EPA spill in Colo. river 3 times larger than first thought
Source: Jennifer Yachnin, E&E reporte • Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015
An EPA team investigating mining contamination at the Gold King Mine north of Silverton in San Juan County accidentally triggered the spill Wednesday, ejecting the water contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals into Cement Creek.
Although EPA officials said last week that the blowout likely leaked 1 million gallons of contaminated water, EPA toxicologist Deborah McKean told the Associated Press yesterday that the agency increased its estimate based on a stream gauge from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Although EPA will continue to monitor the Animas River for contamination levels, McKean said it was unlikely the spill “caused significant health effects” to animals in contact with the river because the brightly colored sludge moved fairly quickly downstream. The spill traveled 100 miles over the weekend as it crossed into New Mexico and will eventually reach Lake Powell, the San Juan River and the Colorado River.
But officials in Durango, Colo., which depends on the Animas River for its drinking water, turned off an intake valve before the contamination reached it, Durango Mayor Dean Brookie said yesterday, according to The Denver Post.
“Your water never has been and never will be contaminated,” Brookie said. “Your water is safe to drink.”
But The Denver Post said some Colorado residents who live along the river reported discolored drinking water. McKean said EPA is testing water and will provide drinking water to residents who require it.
Region 8 Administrator Shaun McGrath told the Los Angeles Times yesterday that laboratory testing would be completed today.
“The EPA has recognized the significance of this event, and we are responding accordingly,” McGrath said. “Hopefully, we will get the results soon so we can understand the impact on agriculture, stock water, swimming, boating and human contact.”
McGrath added that because heavy metals can remain in the river bottom and could be disturbed by future rain or runoff, testing will need to continue into the foreseeable future.
“We will have to do long-term monitoring and probably more closures in the future,” he said.
U.S. EPA believes a spill it inadvertently caused led to nearly 3 million gallons of rust-colored wastewater entering a creek that feeds Colorado’s Animas River, a threefold increase from initial estimates last week, an agency official said yesterday.
An EPA team investigating mining contamination at the Gold King Mine north of Silverton in San Juan County accidentally triggered the spill Wednesday, ejecting the water contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals into Cement Creek.
Although EPA officials said last week that the blowout likely leaked 1 million gallons of contaminated water, EPA toxicologist Deborah McKean told the Associated Press yesterday that the agency increased its estimate based on a stream gauge from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Although EPA will continue to monitor the Animas River for contamination levels, McKean said it was unlikely the spill “caused significant health effects” to animals in contact with the river because the brightly colored sludge moved fairly quickly downstream. The spill traveled 100 miles over the weekend as it crossed into New Mexico and will eventually reach Lake Powell, the San Juan River and the Colorado River.
But officials in Durango, Colo., which depends on the Animas River for its drinking water, turned off an intake valve before the contamination reached it, Durango Mayor Dean Brookie said yesterday, according to The Denver Post.
“Your water never has been and never will be contaminated,” Brookie said. “Your water is safe to drink.”
But The Denver Post said some Colorado residents who live along the river reported discolored drinking water. McKean said EPA is testing water and will provide drinking water to residents who require it.
Region 8 Administrator Shaun McGrath told the Los Angeles Times yesterday that laboratory testing would be completed today.
“The EPA has recognized the significance of this event, and we are responding accordingly,” McGrath said. “Hopefully, we will get the results soon so we can understand the impact on agriculture, stock water, swimming, boating and human contact.”
McGrath added that because heavy metals can remain in the river bottom and could be disturbed by future rain or runoff, testing will need to continue into the foreseeable future.
“We will have to do long-term monitoring and probably more closures in the future,” he said.