"EPA Chief Apologizes as Anger Mounts"

"Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy apologized Tuesday for a mine spill in Colorado that her agency caused last week and planned to travel to the area Wednesday, amid increasing criticism from lawmakers about the EPA’s response.

Ms. McCarthy said at a news conference in Washington that she was still learning about what happened, responding to a question about whether the EPA was reviewing changes in how it cleans up old mines. 'I don’t have a complete understanding of anything that went on in there,' she said. 'If there is something that went wrong, we want to make sure it never goes wrong again.'

Sen. Cory Gardner (R., Colo.) said in an interview Tuesday he doubted the EPA had an adequate network set up in the region to respond to the disaster. 'Something did go wrong, and here we are, a week later, and there still remains a lack of understanding not only with what happened, but what’s actually at stake in terms of public health,' Mr. Gardner said."

Amy Harder and Dan Frosch report for the Wall Street Journal August 11, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"E.P.A. Treating Toxic Water From Abandoned Colorado Mine After Accident" (New York Times)

"Animas River Spill Tough Break for Shiprock Farmers" (Navajo Times)

"Animas Mine Disaster: Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead Broke Water Limits" (Denver Post)

"Restrictions To Remain for Rivers Hardest Hit By Colorado Mine Waste Spill" (Reuters)

"Clear Water No Comfort To Farmers" (Albuquerque Journal)

"States Downstream From Contaminated River Upset That EPA Didn't Alert Them" (Los Angeles Times)

"Mine Disaster 'Pains Me To No End,' EPA Chief McCarthy Says" (Colorado Public Radio)