Lamar Smith chastises EPA for not turning over Gold King Mine information

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, on Tuesday condemned the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) missed deadline for submitting information requested by the committee about the Gold King Mine spill.

“It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the EPA failed to meet the House Science Committee’s reasonable deadline in turning over documents pertaining to the Gold King Mine spill,” Smith said. “These documents are essential to the committee’s ongoing investigation and our upcoming hearing on Sept. 9th. But more importantly, this information matters to the many Americans directly affected in western states, who are still waiting for answers from the EPA.”

The information was requested on Aug. 10, five days after EPA investigation activities triggered the spill, which released 3 million gallons of contaminated water into the Animas River in Colorado. The committee requested information about the work that caused the spill and the risks that the contaminated water might pose.

“EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is currently crusading on climate change action in Japan while President Obama, who has yet to visit the areas affected by the spill, is touring the U.S. to tout EPA’s latest regulation that will do little to impact climate change and will only further burden Americans with higher electric bills,” Smith said. “It is no wonder the majority of Americans feel Washington no longer works for them.”