EPA Staffer Retires 10 Months After Spill From Colorado Mine

DENVER (AP) - An Environmental Protection Agency official who oversaw operations at a southwestern Colorado mine has retired 10 months after a massive spill of acidic wastewater from the mine.

The EPA said Wednesday Steve Way is retiring after 32 years at the agency.

Way was the agency's on-scene coordinator for preliminary cleanup operations at the mine, but he was on vacation when an EPA-led crew inadvertently triggered the 3-million-gallon spill on Aug. 5.

Way didn't immediately return a call Wednesday.

PHOTO GALLERY: Gold King Mine Tour

The spill tainted rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. New Mexico has sued the EPA in federal court and Utah says it intends to do so. Colorado hasn't disclosed its plans.

The EPA wants to clean up the Gold King and other nearby mining sites by declaring the area Superfund site.

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