People kayak in the Animas River near Durango, Colo., Thursday, … Lowrance and another sheriff’s deputy were at the site of the spill nearly instantly when an estimated 1m gallons of mine wastewater was released into Cement Creek north of Silverton, Colorado, a tiny town with just more than 600 people.
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Officials said they believe the spill carried heavy metals, mainly iron, zinc and copper, from the mine into a creek that feeds into the Animas River. The New Mexico Game and Fish Department is also monitoring conditions for animals that live in and around the river.
The spill will ultimately come to rest at Lake Powell, said Martin Hestmark, an assistant regional manager for the EPA in Denver.
Some of the heavy metals likely are settling to the bottom of the river or on beaches, Card said.
“The river looks pretty nasty”, Lowrance said. “And if those fish go belly up they will be tested”. The contaminated water is expected to cross into New Mexico and reach the San Juan River and the city of Farmington Friday afternoon/evening. The plan, she said, is to continue the increased flow through the weekend and then take stock on Monday to determine whether the release is effective in diluting the contaminants coming down the San Juan. “That was not anticipated”, said Peter Butler, co-coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholder Group, a volunteer coalition.
Few details have been released about the spill, except that a cleanup crew accidentally breached a containment structure. “This Order shall remain in effect until it is determined that the river is safe”.
Drinking water is not affected, officials say.
EPA officials stated their initial reaction was not appropriate and apologized for what happened, calling it a huge tragedy, but also saying these incidents sometimes happen. Further, federal officials say, the Animas River historically has been impaired for several miles downstream of Silverton.
New Mexico officials were angry they were not told of the spill until Thursday, almost a day after it occurred.
KRQE News 13 spoke with Durango residents who were some of the first to notice the waste contaminated waters.
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Elizabeth Holley, an assistant professor of mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, said the spill was “significant”.
