EPA officials visit mouth of Gold King Mine, explain what happened

Environmental Protection Agency officials met at the mouth of the Gold King Mine Monday afternoon to discuss last week's breach, which discharged 3 million gallons of heavy-metal laden water into a tributary of the Animas River. EPA on-scene coordinator Hayes Griswold explained to San Juan County, Colo., officials that an EPA team working at the mine on Wednesday underestimated how much pressure was hidden behind the debris that plugged the mine's entrance. He said the team was not attempting to dislodge the plug, but was instead attempting to stick a pipe into the top of the mine. The pipe would allow the team to safely pump liquid out of the mine for treatment, Griswold said. "We were very careful," he said, adding that he has 28 years of mining experience. However, the team removed too much material from the mine's roof, which caused the rupture, Griswold said...more