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EPA urges return to normalcy days after toxic Animas river spill EPA urges return to normalcy days after toxic Animas river spill
(about 4 hours later)
Authorities are pushing residents to return to normal along the Animas river, where a spill of 3m gallons of acidic, heavy metal-laden mining waste turned the river a jarring yellow-orange for days.Authorities are pushing residents to return to normal along the Animas river, where a spill of 3m gallons of acidic, heavy metal-laden mining waste turned the river a jarring yellow-orange for days.
For hundreds of miles along the Animas and San Juan rivers, cities were forced to shut down municipal drinking water systems, farmers and ranchers had to find new water sources for crops and livestock, and tourist season was abruptly disrupted for river recreation-dependent towns.For hundreds of miles along the Animas and San Juan rivers, cities were forced to shut down municipal drinking water systems, farmers and ranchers had to find new water sources for crops and livestock, and tourist season was abruptly disrupted for river recreation-dependent towns.
The EPA accidentally caused the release while investigating the more than 100-year-old Gold King gold mine north of Silverton, Colorado. A dam holding millions of gallons of waste with the acidity of beer burst open last Wednesday during an attempted remediation by employees and contractors, part of a larger project to stop toxic leakage from the nearby Red and Bonita mines.The EPA accidentally caused the release while investigating the more than 100-year-old Gold King gold mine north of Silverton, Colorado. A dam holding millions of gallons of waste with the acidity of beer burst open last Wednesday during an attempted remediation by employees and contractors, part of a larger project to stop toxic leakage from the nearby Red and Bonita mines.
The area was heavily mined for hard-rock ore such as gold and silver for decades, leaving leaching mines that have long been considered federal toxic waste sites, also known as Superfund sites.The area was heavily mined for hard-rock ore such as gold and silver for decades, leaving leaching mines that have long been considered federal toxic waste sites, also known as Superfund sites.
The EPA’s response was widely criticized by residents in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and the Navajo Nation as disjointed, late and unclear.The EPA’s response was widely criticized by residents in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and the Navajo Nation as disjointed, late and unclear.
“The spill has impacted us religiously, emotionally, financially,” Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye told Time.“The spill has impacted us religiously, emotionally, financially,” Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye told Time.
Now, nine days after the spill, the EPA is reporting that water quality in the Animas and adjoining San Juan rivers is “trending toward pre-event conditions” near the New Mexico-Colorado border.Now, nine days after the spill, the EPA is reporting that water quality in the Animas and adjoining San Juan rivers is “trending toward pre-event conditions” near the New Mexico-Colorado border.
STORY: @hickforco so confident #AnimasRiver safe that he took a swig from it http://t.co/ie3u6lWD7l #copolitics pic.twitter.com/V7fwhMQjAfSTORY: @hickforco so confident #AnimasRiver safe that he took a swig from it http://t.co/ie3u6lWD7l #copolitics pic.twitter.com/V7fwhMQjAf
To prove that point, Colorado governor John Hickenlooper drank a bottle of water from the river. Irrigation ditches in affected areas, such as on Southern Ute tribe land, are being flushed for use beginning as soon as Friday (though farmers are still warned against watering livestock from the river).To prove that point, Colorado governor John Hickenlooper drank a bottle of water from the river. Irrigation ditches in affected areas, such as on Southern Ute tribe land, are being flushed for use beginning as soon as Friday (though farmers are still warned against watering livestock from the river).
La Plata County sheriff Sean Smith announced he would reopen the waterway for recreation Friday, in a statement sent by an EPA spokesperson. Still, Smith warned people using the river not to drink untreated water, to avoid discoloration in the river, and to wash skin and clothing that comes into contact with the river with soap and fresh water.
Now many scientists and department of health officials are turning toward sediment contamination, an important piece of potential contamination from the pollution plume that could linger for years. The EPA has not released the metal concentration from sediment samples.Now many scientists and department of health officials are turning toward sediment contamination, an important piece of potential contamination from the pollution plume that could linger for years. The EPA has not released the metal concentration from sediment samples.
“Test results from both the EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have shown that the water in the Animas River has returned to pre-incident levels,” said Liane Jollon, San Juan Basin Health director in a statement. “We are very pleased to see these numbers drop to a normal level so quickly, and now sediment impacts are a top priority.”“Test results from both the EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have shown that the water in the Animas River has returned to pre-incident levels,” said Liane Jollon, San Juan Basin Health director in a statement. “We are very pleased to see these numbers drop to a normal level so quickly, and now sediment impacts are a top priority.”
Fisherman says #AnimasRiver in #Durango looks green and clean Thursday https://t.co/GnIDIPTrNb #AnimasRiverSpill pic.twitter.com/FS3yoQKxR5Fisherman says #AnimasRiver in #Durango looks green and clean Thursday https://t.co/GnIDIPTrNb #AnimasRiverSpill pic.twitter.com/FS3yoQKxR5
“The sediment is a huge issue,” said Max Costa, a professor of Environmental Medicine at New York University’s school of medicine. “I think they should measure the sediment upstream, and measure the sediment downstream, and I’m sure it’s going to be elevated – it has to be.”
Such sediment can be most dangerous, Costa said, when the acidity of water is increased, which causes some heavy metals to dissolve further in the water.
Even heavy rains and spring melts could disturb the sediment however, mobilizing particles through the water column again and potentially causing problems for farmers using the water for irrigation. Some of the metals found in the sediment, or “tailings”, could then leach into plants. Many plants are capable of absorbing cadmium in particular, Costa said.
The EPA said in a release Friday afternoon that is has collected sediment samples and has a preliminary analysis, but is waiting for results to be finalized.
Many people, Costa included, have been surprised by the lack of fish die-off. Soon after the spill happened, the Colorado fish and wildlife department placed 108 rainbow trout fingerlings into the river to assess impact on aquatic life. Only one fish out of the dozens died.
The spill has also brought to the forefront the perpetual pollution problems caused by abandoned mines, of which there are an estimated 500,000 across the country, including coal, uranium and hard-rock mines like the one that spilled into the Animas.The spill has also brought to the forefront the perpetual pollution problems caused by abandoned mines, of which there are an estimated 500,000 across the country, including coal, uranium and hard-rock mines like the one that spilled into the Animas.
Begaye has said the Navajo Nation plans to sue, and attorneys general in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah are reportedly weighing whether to file a lawsuit.Begaye has said the Navajo Nation plans to sue, and attorneys general in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah are reportedly weighing whether to file a lawsuit.
The EPA has already asked residents of the Navajo Nation, many of whom don’t speak English, to sign so-called “no-sue” waivers, documents that forfeit an individual’s right to sue when signed, Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye told Al Jazeera America.The EPA has already asked residents of the Navajo Nation, many of whom don’t speak English, to sign so-called “no-sue” waivers, documents that forfeit an individual’s right to sue when signed, Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye told Al Jazeera America.
“My interpretation as president of the Navajo Nation is the EPA is trying to minimize the amount of compensation that the people deserve,” said Begaye. “They want to close these cases and they don’t want more compensation to come later.”“My interpretation as president of the Navajo Nation is the EPA is trying to minimize the amount of compensation that the people deserve,” said Begaye. “They want to close these cases and they don’t want more compensation to come later.”