Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

EPA Fails to Acknowledge It Coerced Mine Owner to Grant Access
Breitbart ^ | 08/16/2015 | by Michael Patrick Leahy

Posted on 08/16/2015 8:03:45 AM PDT by Rusty0604

The Environmental Protection Agency isn’t responding to claims by Todd Hennis, owner of the Gold King mine in Colorado that the agency coerced him to grant access to his property. Once taking over, of course, EPA’s incompetent attempts to remove debris created a massive 3 million gallon toxic waste spill from the mine.

Hennis told the CBS Denver affiliate that unless he allowed the EPA to have access and authority to conduct operations on the site the agency had threatened him with daily fines of $35,000.

“When you’re a small guy and you’re having a $35,000-a-day fine accrue against you, you have to run up the white flag,” Hennis explained.

Breitbart News asked the EPA on Friday to confirm or deny Hennis’s claim, but has received no reply.

It is not clear if Hennis complied with the request based solely on the threat of fines, or if he complied after the agency actually levied at least one day of the $35,000 per day fine.

Using the threat of huge daily fines against individuals and small business owners who lack the financial resources to fight back against such intrusions is nothing new for the EPA.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; coloradoepaspill; environment; epa; erinbrockovich; fascist; feds; goldkingmine; government; hennis; navajonation; tyranny; water
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last
To: Lurker

The Fed DOT does the same thing with the 5 figure fines. If your paperwork isn’t up to snuff, say, the biannual review, they send threatening letters in volving fines that would obliterate my business and family financially.


21 posted on 08/16/2015 8:25:06 AM PDT by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

You got that right.


22 posted on 08/16/2015 8:25:07 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

I believe that.


23 posted on 08/16/2015 8:25:54 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604
As I said when this first came out...My gut said it was sabotage.

I also said don't look at who actually did the deed....but who was prodding the actions which led to the disaster.

24 posted on 08/16/2015 8:26:19 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604
Sounds like the EPA sent the same guy who shut down the containment system on Ghostbusters.
25 posted on 08/16/2015 8:26:40 AM PDT by fungoking (Tis a pleasure to live in the Ozarks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

I have had government worshiping leftist friends actually defend the EPA on this mess. All I can do is shake my head slowly.


26 posted on 08/16/2015 8:28:00 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Restore Liberty!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pepsi_junkie

They are pretty aggressive with private property owners too. People have been run out of their homes over a puddle.


27 posted on 08/16/2015 8:28:29 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Reddy

OH you have that right! I am giving them hell on Re Paul Gosars facebook page as he is going to try and eliminate the EPA.

You wouldnt believe how many are defending and trying to divert the issue.


28 posted on 08/16/2015 8:29:23 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: george76

ping


29 posted on 08/16/2015 8:29:32 AM PDT by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reddy

This mine was already stopped up and didn’t have any problems from what I’ve read.


30 posted on 08/16/2015 8:30:18 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

bump


31 posted on 08/16/2015 8:30:20 AM PDT by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert San Diego

Most of your post was sarcasm, right?

The mainstream media does what Big Government wants. Ok, if Bush or another republican was in, they would be blaming him, but the EPA would magically be innocent.


32 posted on 08/16/2015 8:30:53 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Restore Liberty!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Reddy

https://www.facebook.com/repgosar


33 posted on 08/16/2015 8:31:30 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Reddy

https://www.facebook.com/repgosar


34 posted on 08/16/2015 8:31:31 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

At my last job, we switched solvent systems for our cleaning operation. My boss told me to ask the EPA if we needed permits because we only used 2 or 3 gallons of paint thinner per year. I called them and they sent their team of piranhas to investigate. We had 6 exhaust fume vents in our building to get rid of the smell when we were working with the solvent. Four of the vents hadn’t been used in 4 or 5 years. The EPA asked us for our vent permits. We didn’t have any. Result: New permits for 6 vents at $2500 per vent ($15000). Fine of yearly permit fees for the previous 12 years ($180000). Total $195000.
We wound up having to layoff six workers to pay the fines.
The EPA is nothing more than a group of bandits with authority. My boss told me “Never never never call those people with a question again”.


35 posted on 08/16/2015 8:31:39 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (Political Correctness is Supression of Free Speech. Thank the Commies for Political Correctness.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreeAtlanta

Yes, I am being sarcastic and flippant. I think we all know what is going on. And the media will shape the story as they see fit.


36 posted on 08/16/2015 8:31:45 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Pearls Before Swine

Over eight billion budget and seventeen thousand employees so they need to justify their existence.


37 posted on 08/16/2015 8:31:49 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: CaptainK

Hennis said...

“I had initial hesitation on going public with this with visions of mobs and pitchforks and torches,” Hennis said.

Really...pitchforks and torches? Just who is he trying to muddy here?


38 posted on 08/16/2015 8:34:24 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer seems to be working.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tea Party Terrorist

Never mind that mining is necessary to build the transmitters, cameras, microphones, printing presses and distribution networks that they rely on. They truly are idiots.

Now, we force all American business that can be regulated and observed and even humiliated into doing things right by an open press and by public opinion, into closing so that much filthier and destructive mining and industry gets opened in slave operating communist nations. The leftist disgust me.


39 posted on 08/16/2015 8:35:18 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Restore Liberty!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

Don’t forget all the efforts to slow or block oil cleanup during the BP gulf incident.

Also, the failed oversight leading up to the incident and the over hype by the media.


40 posted on 08/16/2015 8:37:58 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Restore Liberty!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson