Senate Indian Affairs Committee postpones field hearing into EPA


From left: Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez, examine conditions on the San Juan River following the Gold King Mine disaster. Photo from Facebook

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has postponed a field hearing that was due to take place in Arizona next week.

The committee still plans to look into the Environmental Protection Agency and its "unacceptable" dealings with tribes. But a new date for the hearing, which was to take place in Phoenix on February 19, has not been announced.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy came under fire at a hearing last September after the Navajo Nation and the Southern Ute Tribe complained that the agency was slow to respond to their concerns following the Gold King Mine disaster in Colorado. A spill at the abandoned site sent millions of gallons of chemicals into rivers that flow through both reservations..

Republican members of the committee also have accused the EPA of hindering coal development in Indian Country.

Committee Notice:
POSTPONED: Field Hearing - "Examining EPA's Unacceptable Response to Indian Tribes" (February 19, 2016)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories
House committee set for another hearing on Gold King Mine spill (12/07)
Bill aims to address claims arising from spill at Gold King Mine (09/23)
EPA chief faces fire for dealings with tribes after mine disaster (9/17)
House committees hold long hearing into Gold King Mine spill (9/18)
EPA Administrator to appear at three Gold King Mine hearings (09/11)
Navajo Nation hosts Erin Brockovich after spill at Gold King Mine (9/9)
House committee to hold first hearing into Gold King Mine spill (9/8)
Navajo Nation welcomes Erin Brockovich in aftermath of disaster (9/7)
Navajo Nation hires firm to pursue Gold King Mine spill lawsuit (9/1)
Multiple Capitol Hill hearings set into disaster at Gold King Mine (8/31)
Navajo Nation to reopen irrigation canal after Gold King mine spill (8/28)
EPA releases internal report into Gold King Mine spill disaster (8/27)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee to hold hearing on EPA mine spill (8/26)
Native Sun News: Tribes respond to toxic spill at abandoned mine (8/25)
Navajo Nation remains cautious after spill impacts water system (8/21)
Navajo Nation farmers losing crops amid mine spill concerns (8/18)
Leader of EPA visits Navajo Nation after mine spill in Colorado (8/13)
President of Navajo Nation upset with EPA's response to spill (8/12)
Navajo Leader: 'This is an assault on who we are as Dine people' (8/11)
Navajo Nation to sue EPA over release of mine waste into waters (8/10)