US anti-pollution workers turn river orange in toxic spill

Workers from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accidentally triggered a massive release of toxic waste from an old gold mine that sent about three million gallons of polluted water into a Colorado river, turning it orange.

 

The spill began August 5 when EPA workers were trying to drain water from the Gold King Mine but accidentally sent the toxic water flowing into a tributary of the Animas River.

 

The EPA originally said about one million gallons (3.8 million liters) of polluted water — containing dissolved heavy metals — spilled into the river.

 

But on Sunday, the agency revised that figure to three million gallons.

 

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper issued an executive order Monday declaring the Gold King Mine release and its impact on water downstream a “state of disaster emergency.”

 

Read More: US anti-pollution workers turn river orange in toxic spill | i24news – See beyond

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