Gold King Mine Wastewater Spill Response

August 5, 2015 Incident Affecting Cement Creek, Animas River, and San Juan River

Please click the button above to receive updates on the work of the Gold King Mine Spill’s Animas River Long Term Impact Review Team’s activities, findings, and upcoming public meetings.

We welcome your feedback and questions concerning the Gold King Mine Spill’s effects in New Mexico at: NMENV-Outreach@state.nm.us

The New Mexico Environment Department seeks to keep all stakeholders in the affected San Juan County region informed about important information related to the spill.

Please bookmark and visit this site frequently for regular updates, and share the site address with your friends and followers. www.NMEDRiverWaterSafety.org

Citizens’ Advisory Committee

A Citizens’ Advisory Committee has been formed and will help communicate the results of the State of New Mexico’s long-term monitoring activities for the Gold King Mine Spill, and ensure that the public continues to have a voice with the state’s Long-Term Impact Review Team.

See Citizens’ Advisory Committee & Public Participation Page for more info

Current Incident Status

• Secretary Ryan Flynn spoke at the House Agricultural, Water & Wildlife Committee on Feb 10, 2016. PDF of the Powerpoint
• New Mexico Environment Department notice of intent regarding the Animas River Spill
• A public meeting was held in October and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee kick-off meeting was held in December.  The Committee plans to meet on a monthly basis.  See Citizens’ Advisory Committee & Public Participation Page for more info.
• In August 2015, Governor Martinez ordered the NMED to lead an investigation into the recent 3 million gallon Gold King Mine spill.  The investigation will seek to determine the specific cause of the spill and all details surrounding the incident.  Additionally, the investigation will examine how affected residents, businesses, and communities along the river were notified in the aftermath of the spill.
• Bans and precautions have been lifted for: Use of nearby floodplain level wells, drawing canal or river water, irrigating crops, use of San Juan County’s drinking water systems’ supply connection, and recreation use. For complete details see the timeline, or news releases below.

Project Data and Technical Documents

>>> Go to Data Documents Page...  [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]

Gold King News Releases and Articles

>>> Go to Gold King News Page… [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]

Reports, Presentations, and Other Documents

• EPA Situation Reports on Gold King Mine Spill Response, August – November 2015  (EPA Regions 6, 8, 9)  [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]
  

  ---

• State of Colorado:  Discussion of Long-Term Monitoring Parameters for Gold King Mine Spill (June 10, 2016)  [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]
• Gold King Mine Citizens Advisory Committee Briefing 04-25-2016
• Spring Runoff Preparedness Plan Animas and San Juan Watersheds February 23, 2016, Version 1  [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]
• USGS Paper 1651:  Integrated Investigation of environmetal Effects of Historical Mining in the Animas River Watershed, Jan Juan County, Colorado  (Jan. 12, 2016) [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]
• Presentation:  Given by NMED to the Water and Natural Resources Legislative Committee on August 31, 2015 [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]
• White Paper: New Mexico Wildlife and Fisheries Resource Potentially Affected by the Gold King Mine Toxic Liquid Release 8-14-15, NM Dept. of Game & Fish  (Aug. 15, 2015) [Wa, Wi]
• Report: EPA Analytical Results For Upper Animas River (Aug. 7, 2015) [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]

• List: Domestic Wells Within 1.5 miles of Animas River (Aug. 8, 2015) [H, Wa]
• List: Non-Domestic Wells Within 1.5 miles of Animas River (Aug. 8, 2015) [A, H, Wa]

Administrative Documents

• Executive Order: Gov. Susana Martinez Declaration of Emergency in New Mexico Due to Gold King Mine Spill (Aug. 10, 2015) [A, H, S, Wa, Wi]

Further Information and Useful Links

EPA Website Links:

• EPA HQ – Internal Investigation Documents page
• EPA HQ – Primary Gold King Mine Emergency Response page

• EPA Region 8 – On Scene Coordinator – Resource Site for Gold King Mine Spill
• EPA Region 8 – Data from Gold King Mine Response

Public Meetings and Press Conferences:

• Video – Press Conference:  Governor Martinez on Long Term Impact Review Team for Gold King Mine  (Aug. 14, 2015)
• Video: San Juan County Animas River Contamination Public Meeting (Aug. 14, 2015)
• Video: San Juan County Animas River Contamination Public Meeting (Aug. 10, 2015)

• Video: San Juan County Animas River Contamination Public Meeting (Aug. 8, 2015)

From NMSU and NMDA:

• Assessing Safety of Water in Animas and San Juan Rivers for Livestock Consumption  – UPDATED 8/16  (Aug. 17, 2015)
• Assessing Safety of Using Animas and San Juan River Water on Your Crops  – UPDATED 8/16  (Aug. 17, 2015)
• Current Risks of Using Animas / San Juan River Water on Crops Following Mine Spill  – UPDATED (Aug. 14, 2015)

San Juan County and City of Farmington Links:

• San Juan County Office of Emergency Management
• San Juan County Office of Emergency Management Facebook Page
• San Juan County Government
• City of Farmington
• City of Farmington Facebook Page
• Farmington Fire Department
• Farmington Police Department
• City of Aztec Municipal Government Offices
• Durango Herald – Animated Hypothetical Visual of Ground Water at Gold King Mine – CO Division of Reclamation, 2013