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Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes on Wednesday toured the Colorado site where millions of gallons of wastewater erupted from an abandoned mine and said he's weighing legal action if the federal government's proposal to fix the damage downstream falls short.

People in southern Utah still don't know what they should do with their animals and crops, Reyes said, and the long-term effects of the heavy metals in the 3 million gallons of waste could weigh on the state for decades.

"I don't think the state of Utah should bear that cost," he said.

Reyes described the Silverton, Colo., spill site as a giant, gaping hole near a quaint, historical gold-mining town. The spill happened after years of plugging other mines and tunnels in the area allowed water to build up at the Gold King Mine site, he said.

Reyes said he is starting to hear what the Environmental Protection Agency might do to fix the damage caused by the spill, which was accidently set off by EPA workers Aug. 5, and he wants to make sure the response is sufficient.

Reyes, who was joined by Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman for the tour, said EPA workers on the ground were accommodating to the Utah party, taking them to the breach site at the mine portal and explaining the complex web of tunnels that filled with water under the mountain over many decades.

But, Reyes said, "their people were very careful and guarded about what information they would provide us."

Utah officials have expressed frustration about a lack of communication from the agency as the spill passed through their state and two others.

Wastewater is still flowing from the mine but is now being held by containment pools and treated. Repair work is also set to begin in the next day on the road there, he said.

Also Wednesday, the Interior Department announced it would lead a review of the Colorado mine spill after six senators from the affected states of Utah, New Mexico and Colorado sent a letter with more than a dozen pending questions to EPA Inspector General Arthur Elkins, including details of the work being done when the spill occurred and the qualifications of the on-scene crew.

The senators, including Utah's Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, also asked what laws and policies govern the EPA's communications with state, local and tribal governments after such an incident and whether the agency met those requirements.

Numerous local officials have complained the EPA was slow to notify them. The senators asked whether the time lapse created any health hazards or delayed the response.

"Although the EPA has taken responsibility for this disaster," the senators' letter states, "the [inspector general's] investigation and report will assist in determining the details of the accident, provide a better opportunity to improve future remediation projects, and prevent spills of this nature at other legacy mines across the West."

The Interior Department's report is expected to be released publicly in 60 days.

In addition, EPA's inspector general is conducting a separate review.

Also, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday called for her state's environment department to launch its own investigation. Aside from what led up to the spill, she said the investigation will examine how residents, businesses and communities along the rivers were notified in the aftermath of the spill.

Tribune reporter Brian Maffly contributed to this story.