Update: EPA confirms Colorado mine spill contains heavy metals
Federal environmental officials have confirmed the mustard-colored muck that surged into a river from a Colorado mine contained heavy metals including lead and arsenic, but they didn’t immediately discuss amounts or health risks.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday that the spill also contained cadmium, aluminum, copper and calcium. EPA Regional Director Shaun McGrath did not mention whether the elements posed a health hazard but said local authorities were right to close the Animas River to human activities.
An EPA crew accidentally unleashed 1 million gallons of wastewater from the mine Wednesday. It flowed into the river through a tributary.
The Animas River is popular with boaters and anglers and runs into New Mexico. The EPA says tests also were being done there, but no information has been released.
