The EPA denies damage claims totaling $1.2 billion dollars. The claims resulted from the EPA polluting US waterways with toxic chemicals. The EPA does not deny being at fault for the damages but claims immunity from having to pay them.
Priceless.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday denied $1.2 billion in claims for economic losses stemming from a 2015 toxic wastewater spill accidentally triggered by the agency at a defunct Colorado mine, that fouled waterways in three states.
The EPA said in a statement that it was “not legally able to pay” damage claims over the discharge from the century-old Gold King Mine, located near the town of Silverton in southwestern Colorado.
Farmers, ranchers and river-running raft companies, among others, filed the claims seeking compensation for lost business or wages from the spill.
The agency said federal law grants immunity to government agencies if something goes awry from “discretionary” action taken by its employees.
“Therefore, the circumstances surrounding the Gold King Mine incident unfortunately do not meet the conditions necessary to pay claims,” the statement said.
Vis Reuters