Gold King Mine Disaster: Navajo Nation Blasts EPA Review

The Navajo Nation is blasting a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's handling of the Gold King Mine disaster, which sent millions of gallons of chemical sludge into the Animas and San Juan Rivers as "another broken promise."

The nation, which is suing the EPA, says that the review by the department's Office of the Inspector General "reads more like an attempt to clear the EPA rather than an objective investigation."

The report's intent was to examine the EPA's role in the disaster and how they reacted.

The spill happened in August, 2015, when contractors hired by the agency to examine the mine, accidentally broke its seal, sending three millions of toxic sludge into the rivers. (Subscribe to local news alerts on Patch).

"We are deeply disappointed that the U.S. EPA and its Office of Inspector General has continued to make excuses for the plainly negligent and reckless actions that caused the Gold King Mine spill," said Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye. "What was supposed to be a neutral and critical evaluation by the OIG is anything but just another broken promise.

"We will not rest until our people are made whole and our land is restored from the harms caused by the Gold King Mine spill."

The report, released on June 12, concluded the EPA did nothing wrong and made no recommendations.

Calling the report, "obviously unreliable and flawed," the nation says that the inspector general "accepts the EPA's self-serving statements as true without any real inquiry."

The EPA is looking to get the Navajo suit - as well as one filed by New Mexico - tossed, arguing that the agency has immunity from such claims.

Meanwhile, the United States Supreme Court said on Monday that they will not hear arguments on a suit filed by New Mexico against Colorado related to the spill.

The justices did say that New Mexico could still pursue claims in a lower court.

Photo via EPA