Gold King Mine toxic waste spill into the Animas River After the August 5, 2015 Gold King Mine toxic waste spill into the Animas River and downstream watercourses that was caused by EPA incompetence (or intention, depending on the perspective), there was some misunderstanding about how claims for damages should be handled. Russell Begaye, president of the Navajo nation, was strong in cautioning members to hold off submitting Standard Form 95 that EPA employees were distributing on the reservation. The assumption was that claimants must sign the form supplying a final amount for restitution that cannot be amended, barring all...