Gold King Mine Release – New Mexico Response Activities

DALLAS - (August 8, 2015) E.P.A. Region six deployed a federal on-scene coordinator from its emergency response team and scientific technicians under contract to E.P.A. to assist the state in preparations for the potential impacts from the Gold King Mine release in Colorado.

The initial E.P.A. team arrived on-site late in the evening on August six and immediately on August seven began to assisting the state. The team began collecting samples at the drinking water intakes for Farmington and Aztec to help New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) establish baseline conditions in the river. Additional E.P.A. personnel arrived in New Mexico later in the day on August 7. They immediately began assisting with sampling preparations as the state prepares drinking water systems to return to operations after the release passes downstream. The E.P.A. will dedicate the personnel and scientific assets to assure that the community has the required assistance.

E.P.A. will participate in an information meeting at the Farmington Civic Center exhibit hall at noon today, August 8.

E.P.A. will also host a media conference call at three pm Montana today, August 8. Reporters should contact David Gray at [email protected] for more information.

E.P.A. Region six is working closely with the NMED to evaluate possible impacts in New Mexico. E.P.A. is providing technical and lab assistance. Potentially impacted water systems have been notified by State officials and precautions are in place to ensure drinking water in homes is protected. Each of the 5 drinking water systems in New Mexico are able to prepare and store drinking water in preparation for shutting down water intakes from the river. NMED is providing direct assistance to community water systems. Both NMED and E.P.A. are closely monitoring the situation in New Mexico.

On August 5, 2015, E.P.A. Region 8, based in Denver, Colorado, was conducting an investigation of the Gold King Mine. The intent of the investigation was to assess the on-going water delivers from the mine and to treat mine water and to assess the feasibility of further mine remediation. The project was to excavate the loose material that had collapsed into the cave entry back to the timbering. During the excavation, the loose material gave way, opening the adit (mine tunnel) and spilling the water stored behind the collapsed material into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River.

The adit is still discharging lower flows into Cement Creek. E.P.A. is rebuilding settling ponds to treat these flows - the upper pond was completed yesterday, and the lower pond by early today. E.P.A. will treat the mine water diverted to the ponds with caustic soda and flocculent once the ponds are built.

E.P.A. Region eight has been coordinating with Region six and Region nine and the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Southern Ute Tribe and Navajo Nation.

For the latest information, photos, and the data when available, visit www.epa.gov/region6 .

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