Senate Hearing on EPA Response to Gold King Mine Spill
January 1, 2016
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The Frame
The hearing addresses the ongoing environmental and health concerns of tribal communities regarding toxic heavy metals like lead and arsenic in their water supply following a major industrial spill caused by federal oversight.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Navajo Nation
The tribe's water supply and river-based resources were contaminated by the spill.
Environmental Protection Agency
The agency is the subject of congressional oversight and was responsible for the site where the spill occurred.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The Gold King Mine blowout occurred on August 5, 2015, under EPA supervision.
- The spill released over 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River.
- The wastewater contained high levels of lead and arsenic.
- The spill impacted the Navajo Nation and other communities downstream along the San Juan River.
- The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs issued a subpoena to compel an EPA witness to attend the April 22, 2016, hearing.
- Concerns were raised that spring snowmelt could stir up toxic materials settled in the riverbed, potentially re-contaminating the water.
- The EPA previously cleared the water for drinking and recreation but acknowledged that a full cleanup could take years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Gold King Mine spill?
Why were tribal leaders concerned about the water in 2016?
Why It Matters
The hearing addresses the ongoing environmental and health concerns of tribal communities regarding toxic heavy metals like lead and arsenic in their water supply following a major industrial spill caused by federal oversight.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Use of Subpoena Power
The committee noted that it had not needed to issue a subpoena to compel an administration witness since the Jack Abramoff hearings, indicating an unusually high level of conflict between the committee and the EPA.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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