Preparedness should have been McGrath’s first priority before authorizing his EPA team to start work with an independent contractor on investigating the extent of contamination seeping from the abandoned Gold King Mine with large excavation machinery. Including emergency measures, on-site materials, personnel, etc., in the event of an accident or unexpected adverse conditions during the course of his site investigation. On-site containment should have been McGrath’s biggest concern/priority/mandate to his team in the field at the Gold King Mine investigation site. And this should have included common sense emergency containment materials and additional equipment both at the excavation site and downstream. Emergency spill response should have happened immediately if proper procedures and/or measures had been followed.

It’s conspicuous and all-too-convenient for McGrath to now wag his finger and lecture Gov. Hickenlooper on what is, or is not, sufficient data for baseline water quality conditions. Of course these things are important. The bigger question for McGrath is why he didn’t apply all this “long-term monitoring” concerns and best practice planning to his own office and field team before poking around with excavators at an abandoned mine? McGrath’s judgment is in question here – along with his qualifications and abilities to actually perform the respective duties required as a Region 8 administrator for the EPA.

Peter Staddler

Boulder