Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy meets with Navajo Nation Council Speaker LoRenzo Bates, far right, President Russell Begaye, Vice President Jonathan Nez and Attorney General Ethel Branch in Shiprock, New Mexico, on August 12, 2015. Photo from Navajo Nation Council / Facebook
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency will testify at three Gold King Mine hearings next week, including one before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Administrator Gina McCarthy did not appear at the first Capitol Hill hearing on the disaster that was convened by the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology on Wednesday. But she will be making the rounds next week as lawmakers look into the effects of the spill on the Navajo Nation, the Southern Ute Tribe and the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing takes place at 10am on Wednesday, September 16. McCarthy is listed as the sole witness. McCarthy will make her first appearance before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee later that day at 2:15pm. The witness list follows:
PANEL IOn Thursday, September 17, the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Oversight Committee are conducting a joint hearing at 10am. The witness list follows:
The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. PANEL II
The Honorable Russell Begaye
President, Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ The Honorable James “Mike” Olguin
Tribal Council Member, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ignacio, CO Mr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin
President, American Action Forum, Washington, D.C. Dr. David Weindorf
Associate Dean for Research, Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX Mr. Gilbert Harrison
Rancher & Irrigator, Navajo Nation, Gadii'ahi Chapter, NM
PANEL ICommittee Notices:
The Honorable Sally Jewell
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Honorable Ryan Flynn
Secretary of Environment & Natural Resources Trustee
State of New Mexico, Environment Department
The Honorable Russell Begaye
President
Navajo Nation
The Honorable Clement Frost
Chairman
Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Holding EPA Accountable for Polluting Western Waters (September 9, 2015)
Oversight Hearing on "EPA's Gold King Mine Disaster: Examining the Harmful Impacts to Indian Country" (September 16, 2015)
Oversight of the Cause, Response, and Impacts of EPA’s Gold King Mine Disaster (September 16, 2015)
Navajo Nation cites 'culture of distrust' with Gold King Mine spill (9/10)
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Navajo Leader: 'This is an assault on who we are as Dine people' (8/11)
Navajo Nation to sue EPA over release of mine waste into waters (8/10)
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