Confluence of the Animas & San Juan Rivers in Farmington after the Gold King Mine spill in Colorado, August 2015.
The U.S. Geological Survey is mobilizing a sampling team that will collect water and sediment samples at multiple points in New Mexico along the Animas and San Juan rivers.
Affected communities have been notified of the failure of the treatment facility and have been advised to take protective measures, such as shutting off intake points for drinking water systems. Residents relying on the San Juan and Animas rivers for potable or agricultural purposes should take appropriate precautions.
Update: Saturday, March 16, 2019
From the NM Environment Department:
The New Mexico Environment Department just received word from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the Gold King Mine wastewater treatment facility is back up and running.
We do not know at this point what actions were taken to get the system back online.
Friday, March 15, 2019
From the NM Environment Department:
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) was notified this afternoon by the State of Utah that the Gladstone wastewater treatment facility, which treats drainage from Gold King Mine, failed on March 14 due to loss of power.
Because of heavy snowfall in the area, the treatment facility is currently inaccessible.
Wastewater from the mine is currently bypassing the facility at a rate between 250 to 300 gallons per minute, according to estimates from Utah and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The U.S. Geological Survey is mobilizing a sampling team that will collect water and sediment samples at multiple points in New Mexico along the Animas and San Juan rivers.
Affected communities have been notified of the failure of the treatment facility and have been advised to take protective measures, such as shutting off intake points for drinking water systems. Residents relying on the San Juan and Animas rivers for potable or agricultural purposes should take appropriate precautions.
NMED will provide additional information through its website and Twitter feed as it becomes available.
As three individuals tried to leave a party, a male subject began shooting, unintentionally striking the vehicle and, subsequently, a passenger inside the vehicle. The passenger was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center and later transported to UNM in Albuquerque, where she is awake and in stable condition.
Using multiple means of evidence, the driver was identified as Alvin Paul who was driving a 2003 white Chevrolet when he veered off the road, hitting Shirley. Paul did not stop or report the crash and surveillance footage from a nearby business proved Paul as the driver. He later admitted to operating the vehicle carelessly.
At the time of the crash, Paul’s driver’s license was revoked from a prior DWI arrests. He has two prior DWI convictions and is currently on probation for the second DWI.
Preliminary investigation indicates the individuals involved were known to one another, and this incident does not appear to be a random act of violence.
No weapons were located on the suspect and he was arrested and charged with assault upon a school employee, unlawful shooting threats, disorderly conduct, and interference with members of staff or the general public.
In addition, the study finds that reducing truck traffic on major highways is a major benefit to rail, with reduced motor vehicle crashes and reduced wear and tear to roadways.
The next phase of this project is already funded by a $4 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant and $1 million match from the New Mexico Match Fund.