Erin Brockovich Accuses EPA Of Lying About Colorado’s Animas River Mine Waste Spill, Meets With Navajo Leaders
The environmental activist Erin Brockovich became a household name after she was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the film version of her life. In the film bearing her name, she took on the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, accusing them of contaminating land and drinking water. Erin Brockovich is at it again, and this time she’s accusing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of lying about the extent of a mine waste spillage in Colorado’s Animas River.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the EPA initially estimated that the spill caused one million gallons of toxic waste from the Gold King Mine to stream into the Animas River. The spill released high levels of heavy metals, forced closure of the Animas, and contaminated rivers in New Mexico and Utah. Now, according to ABC News, Erin Brockovich is claiming that the initial report of a one million gallon spill is significantly lower than the actual amount of toxic waste emptied from the mine.
“They did not tell the truth about the amount. There were millions and millions of gallons.”
While touring an American Indian reserve to survey the damage done by the spill, Erin Brockovich met with Navajo Nation leaders, farmers affected by the accident, and spoke to high school students in New Mexico, where Brockovich told students that it was up to them — the next generation — to continue to hold the government accountable for their actions.
“It’s a terrible disaster, and unfortunately it’s a situation we see playing itself out not only on the Navajo Nation, but across the United States of America. You are the future and you will be the answers.”
The long-term environmental effects are still uncertain, and though the EPA says the initial threat is now cleared, Erin Brockovich, and the Navajo leaders she met with continue to be skeptical. During his meeting with Erin Brockovich, Navajo president Russell Begaye recounted what he saw during an unscheduled visit to the mine days after the spill — A a deep gully, and water continuing to pour from the mine. Begaye made a statement about his meeting with Brockovich, thanking her, says the Hill.
“[We] appreciate Ms. Brockovich’s willingness to visit our Nation to witness the damage first hand and help raise awareness about the plight of our people.”
Does Erin Brockovich have reason to be skeptical regarding the EPAs reports of the spill? Does the government have an obligation to be wholly truthful about potential environmental hazards such as the Gold King Mine toxic spill?
[Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
