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Navajo Nation Vows To Hold EPA Accountable As Colorado River Poisoner Identified

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Having admitted responsibility for the poisoning of Colorado's Animus River, Mining.com reports The EPA has now been forced to admit that there was 3 milion gallons of toxic wastewater - triple their previous estimates. While EPA leadership held a press conference yesterday taking responsibility, it appears they are pointing the blame finger at the contractor, who they have now chosen to identify as Missouri-based Environmental Restoration which is one of the largest EPA emergency cleanup contractors. It is the main provider for the EPA’s emergency cleanup and rapid response needs in the region that covers Colorado, as well as in several other parts of the country - awarded $381 million in federal contracts since 2007. As the river slowly returns to normal (on the surface), The Navajo Nation, with many residents along the river, declared a state of emergency this week, vowing to hold the EPA fully responsible for its spill, and have demanded that the EPA provide the affected tribes with water until the river is once again usable.

 

The EPA Admits the Colorado River spill was three times bigger than expected... (via OilPrice.com, by Cecilia Jamasmie via Mining.com)

EPA says that about 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater, triple previous estimates, have poured from an old Colorado gold mine into local streams since last week.

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Sunday the spill caused accidentally by one of its clean-up teams working at an old Colorado gold mine has tripled in volume.

 

The leak, containing high concentrations of heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead, is now estimated to have reached about three million gallons of toxic wastewater, triple than originally estimated.

 

According to the first statement released by the EPA, the contaminated water was hiding out behind debris near the Gold King Mine entrance, where the crew was working with heavy machinery. The mine waste poured out into a nearby creek, eventually leading to the Animas River where the spill spread.

 

 

These images, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency, show the mouth of the Gold King Mine tunnel (left), and the channeled runoff on the mine dump (right).

 

The discharge was still flowing at the rate of 500 gallons per minute yesterday, four days after the spill began at the Gold King Mine, the EPA added.

 

Image courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency has been diverting the ongoing release into two newly built settling ponds where the waste was being treated with chemicals to lower its acidity and to filter out dissolved solids before being discharged to Cement Creek.

Image courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

The federal unit has also set up a website to provide constant updates on the situation.

 

EPA reiterated the spill does not threaten local sources of drinking water and the main contaminants responsible for the leak’s mustard-like colour are unlikely to be dangerous.

Image courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Still, recreational activity on the affected waterways has been suspended until the orange-coloured plume has fully dissipated.

 

And now The EPA appears to be trying to distance itself from the actual event. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the previously unnamed contractor involved in the spil has now been identified (by the EPA) as Missouri-based Environmental Restoration LLC...

The EPA, which was overseeing the servicing of the mine, had previously said an unnamed outside contractor was using heavy equipment when it accidentally triggered a breach in the abandoned Gold King Mine, letting out wastewater that had built up inside it.

 

“Environmental Restoration LLC was working at the direction at EPA in consultation with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety,” an EPA official said on Wednesday.

 

...

 

According to various government documents, Environmental Restoration had signed an agreement to provide emergency protection from pollutants from the Gold King Mine, near Durango, Colo., in the southwestern part of the state. The spill has fouled the nearby Animas River, turning its water mustard yellow in the initial several days after the spill on Aug. 5.

 

The money to fund the Gold King Mine cleanup comes out of EPA’s Superfund budget, according to Scott Sherman, a former deputy assistant administrator at EPA during the George W. Bush administration who oversaw Superfund and other waste programs.

 

Environmental Restoration is one of the largest EPA emergency cleanup contractors. It is the main provider for the EPA’s emergency cleanup and rapid response needs in the region that covers Colorado, as well as in several other parts of the country. It worked on the cleanup for some of the highest-profile disasters in recent history, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack ground zero cleanup, and the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico spill remediation, according to the company’s website.

 

From October 2007 through this month, Environmental Restoration has been awarded $381 million in federal contracts, according to government procurement data compiled on USAspending.gov. The vast majority—more than $364 million—of that total was for work for the EPA.

Which makes you wonder, when revenues are all spoonfed by the government no matter what, just how 'careful' are you going to be? As we noted yesterday, this disaster was entirely foreseeable.

And, as TheAntiMedia.org reports, The Navajo Nation has vowed to hold The EPA accountable...

The Navajo Nation declared a state of emergency this week after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed they were responsible for not one, but three million gallons of toxic mining wastewater spilled into the Animas River in Colorado. According to the EPA, the contamination is composed of cadmium, arsenic, lead, aluminum, and copper.

 

Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye vowed to hold the EPA fully responsible for its spill, saying “The EPA was right in the middle of the disaster, and we intend to make sure the Navajo Nation recovers every dollar it spends cleaning up this mess and every dollar it loses as a result of injuries to our precious Navajo natural resources.” 

 

According to Indian Country Today, “Residents along the San Juan River have been warned to stay away from the waterway. It is closed until further notice and should not be used to water crops or feed animals.”

 

The Navajo Nation has demanded that the EPA provide the affected tribe(s) with water until the river is once again usable. It is currently unclear whether or not the agency will comply with this demand. Civil lawsuits now seem to be the restitution to recover damages from this spill since it is highly unlikely the EPA will pay any upfront fines for the leak, according to a former EPA official.

 

Navajo Nation President Begaye has “instructed Navajo Nation Department of Justice to take immediate action against the EPA to the fullest extent of the law to protect Navajo families and resources.”

 

Other damages to the local recreation economy and ecosystem are expected to add up, though the extent of the damages is not known at this time.

 

This is just the most recent case where Native American land was polluted, not to mention where their basic necessities and rights were violated by the federal government. In many of these instances, little to nothing was done to compensate them for the damage.

 

The Navajo Nation is no stranger to environmental negligence at the hands of the federal government and greedy corporations, which make their money extracting resources from native lands. For decades, uranium was mined from their land. According to the EPA,

 

“Today the mines are closed, but a legacy of uranium contamination remains, including over 500 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) as well as homes and drinking water sources with elevated levels of radiation. Potential health effects include lung cancer from inhalation of radioactive particles, as well as bone cancer and impaired kidney function from exposure to radionuclides in drinking water.”

 

Despite the EPA’s claims to the contrary, this contamination is yet to be legitimately addressed even though the last uranium mines were shut down in 1986. In fact, the uranium industry is still trying to open new mines in or near Navajo land, despite the fact that the mess remains from previous mining operations. The Navajo Nation is still fighting for it to be cleaned up and to attain compensation for the countless victims who have fallen ill from radiation exposure.

 

Currently, Native American Indians face another dire threat to their environment and resources from Big Oil interests and their in-pocket politicians, who are pushing for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The controversial pipeline is facing heavy opposition from indigenous groups because it would pass through reservation land in the U.S., extracting oil from prized native areas in Canada. While much is made from both the right and left about the pros and cons of the pipeline, these politicians and interest groups have so far disregarded the Native Americans’ concerns about the project.

As Anti-Media concludes...

The bottom line is that there are many environmental problems afflicting Native Americans and their land, and much of the time, these issues are neglected and even sustained by the people who cause them. Most times, complaints about these abuses fall on deaf government ears.

 

The EPA’s toxic spill into the Animas River serves to highlight the continued abuses that indigenous populations in North America have suffered at the hands of governments and moneyed-interests since Europeans first “discovered” the Americas.

*  *  *

Summing it all up...

 

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Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:39 | 6422788 Kilgore Trout
Kilgore Trout's picture

Who pays the fine for a screw up like this? I know. I KNOW!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:43 | 6422807 MillionDollarBonus_
MillionDollarBonus_'s picture

I wish people would stop making such a big deal out of this. Compared to the real environmental issues facing our planet like climate change and overindustrialization this is nothing.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:50 | 6422811 Liberal
Liberal's picture

As a staunch liberal, I strongly feel that orange/brown-colored river looks absolutely divine.  But I knew you Domestic Extremist Zero Hedging Racists wouldn't like it. 

 

We just need to add more gay to that river and it'll be perfect!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:02 | 6422886 TongueStun
TongueStun's picture

You Obama hating racists need to stop. The important thing to remember is that negroes are in charge, and we have diversity in the gummint

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:33 | 6423025 macholatte
macholatte's picture

 

 

have demanded that the EPA provide the affected tribes with water until the river is once again usable.

 

That’s the kind of thing a responsible government would do immediately without giving it a second thought. But corrupt government officials think about covering their own asses first instead of working to protect the populace.   Disgusting!!!

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:38 | 6423049 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

It's not illegal when the government does it.

This is how the law really works in the crony capitalist, oligarchic dictatorship. Punishment for the masses, and free passes for the insiders.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:50 | 6423077 Stackers
Stackers's picture

Animas River --> San Juan River --->Lake Powell -->Colorado River-->Lake Meade

5+ million people just had their drinking water highly contaminated.

 

Who's up for Labor Day weekend at Lake Powell ?

EPA guarantees arsenic and mercury levels will be at "safe" levels

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:53 | 6423130 Say What Again
Say What Again's picture

All those people already on water rationing will love this.  Can they use this water to make their lawns turn green?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:09 | 6423208 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

This story sounds vaguely similar to the IRS Targeting Scandal.  Government agency comes out and innocently says "there was a mistake made, sorry".  Then the rabbit hole ends up going WAY deeper than anyone could have imagined.

The only thing we're missing is the EPA blaming it on "rogue low-level employees".  If they ever say that you can be assured this one goes right to the top, including the Oval Office.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:34 | 6423305 spastic_colon
spastic_colon's picture

Hey MDB.....I have an idea, I'll come over and piss in your wine cooler, I guarantee it will have a lot less chemicals than this spill....will you still drink it?  I didnt think so.  It was more fun when I only speculated you were a complete fu*king moron...thanks for confirming.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:40 | 6423320 StackShinyStuff
StackShinyStuff's picture

“And what’s that mean anyway, átséátsé?”

“It’s an ancient Navajo word. It means ‘stop’.”

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:16 | 6423468 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

~"While EPA leadership held a press conference yesterday taking responsibility, it appears they are pointing the blame finger at the contractor, who they have now chosen to identify as Missouri-based Environmental Restoration which is one of the largest EPA emergency cleanup contractors."~

No, "taking responsibility" means EPA people being fired or resigning. Hello, Gina McCarthy? Hello???

Barack Obama? Hello?

http://freebeacon.com/issues/house-committee-calls-epas-gina-mccarthy-te...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:40 | 6423540 brockhardman
brockhardman's picture

Fuck the EPA.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:42 | 6423803 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Meet your newly appointed director of the EPA, Blythe Masters.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:02 | 6424109 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Remember this:

 

“I am glad to reassure the people of New York...that their air is safe to breathe and the water is safe to drink...”

Christine Todd Whitman, (right)

EPA Chief, September 18, 2001

Fri, 08/14/2015 - 03:13 | 6425130 cookie nookie
cookie nookie's picture

These Indians complain too much.  They already have tax-free cigarettes and casinos.  What more do they need?

Fri, 08/14/2015 - 02:51 | 6425103 ZD1
ZD1's picture

Has EPA Director Gina McCarthy offered to resign over this? No? Well, has she even offered to take a swim in the river?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:18 | 6423474 Manthong
Manthong's picture

“Compared to the real environmental issues facing our planet like climate change and overindustrialization this is nothing.”

If I piss in your drinking glass, that’s nothing either.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 21:32 | 6424623 omniversling
omniversling's picture

3m gallons = about 70% of what it takes to frack ONE shale well...

and all that waste water either gets evaporated or reinjected into (or close to) aquifers. It's estimated that there are 1.1million active frackjobs in the US, = 4 950 000 000 000 gallon [US, liquid] = 4.495 434 488 2 cubic miles.

Out of sight, out of mind...but just as lethal eventually. Way to go USA!

Long drinking water!

https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2013/03/12/how-much-water-it-ta...

http://www.fractracker.org/2014/03/active-gas-and-oil-wells-in-us/

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 22:16 | 6424764 Manthong
Manthong's picture

Long Lead and Mercury in sediment.

Really.. the heavy metals will be in the sediment for a long time.  

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:48 | 6423573 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

All the ancient Navajos are dead.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:53 | 6423378 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Well, Obongodinga promised to "fundamentally transform" this country. And now we have 25% unemployment, home ownership at the lowest level in decades, race relations the worst in living memory, idiots running around trying to ban words like "husband", "wife" , "boy", "girl", a man puts on a dress and is considered a hero, Christian asylum seekers locked up while murderers and rapists are encouraged to scurry to the nearest sanctuary city, and orange rivers. FOWARD!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:01 | 6423415 knukles
knukles's picture

Dissidnets like you will be sent to Hildebeast's Happy Camp.
Please rekmember to wear a red carnaiton so that we might find one another.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:57 | 6424090 Sturm und Drang
Sturm und Drang's picture

I'm your Auntie Hilde

and I welcome you to Hilde's FEMA Camp

The camp with the difference,

never mind the torture

When you come to Hilde's

the pain lasts forever!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 21:03 | 6424544 bigkahuna
bigkahuna's picture

when you enter camp hildebeast, camp hildebeast enters you

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:54 | 6423868 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

We are rayciss until ALL rivers are BLACK. Work to do, son. Work to do.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:00 | 6423169 HungryPorkChop
HungryPorkChop's picture

Whatcha' complain' about.  That's now mineral water just like we have in West Texas and the EPA should charge extra for adding all those minerals.  Anyone in this spill zone can forgo their multi-vitamins for the next couple of years. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:12 | 6423217 Muddy1
Muddy1's picture

CORRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION

Make that ANIMAS River, there, fixed it.

Now then, the lawsuit by the Navajo Nation will enable a transfer of wealth/reparation to that tribe, and eventually other tribes downstream.  It won't be long before Van Jones, Obama hack and communist, will be helping the indians.  THEN, we have Mexico downstream.... I'm sure they'll find an opportunity to sue the US as well.  Yassa', wez gwine to sue the US guvment and ol' Uncle Tom Obama.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:43 | 6423339 horseman
horseman's picture

Won't make it to Mexico.  The EPA will trap it in Lake Powell and pump to the LA suburbs.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:05 | 6423429 knukles
knukles's picture

That is an acceptable solution with respect to those well up north from LA
(If you don't know CA, we hate them down south like a plague.  One time at the movie, the trailer for Battleground LA was showing, with the aliens landing and destroying the city.  The whole place cheered for the aliens.  Seriously.  It's places like LA give the rest of the state a bad name.  In fact, we'll throw in SF and the aliens are welcome.  You know, a District 9 solution.)
Those fuckers still think there's no water problem and are having the normal wet tee shirt and car wash contests.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:54 | 6424078 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

These use rather insignificant amounts of water. Same with irrigating lawns.

Theres a market system for alloting resources without any need for "use only what you truly need" rationing.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:23 | 6423727 PTR
PTR's picture

Whatcha' complain' about.  That's now mineral water just like we have in West Texas and the EPA should charge extra for adding all those minerals.  Anyone in this spill zone can forgo their multi-vitamins for the next couple of years. 

 

And chemotherapy sessions.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:53 | 6423593 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

I was wondering how the piranha got so big in that classic T&A flick

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:51 | 6423116 wisefool
wisefool's picture

I don't think they could even they wanted to. Between the drought and the utah NSA datacenter water requirements. (much of the L1/coreflow water has to be cleaner than human consumption.) Montezuma's/Jeronimo's/Chochise's revenge?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:53 | 6423382 TuPhat
TuPhat's picture

They can't do anything immediately.  It takes budget approval first.  If you want a government that spends without any thought or approval then go somewhere else.  Here in america that only happens with big ticket items.  Like money to banks or for wars.  This little enviro problem  has to be budgeted.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:00 | 6423412 Abitdodgie
Abitdodgie's picture

"Negroes n charge", super because they always do such a good job with thier own countries , look at South Africa a becon of sucsess.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:08 | 6423441 Down to Earth T...
Down to Earth Thinking's picture

Absolutely and this is a fine example of the governemnt alphabet agencies at work and doing thier good deeds ! So of course we need more gov administrators and control freaks or we will surely perish !

 

Sound familiar ?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:48 | 6423358 Antifaschistische
Antifaschistische's picture

so, now it looks like the Mississippi river, and most of the rivers in Texas....what's the big deal?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:46 | 6422816 lordylord2
lordylord2's picture

Thank God government builds the roads (and does such a good job at it) or else socialists may not have any argument at all in favor of government.  Ah, but what do I know, I'm just a selfish libertarian.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:17 | 6423243 daveO
daveO's picture

The state(NC) paved a road near here several years ago. They required that some(about 10%) of the work go to a minority owned company. So, they paid one to come here from hundreds of miles away. They tore up sections, about 50-100 feet each, and laid down the most uneven surface I've ever seen! I kid you not. To this day(5+yrs later), I either have to slow down and/or swerve to miss certain sections in the road. It was better before they touched it. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:29 | 6423290 Vlad the Inhaler
Vlad the Inhaler's picture

Thank god for the government or the spill would have happened long ago when the miners walked away with the loot and left the mess for the neighbors.   If I take a huge dump on your lawn, and you spill some poo onto the sidewalk while cleaning it up, it's all your fault right?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:06 | 6423645 lordylord2
lordylord2's picture

Vlad, please stop inhaling.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:59 | 6424098 Vlad the Inhaler
Vlad the Inhaler's picture

Hold on, I feel a BM coming...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:54 | 6422843 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

Indian chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white U.S. government official: "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done." The chief nodded in agreement. The official continued: "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?" The chief stared at the government official, then replied: "When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty bufallo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having sex."

Then the chief leaned back and smiled: "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve a system like that."

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:36 | 6423036 macholatte
macholatte's picture

 

"Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve a system like that."

 

Clearly Black Man learned.

Fundamental Transformation .... get used to it.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:47 | 6423098 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Yeah Eirik, do you know any good black jokes?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:54 | 6423137 Say What Again
Say What Again's picture

Really?!?!?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:33 | 6423194 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Or Asian, or Indian, or Arab, or Hispanic, etc. Progressives only have a sense of humor when it comes to white males. Just calling out the hypocrisy, that's all.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:50 | 6423343 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

One thing that you should probably understand about us Scandinavians is that we are the least Westernized of all the "whites".

This is something that hearkens back to the era of the Roman Empire, when Germanic tribal warriors halted the encroachment of Roman civilization into Magna Germania during the "Battle of the Teutoberg Forest". At the end of the Viking age, we again were the last of Europe's peoples to convert to Christianity; giving Christian missionaries nervous breakdowns for over 200 years before deciding that we had had our fun, and should probably begin to take a more pragmatic approach to the issue of European society rapidly changing around us.

It's a mentality which continues to this day, and which can typically be seen in our mocking sarcasm towards America's imperialism, capitalism and exceptionalism, as well as our rebellious attitude towards the Abrahamic moral value system. White Supremacists could scarcily have chosen poorer candidates for their "exalted Aryan master race" racial theory than us Nordics. The joke is entirely on them.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:51 | 6423373 pods
pods's picture

But ya left the back door open and half of the brown world snuck in.

So, joke is gonna be on you.

pods

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:11 | 6423454 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

"Us nordics". Your neighbors the Norwegians have kicked out the muslims and their crime rate has plummeted. The rest of Europe is beginning to realize that multi-culturalism is a disaster. Are you outraged over the IKEA murders and all the rapes? You seem to want your own tribe wiped out. We have plenty like you here in the US, we call them "progressives" and their leaders call them "useful idiots".

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:27 | 6423505 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

I am Norwegian. Well, an expat.

But not exactly a fan of Erna Solberg and her party.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:38 | 6423317 Condition 1SQ
Condition 1SQ's picture

Sorry, Two Eagles never said that - and the picture you paint doesn't tell the whole story.  Native American tribes were all about conformity and tradition.  There's a reason they didn't innovate beyond simplistic survival techniques.  They had short, hard lives and were completely at the mercy of the elements.  Deformities and most serious injuries meant death.  If you want to go rub two sticks together to make fire, have fun, "Eirik".  I'll side with the society that actually has a chance of moving off of this planet before we're wiped out like the dinsoaurs.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:53 | 6423380 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

"It's not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value." -- Stephen Hawking

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:28 | 6423513 Condition 1SQ
Condition 1SQ's picture

How ironic that a man who is more machine than man would make a statement like that.

Also, you never addressed the fact that your quote from Two Eagles is 100% bullshit.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:46 | 6423569 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Progressives can not be bothered with facts or truth.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:04 | 6423425 Inzidious
Inzidious's picture

Shrug. Even with a 'harder' life, I am sure they were happier. I can assume this because in our 'easier' society, unhappiness brings profit. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:29 | 6423515 Condition 1SQ
Condition 1SQ's picture

Happier than you, maybe?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:39 | 6424017 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

Their system only works with high infant mortality. By disease or killed at birth. All stable societies practice infanticide.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:59 | 6424288 Black Warrior W...
Black Warrior Waterdog's picture

...and now the Injuns are all cooped up on their 40-acre reservations as smallpox champions.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:51 | 6422845 NoVa
NoVa's picture

Gov gives a F*ck about the people.

remember the TV ad from early 70's that should the lanscape with litter and the indian Cheif sitting on a horse crying a tear - ?

no different 40-50 years latter

 

noVa

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:36 | 6423028 Montani Semper ...
Montani Semper Liberi's picture

 I remember the commercial, but I don't remember the horse the "cheif" was sitting on crying any tears.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:56 | 6423147 ali-ali-al-qomfri
ali-ali-al-qomfri's picture

he was in a canoe and it tipped over and he lost all his PM's,

I cried too when I saw him roll that thing.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:06 | 6423188 seek
seek's picture

Fun trivia fact: that "indian" was Iron Eyes Cody, and he was actually an actor of italian descent and faked being a native american his entire adult life.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:54 | 6423384 pods
pods's picture

That is hilarious.  Was he related to the Warren chick?

pods

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:43 | 6423552 gaoptimize
gaoptimize's picture

Rush brought that up once when he discussed the PC-driven fate of "Chief Nockahoma"of the Milwaukee Braves.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:59 | 6423888 WillyGroper
WillyGroper's picture

what next, Seek?

Jay Silverheal's real name is Tonto Goldstein?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:06 | 6423191 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

I've seen it, the river one anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM

I agree with the idea in theory, but I don't know what .gov can do, and there was more than a little manipulation at play. Seems Iron Eyes Cody was the original transcoloured person in government, long before Rachel Dolezal.

"In 1995, the Hollywood Native community honored Cody for his contributions to the representation of Native American life, yet they tactfully noted his non-Native heritage."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Eyes_Cody

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:38 | 6423279 daveO
daveO's picture

 Glad you mentioned him! Another sucker-successful propaganda campaign brought to you by the Nixon Administration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_America_Beautiful

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Council

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency

The cryin' Injun (actor) was actually an EYE-talian!

Cody was born Espera Oscar de Corti on April 3, 1904, inKaplan in Vermilion Parish, in southwestern Louisiana, a second son of Antonio de Corti and his wife, Francesca Salpietra, immigrants from SicilyItaly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:57 | 6423399 skeelos
skeelos's picture

He didn't pick his parents, an he couldn't help being who he was.  The important thing is that he self identified as an Indian, I mean Native American, at least on TV while people were looking at him and he was getting paid. Clearly he was years ahead of his time in blazing the trail for people who are made not born. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:06 | 6424122 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

Spaghetti Western actor...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:56 | 6422868 iClaudius
iClaudius's picture

Thank you so much. Your comment is truly and without possible contention the funniest thing I have read.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:36 | 6423037 I Eat Your Dingos
I Eat Your Dingos's picture

Dear MillionDollarBitch, please understand a truly privileged elite has the world in its metaphorical grasp as it tightens it to prevent illusion of control to deteriorate. These elites have invested in creating an unsustainable system which includes the economy to politics. They also have invested in GEOENGINEERING ! Rockefellers to Gates to the UN are alllowing global dimming and polluting the earth to make profits off anything that is tainted and untainted by these damn elites. Have fun with your retarded POV good day

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:57 | 6423157 Say What Again
Say What Again's picture

You need to appreciate MDB for what he is.  One of the best satirical comedy acts of the modern era.

 

Well, at least the ORIGINAL MDB was.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:08 | 6424129 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

It is his choice to appreciate it...or not.

 

He needs to do as he pleases...as well as you. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:45 | 6423088 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

Too bad we don't have some agency tasked with protecting the environment who can prevent this from happening...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:08 | 6423204 Fukushima Fricassee
Fukushima Fricassee's picture

MillionDollarBonus_ Piss on you, stupid mother fucker

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:15 | 6423694 83_vf_1100_c
83_vf_1100_c's picture

 Say it like you mean it.  You are all wasting your emotions on MDB. Save it for the 2 minute hate this evening. Read his post and just picture a /s tag at the end and it makes sense. I don't really get the shtick but I see him differently than I used to. I don't think he is just trolling. Maybe. Don't care.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:09 | 6423210 RockySpears
RockySpears's picture

My first ever down vote.

 

Because you said, "climate change", as if it was important.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:49 | 6423360 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

Hey milliondollar bonus.  Good points made.  And as always some are taking the bait.

But, you made your point.  On a few important threads lately you skillfully get them worked up and replying but then repost to keep the game running.  You then completely distract and refocus the entire attention and cloud up the comments with their replies to where those with more to contribute are lost.

Try not to over dominate, no matter much fun the gullible are.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:50 | 6423362 indygo55
indygo55's picture

Yeah right MDB, lets all just look the other way cuz our govy did it and they didnt mean to so lets not get too upset. Forget that it has been shown that this possibly is a criminal attempt to get funding for a treatment plant. Yeah, lets just try to forget it and go back to sleep. And Fukishime, lets not talk about that either cuz the Govy doesn't want to lose face. I mean it would be so embarrasing. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:57 | 6423395 steveharless
steveharless's picture

typical government shill trying to smoothe this disaster over....

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:38 | 6423536 Freewheelin Franklin
Freewheelin Franklin's picture

MillionDollarBonus_

 

 

Who let this idiot back in here? 

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:14 | 6424154 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

First he was never booted.

 

Next can Tyler shill and post under psuedonyms?

 

Isn't that the beauty of anonymity?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:20 | 6423714 PTR
PTR's picture

I wish people would stop making such a big deal out of this. Compared to the real environmental issues facing our planet like climate manipulation and overindustrialization this is nothing.

 

Fixed yer post.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 22:32 | 6424802 FIAT CON
FIAT CON's picture

May MDB eat the fish and drink from this river!

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 23:35 | 6424926 FidTheRED
FidTheRED's picture

At least there's money to be made with overindustrialization. This spillage of cesspool, well...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:45 | 6423084 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

Stand the EPA thugs on the river bank, shoot them in the head, let their bodies fall into the orange water.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:43 | 6423340 daveO
daveO's picture

Give a hoot, don't pollute! Never be a dirty bird..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZB7gSQRIuM

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:40 | 6422794 SoDamnMad
SoDamnMad's picture

BP will determine the damages and assess the fine on the EPA. Sounds fair to me.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:49 | 6422839 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

BP had to give Obutthole a 20 billion dollar slush fund and that sounds like a good starting point.....

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:31 | 6423009 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

Bad news is always revised downward even badder.

 

Whether it's Fuki leak or the housing crisis, "It's contained," is later revised to "Get yo ass outta here!"

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:40 | 6422795 realmoney2015
realmoney2015's picture

Hopefully Rand jumps on this like he has with planned parenthood. This is one of the five departments that Ron wanted to eliminate... Then the infamous Rick Perry 'oooopss!'

 

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:42 | 6422803 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I feel protected.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:48 | 6422826 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Obama brand condoms 'its like wearing nothing".....

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:42 | 6422805 besnook
besnook's picture

no word on the trout and other water life? the san juan isan excellent fishery, or was one, anyway.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:51 | 6422846 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Those would only matter if WE did it...

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:58 | 6422876 nevadan
nevadan's picture

If there was a fish die off I'm sure it would be in the news.  The real damage is probably the bugs the fish eat.  Fish populations come later. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:36 | 6423529 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

After all, the MSM would never lie to us, now would they?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:32 | 6423015 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

The brown trout are now orange trout and are packed with vitamins and minerals. Mostly minerals.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:53 | 6423356 daveO
Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:58 | 6423608 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

Can we start making fish meat into thermometers again?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:14 | 6423929 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

Yes. They also glow in the dark and make nice paper weights.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:41 | 6423068 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

The animas flows into the San Juan below the areas that everybody considers the best fishing waters, so there is that.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:08 | 6423440 PoliticalRefuge...
PoliticalRefugeefromCalif.'s picture

..to hell with trout, what about the snail darters?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:46 | 6422813 madcows
madcows's picture

I'm guessing the orange color is from silt/clay.  I don't see no stinking silt fence on the site photos.

Silt and clay can travel for miles in a river.  And, of course, the silt is laden with arsenic and other nasty chemicals.

Those chemicals will eventually fall out, and impair the river for many miles.

Way to go, EPA.

Couldn't they have just pumped the leachate into tanker trucks and hauled it off for treatment.  What was the purpose of flooding the mine?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:54 | 6422860 horseman
horseman's picture

Well, according to the ZH article yesterday, the purpose of flooding the mine was to deliberatly cause this mess.  BTW, a friend of mine checked with the Silverton newspaper and that op-ed was in fact printed in their paper.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:02 | 6422891 nevadan
nevadan's picture

The mine flooding is ground water accumulation.  The mining activity increases drainage of ground water and since the tunnels are in mineralized zones the other contaminates are concentrated.  Most of that color is probably iron sulfide.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:55 | 6423140 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

I wonder if the EPA is dumping truckloads of lime into the river to precipitate that mess.  Probably not.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:38 | 6423318 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

This point has been made by others previously:

"EPA reiterated the spill does not threaten local sources of drinking water and the main contaminants responsible for the leak’s mustard-like colour are unlikely to be dangerous."

SO - if this massive release does not threaten drinking water and if the water quality is now back to normal already (as claimed yesterday by the EPA) then why not make this the new policy?  The EPA is claiming it is just a week long event and now it's all good.  So just make these releases a policy.  Right? 

Then there is this.  There is much more to this story.  Simply based upon the history of involvement of this enviromental contractor you must be suspicious.  This smells bad and would appear to be an intentional event.  They dug up the dam holding back the water on purpose to put in a pipe but never thought it might weaken the dam or cause the water to push through as they dug out a trench?  They are not that stupid.

The ties of this company should be investigated now that their involvement in past events is known.  Who actually owns it?  Who controls it?  What are the ties, such as haliburton or others.  Do we smell a tribe?

And there is the WHY?  Is it to hide the fact that daming this leach water is causing other mines to flood and start leaking?  Is the flooding of other mines about to cause a liability for the owners of those other mines and are those companies connected and thus does this intential breach protect them?

Or is there some longer term plan or intent for the poisoning of water supply to the Durango area? 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:05 | 6423428 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Cadmium

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 20:11 | 6424342 cornedmutton
cornedmutton's picture

Suspended Cadmium Sulfide

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:47 | 6422819 vq1
vq1's picture

indian tear all over again

 

"hold the epa responsible"

let us know how that goes. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:42 | 6423071 chunga
chunga's picture

This time, I hope they don't accept beads and blankets for compensation. Hold out for a casino at the very least.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:47 | 6422823 ChickenTrain
ChickenTrain's picture

Everything'sPhuckingAwesome.. nothing to see here.  Look!  A useful disaster in China.. everyone look over there. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:48 | 6422824 antiximik_RU
antiximik_RU's picture

I see ISIS/ISIL linkage. Do you?..

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:46 | 6423030 motorollin
motorollin's picture

Yep! A shitty situation caused and perpetuated by the government.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:48 | 6422830 aliki
aliki's picture

wizard of oz's road meets willy wonka's factory

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:49 | 6422833 Panic Mode
Panic Mode's picture

Close the whole bloody agency.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:49 | 6422838 JailBank
JailBank's picture

Were any lions harmed?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:37 | 6423796 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

All lifeforms from algae to human.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:50 | 6422841 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

So we can lokok forward to some fresh scalps on their totem pole.

That EPA bitch already looked like they'd taken hers.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:57 | 6422872 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

You mean they couldn't plug that little hole PDQ. Should have called in Red Adair.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:26 | 6423275 inevitablecollapse
inevitablecollapse's picture

i think he was busy over in china - something about a small fire to put out

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 13:57 | 6422873 wmbz
wmbz's picture

"Navajo Nation Vows To Hold EPA Accountable"

Riiiight! Go ahead and try all you'll get are some headlines.

Seems like by now that Indians and everyone else, would have figured out that a federal gubmint agency does as they please and answers to no one.

They live off the taxpayers, ergo they do not give a shit!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:00 | 6422885 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Give or take.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:47 | 6423094 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

War Party!!!!! Bring us some white-man scalps!!!!!!!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:03 | 6422895 Glass Seagull
Glass Seagull's picture

 

 

That is some of the most beautiful country in the lower 48.

Pathetic, sad, disgusting, etc.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:06 | 6422905 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Government, being nothing but a criminal syndicate of theft and violence, always accomplishes the opposite of the stated goal, as the stated goal is actually cover for additional theft and/or violence.

Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:06 | 6422911 Deathstar
Deathstar's picture

Take away ALL immunity from ALL GOV entities INCLUDING the cops and most of what poisons ameriKa will rapidly cease.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:14 | 6422937 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Read the 1st Amendment again, the last sentence.There is no govt. immunity, its

proscribed.The Constitution was ignored since almost day one.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:42 | 6423334 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

When people talk about the constitution as if it has magical powers and I bring up what you say and point out that without forceful actions to hold the govt accountable to the constitution there is none - they just have not reply but to declare that the govt "must" abide and if not then there are the federal courts.

 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 18:51 | 6424059 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"When people talk about the constitution as if it has magical powers and I bring up what you say and point out that without forceful actions to hold the govt accountable to the constitution there is none - they just have not reply but to declare that the govt "must" abide and if not then there are the federal courts."

You are correct. We, the American people are the "forceful action." Unfortunately we have neglected our rights and duty. However, like a reassertive parent to a recalcitrant teenager, we shall reassert ourselves.

Your statement about the courts highlights why understanding that Zion has colonized, for their pluder and exploitation, the American country. The courts that matter are inhabited and controlled by Zion for their benefit, and the rest of the courts serve to assure the plunder from their banksters' fiat-debt continues to flow upward.
https://thezog.wordpress.com/

Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..

 

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." -- Declaration of Independence, 1776

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:50 | 6423357 Kickaha
Kickaha's picture

The right to Petition the government and not be imprisoned or shot for doing so does not automatically force the government to actually listen to your petition. agree with you, and shovel some money your way to pay for your damages.  Maybe there should be something in the Constitution abolishing governmental immunity at all levels of government, and for all governmental employees, but you won't find it in the First Amendment. 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:04 | 6423628 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Petitioning at that time was bringing suit in court, or to the arbiter of the law.Suing, in

modern parlance.Even today,in legalspeak, you petition a court for relief of a wrongdoing.

The Constitution ONLY restrains the serfs, always was that way. You have

to laugh the restoration movement.They may get what they wish for.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 19:11 | 6424135 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

The correct form of "petition" was observed at the Bundy Ranch, Waco '93, and Ruby Ridge.

Time for more "petitioning."

Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..

 

The Four Rs
Rejection: Stop Paying, Stop Obeying, Stop Playing, Stop-up the System.
Revolution: It is inevitable, so prepare, as they are.
Restoration: Restore the American people, country and Constitutional republic.
Retribution: The guilty must answer for their crimes against the American people and the Constitution.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:06 | 6422912 decon
decon's picture

This situation is a totally preventable tragedy and the EPA officials should be severely punished for orchestrating this risky/failed operation.  On the other hand the Navajo Nation isn't lilly white either.  They've completely trashed their tribal lands through unregulated domestic livestock grazing.  Much of it is now bordering on a wasteland.  Like most pre-settlement tribes, they could only be considered conservationist because they were limited to stone-age tools.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:21 | 6422971 XitSam
XitSam's picture

Do we need government bureaucrats that have never raised sheep or cattle telling the Navajos what they can do with their land as long as it doesn't affect anyone else?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:26 | 6423751 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

Some of us need it.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:41 | 6423065 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

They have only been living off the land for how many thousands of years........but lets refer to the EPA leech with a masters in political science to decide what to do.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:11 | 6422925 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

Relax. It's just water. It's not like it's something important, such as oil or money.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 16:11 | 6423455 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Yeah. It was only water, like from the toilet.

Brawndo stockpiles were not affected.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:20 | 6423712 83_vf_1100_c
83_vf_1100_c's picture

  It will all be cleaned up by nature in a few (hundred) years. Maybe there will still be people around or not.

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:17 | 6422953 XitSam
XitSam's picture

It's funny. When the government does something wrong, it's "unlikely to be dangerous."  When non-gov does something wrong it's all "it could cause cancer, we must take extraordinary measures to protect the people!"

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:07 | 6423195 daveO
daveO's picture

In a related story, from the near future, 'representatives of the Susan G. 'death industry' Foundation descended upon the Navajo nation soliciting donations. The Navajo's were reported to say it was the most fearsome tribe they had ever encountered!' 

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:18 | 6422958 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

So when does the "well, this is actually a beneficial thing for the environment" bullshit start?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 14:24 | 6422984 TheTrendBeacon
TheTrendBeacon's picture

"EPA reiterated the spill does not threaten local sources of drinking water and the main contaminants responsible for the leak’s mustard-like colour are unlikely to be dangerous."

So then, why was the EPA involved to begin with?

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 17:42 | 6423822 Liberty2012
Liberty2012's picture

Exactly - Lie all the time, never tell the truth!

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 21:31 | 6424619 silverer
silverer's picture

Fill all the office water jugs in the EPA with this.  Maybe they'll get some real work done.

Fri, 08/14/2015 - 04:28 | 6425180 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

huh like the Mayor of Tokyo said: "Just smile, and you will be safe from radiation" true!

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