Navajo Nation Sues EPA Over Gold King Mine Disaster

IndianCountry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is among several defendants named in a lawsuit brought by the Navajo Nation alleging that the Gold King Mine spill in August 2015 could have been prevented, and seeking damages. 

When three million gallons of mining wastewater were let loose last August by EPA contractors attempting to remediate the site in Silverton, Colorado, it gushed into the Animas River, then the San Juan, prompting it to be declared off-limits for agriculture and drinking for several days. Even today, the tribe is still seeing fallout.

“For nearly two days, the USEPA did not call, alert or notify the Nation that this toxic sludge had been released and was headed into their waters and land,” the Navajo allege in the complaint. “Now, a year after one of the most significant environmental catastrophes in history, the Nation and the Navajo people have yet to have their waterways cleaned, their losses compensated, their health protected, or their way of life restored.”

Members of Congress representing the region that encompasses the Navajo Nation applauded the move. A statement from the office of U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, said the EPA’s priority should be to “make the Navajo community whole and mitigate financial risk to Navajo tribal members” and urged the agency to consider a fast settlement so as not to drag the process out. Other Democrats expressed support as well. [MORE]