EPA to pay $1.2M more in costs from Colorado mine spill

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it will pay another $1.2 million to tribes, states and local governments affected by a massive mine waste spill in southwestern Colorado.

The announcement came on the anniversary of the blowout at the Gold King Mine near Silverton.

An EPA-led crew inadvertently triggered the spill during preliminary cleanup work on Aug. 5, 2015. The blowout released 3 million gallons of wastewater carrying arsenic, lead and other heavy metals.

The spill tainted rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Three Indian reservations in Colorado and New Mexico were affected.

Read more: http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/epa-to-pay-m-more-in-costs-from-colorado-mine/article_99da5ee2-5b89-11e6-b1cd-ab3edfc5a554.html