Environment | National | Politics

House committee to hold first hearing into Gold King Mine spill

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

The scene of the spill at the Gold King Mine in Colorado. Photo from EPA

The House Science Committee holds the first hearing into the Gold King Mine spill tomorrow.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) chairs the committee. He said the Environmental Protection Agency has not fully disclosed the impacts of the August 5 spill that sent about 3 million gallons of toxic mine waste into the water system in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

“We are still, a month later, waiting for a real assessment of the health care risk to those who live near the river or might consume water from the rivers. That is inexcusable,” Smith told the Associated Press.

The hearing takes place at 10am in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The witness list follows:

The Honorable Mathy Stanislaus
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Dennis Greaney
President, Environmental Restoration LLC
The Honorable Donald Benn
Executive Director, Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Dean Brookie
Mayor, Durango, Colorado
Dr. Mark Williamson
Geochemist, Geochemical Solutions LLC

Get the Story:
Congress wades into toxic mine spill caused by EPA crew (AP 9/7)
Gold King Mine spill stirs concerns about New Mexico's old mines (AP 9/8)

Committee Notices:
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)
Joint Oversight Hearing on “EPA’s Animas Spill" (September 17, 2015)