EPA Grants More Time For Mine Spill Repayment Pact
DENVER (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency has given La Plata County and the Southern Ute tribe more time to work out an agreement with the agency for compensation for their costs from the Gold King Mine spill.
The county and the tribe said last week that EPA headquarters in Washington hadn't responded to multiple requests for an extension, which was granted Monday. It's unclear how much more time the tribe and county will have to hash out an agreement with the EPA.
PHOTO GALLERY: Gold King Mine Tour
Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton asked the EPA to make sure local governments and tribes are fully reimbursed.
An EPA-led crew inadvertently released 3 million gallons of wastewater tainted with heavy metals from the mine in August. Colorado, New Mexico and Utah rivers were affected.
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