he did that to the river.

 

Second question....why does he hate women?

 

Jeb Bush, Carl Rove, and the Kochs are huddled in the corner laughing their asses off.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:45 | 6410760 Deathrips
Deathrips's picture

Vince >>i like your comments and you're cool man..

 

I hate to do it im calling bullshit on your statement that MSN and CBS are broke.... they are not paid through advertizing or viewership market capture;  rather, they are paid for toting the govt propaganda aka official narrative. Wasn't there something about the Saudis doing the same thing to hide decimated viewership ratings of media? They just subsidize the "news" so it can continue....if i recall correctly the Saudis learned it by watching US. The US was trained on it by Israel..Israel didnt leak anything cause they doo all the spying and scrub it all first. 

By deduction and analysis of their subject matter they are filthy fucking stinking rich. Now what was Wesson saying about propaganda again..i have to look into that.

They just have one customer, and it aint the people.

Im here to kick ass and.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp_K8prLfso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V-4JHT2q3w

RIPS

 

 

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:38 | 6409370 Arnold
Arnold's picture

Hey don't leave us off the incompetence list!

(we want to be on the ZH commie list too, but are too shy to ask.)

 

 

--Congress Critters and staff

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:54 | 6409434 wesson
wesson's picture

/sarc

just in case someone missed it

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:17 | 6410628 caustixoid
caustixoid's picture

Wow, tough crowd today.  I thought it was excellent sarcasm.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:15 | 6409298 Laughinggrizzley
Laughinggrizzley's picture

Colorado seems to be the center of gubermint ineptitude. Check out the VA Hospital in Denver. Mismanagement, cost over runs,... At least we can get stoned, legally, when they f up!

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:35 | 6409361 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Hmm, I leave Colorado and lots of Progressive-Socialists from California move in...Guess I have to blame myself here.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:40 | 6409386 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

lots of Progressive-Socialists

 

Republicans or Democrats? Not that it makes much of a difference.

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:19 | 6409303 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

So much trouble and waste over such a barbaric relic. Why if I were a skeptical person I might believe that the miners are being put out of business for a reason. But our government looks out for us and would never do anything as selfish as that would they?

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!