EPA Contaminates several Rivers heading to the Grand Canyon

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   Jo_Goldsmith11posted 9 years ago

   Watching the 6 pm ABC News this evening, I couldn't believe how the media just slipped in the information about the EPA breaking a pipe, and this arsenic contaminated water is going 100 miles from the source.
   
   I am concerned how the media is down playing the fact that the EPA has just damaged a drain pipe in South Western Colorado and it has traveled 100 miles this past three days! EPA's fault, and didn't notify anyone and just now the media is telling us, but they slip it in and avoid the seriousness!
   
   This could be great concern for farmers and people who shower and drink the water
   
   And where is President Obama making an announcement? This could be even more serious because of the drought and wild fire conditions in Arizona, California and Utah. We have Hubber Friends who live in these areas. 
   
   Any suggestions?  Need to get the word out, I believe.

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      wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      How much leakage was there?  A cup?  50,000 gallons of highly concentrated solution?  A cup of arsenic tainted water in the Colorado won't be detectable in 10 feet, but will still cause a panic.

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         Jo_Goldsmith11posted 9 years agoin reply to this

         It has polluted the river completely. Turning the water an orange looking.
         There are other chemicals besides arsenic, and it doesn't look good.
         
         The link to the story you can find here.>> m.deseretnews.com/article/765678998/Plume-from-EPA-mine

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            wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            OK.  According to your link there was no pipe, there was an accidental breach in a debris dam and containment ponds are about finished. 
            
            No one knows the contents of the liquid, but are doing tests.  No one knows the seriousness, but no harmful levels have yet been detected from samples taken.  So what "seriousness" are they avoiding? 
            
            Two towns have shut down water treatment access to the river; Obviously it was not "hushed up", but notification made.  Not by Obama, agreed, but to the people that needed to know. 
            
            Not sure what you think should have been done.  Should Obama fly to California and announce everyone is going to die?  You don't seem to think they should keep quiet (and they didn't), so what DO you want?

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               Jo_Goldsmith11posted 9 years agoin reply to this

               I think a lot about how the country depends on California for it's food.
               Yes, we have ships that bring some of the food. ( imports).
               The farmers in California have stated to the media, that they had to plant less this year. They are in the 4th year of drought. And "last year, this farmer who was interviewed stated now, next year he will have to minimize it more. "This is money out of my family's table".
               
               And with the bottled water? Why do we need bottled water for everyday?
               Do you ever see the commercials about all the plastic bottles that can go completely around the earth many times?
               
               All I am trying to say, is where does this end? Let's see where all the issues that need immediate attention land in the card game we play with Washington and these politicians.
               
               What do I want?
               
               I want an earth that will be here for my grandkids. And a earth that isn't on the brink of war. The people on the earth to go about living their lives and respecting everything that is given to us.
               
               I want one honest person with good moral character to be President and each member of Congress and the Senate to hold the same moral character with a sprinkle of wisdom and humility to get the things done that need to get done already!
               
               Life should be about fulfilling your dreams. Any dreams. And when you are living in poverty, struggling day in and day out. Worried about the Parents and how to work and take care of them.
               
               I want real honest to God leaders who have an answer or at least can sit in the same room together and discuss all options, brainstorm and use their upbringing on how they were raised as the ideas brought to the table.
               
               If you wish to judge me?  Please judge me that I am a "ideologist".
               
               Best Wishes :-)

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   colorfuloneposted 9 years ago

   I saw a photo of the orange river on my Facebook feed and immediately thought it was photo-shopped. (didn't read anything but the title) ... because... It seems to me that there are people who are trying to ignite hysteria.  And, this smells like one more of THEM.

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      Jo_Goldsmith11posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Wow!
      
      @ wilderness & colorfulone
      
      
      I am so taken a back by your responses. I thought it was important to get this issue made aware of, because some of us who are on here have friends in these areas.  And if one isn't getting on the computer much, or they are shut ins. If you have a way to contact them and let them know what is flowing down in the river for  100 miles and more.
      
      I am not "hysterical", and you need to realize it is offensive to me.
      As for all that is going out in the West. With the wild fires, the drought.
      And for some who grow food for a living. The crops must be suffering.
      I know our pocket book feels a little lighter more often now, when I leave the grocery store! 
      
      Here, in Ky. Chicken Breast is $13.00 for a pound! I am not kidding!
      
      If there is this "bird flu", that so many chickens needed to be killed, and the chicken supply had dropped as a result. They send prices higher. And a dozen of medium eggs is $2.00, yet a small is $1.50? 
      
      Well, anyway. This is all I was trying to get at.
      That we all need to look out for each other. 
      
      Have a blessed week to you both! :-)

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   colorfuloneposted 9 years ago

   
   
   Erin Brockovich -  "Well it's official, we were lied to! Did we expect anything less?
   
   Some 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater, triple previous estimates, have poured from a defunct Colorado gold mine into local streams since a team of Environmental Protection Agency contractors accidentally triggered the spill last week, EPA officials just released."
   
   No one has been fired or no one demoted, no fines, not even an apology?
   DEMOCRATS IN ACTION?
   
   I didn't mean to seem insensitive Jo and I do apologize to you.

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      Jo_Goldsmith11posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It's okay. Thank you for the apology though. :-)
      I know, this is what I saw on the news! A picture like that one you left.
      I was like "oh, wow".  And began thinking about those who are friends that we may stay in touch with. And see if they know to be careful with the water they drink. I would think that there has to be some way to stop the flow of water from running so many miles down and ultimately ending up in Lake Powell or the Colorado River.
      
      It's not just the democrats. It's the republicans too. I said to my husband
      "President Obama needs to interrupt his "vacation" and make some kind of press announcement and go look at the site where this problem first began.
      
      So much for the EPA!   I think they are in the pockets of some democrats.
      I am not aligned or affiliated with any party, anymore! Both sides have their faults. It 's the actual person behind the status I am more worried about, you know?  Have a Happy Monday. :-)

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   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   It was an accident, which they were not rapid and clear about communicating.  And the blame should be shared with whoever was responsible for the mine that was abandoned so the contaminated water was separated from the river nothing more than a dirt mound.
   
   Yes, the EPA need to be reprimanded but many of the news stories are acting like they created the pollution or deliberately released it.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 9 years ago

   Of course no one wants to reveal or focus on this little oopsy! its business per usual, don't you think?
   Its so easy to keep the veil up, to shield the truth.
   I guess.
   PS I suppose you think Obama could perform a real miracle and clear up the water with the wave of his hand.

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      psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      A one day delay in communication is certainly bad, but the mining industry is 88 years in cleaning up their mess.
      
      Damned if I know what your rant about Obama has to do with anything.  Bureaucracies tend to be basically the same under any regime.

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         Max Havlickposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Jo Goldsmith's seemingly innocuous and sincere concern to "blow the whistle" here on a huge potential crisis in the health of large numbers of other people than herself deserves our respect and would seem to warrant no disagreement. 
         
         Fortunately, however, we are blessed to lived in a country where strong comment on any issue of importance normally generates a wide variety of responses, a healthy sign, and understandable in view of the wide variety of our people's interests and backgrounds, and this diversity we also respect. 
         
         As in this case, the HubPages community excels in providing a forum for a large-souled person like Jo to express such a concern and to stimulate such a discussion.

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   colorfuloneposted 9 years ago

   Russell Begaye, the president of the Navajo Nation is going to sue the EPA to the full extent of the law.
   
   I am sure there be more law suits.

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   ahorsebackposted 9 years ago

   I hate to tell you guys this but if mining companies are allowed to exploit the earth  to the last ounce  of gold , copper , zinc , whatever  ! AND then file bankruptcy  for protection ..........It is then the EPA that ends up footing the bill !  That by the way  is on  your  dime  . Don't blame the EPA    , blame congress  , blame the defunct mining companies !

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