Snyder blames bureaucrats, EPA faults state in Flint crisis

WASHINGTON -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday blamed career bureaucrats in Washington and his own state for the Flint water-contamination crisis, while the head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency faulted him and other state officials.

At a contentious congressional hearing, the Republican governor apologized for his role in the crisis, which occurred when state officials switched Flint's water supply to the Flint River two years ago to save money in the predominantly African-American city of 100,000 north of Detroit.

"Not a day or night goes by that this tragedy doesn't weigh on my mind -- the questions I should have asked, the answers I should have demanded," Snyder said.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, for her part, faulted state officials, noting the impoverished city was under state management when the city's water supply was switched in April 2014.

State officials did not require the river water to be treated for corrosion, and lead from aging pipes and fixtures leached into Flint homes and businesses.

About 8,000 children younger than 6 potentially were exposed to lead, and elevated lead levels have been found in some children's blood. Lead contamination has been linked to learning disabilities and other problems.

"The crisis we're seeing was the result of a state-appointed emergency manager deciding that the city would stop purchasing treated drinking water and instead switch to an untreated source to save money," McCarthy said. "The state of Michigan approved that decision."

McCarthy acknowledged the EPA should have been more aggressive in testing Flint's water and requiring changes, but she said the agency "couldn't get a straight answer" from state environmental officials about what was being done in Flint. McCarthy refused several requests by Republican lawmakers to apologize.

"It was not the EPA at the helm when this happened," she said.