Animas River FAQ

Link to the Animas River FAQ sheet handed out at the 8/20/15 community meeting: http://bit.ly/1LnYtej

Animas River Recreational and Tourism FAQ

Link to Animas River Recreational and Tourism FAQ sheet handed out at the 8/20/15 community meeting: http://bit.ly/1JxMBsr

Gardening/Agriculture FAQs

Link to Gardening/Agriculture FAQ sheet handed out at the 8/20/15 community meeting: http://bit.ly/1JmVoaz

Animas River's Changing Color FAQs

Link to FAQ sheet handed out at the 8/20/15 community meeting: http://bit.ly/1MDsrwh

Increased Sediment in Cement Creek Due to Road Work

San Juan County has resumed construction on the damaged road that leads to Gold King Mine. The road work is causing an increase in sediment load in Cement Creek.  This road sediment will not be hazardous but may cause a discoloration of the creek.

Free Testing of Private Drinking Water Wells Continues

DURANGO, CO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to test drinking water wells in the Animas and San Juan River watersheds through the EPA’s voluntary drinking water well testing program established for this incident. 

EPA is continuing to test private drinking water wells under the voluntary testing program. EPA, State and County are studying the area to identify wells that may have a hydrologic connection with the Animas River. Residents may contact (970) 382-7592 to determine if wells need to be tested. Residents will be contacted if their well has been identified to need testing. 

Sample results are provided directly to well owners. 

EPA has completed testing of 105 private drinking water wells along the Animas River in Colorado. Of these, only seven samples exceeded drinking water standards. EPA is working directly with well owners to further investigate these wells. It is currently unknown if the exceedances were caused by the mine release. 

Initial water well samples were collected from the well head, not at the tap (faucet/spigot) inside of homes. Wells that exceeded drinking water standards will undergo further investigation by flushing the well; resampling the well; and taking an additional tap water sample for analysis.  

Local soil and bedrock conditions can cause drinking water wells to exceed water quality standards for compounds like manganese and iron. The owners of wells where these drinking water standards have been exceeded are being notified by the EPA and advised of these exceedances. They do not pose a health threat. Therefore, additional well sampling is not being conducted at those wells.

TONIGHT - Gold King Mine Public Meeting

The Durango Herald will video tonight's Gold King Mine Public Meeting and will post a link on their website. A link to the video will also be posted on this site. 

Durango, CO - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), San Juan Basin Health Department, La Plata County, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and other agencies responding to the impacts of the Gold King Mine incident in La Plata County will hold a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction Street, Durango. A Spanish interpreter will be present. 

There will be an overview of the incident given in the auditorium and then the public will have the opportunity to go to break-out tables to speak with experts available on topics including the following:

• Recreation on the Animas, including rafting and fishing
• Gardening and Agriculture
• Environmental Monitoring
• Economic Impacts

A Recovery Center is open in Durango on Tuesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the east end of the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 2500 Main Avenue, Durango Colorado. Staff from local, state and federal agencies will be available to answer questions regarding financial and/or technical assistance related to the Animas River - Gold King Mine release. If you believe that you have suffered an economic loss related to the event, or if you have questions related to water quality, crops or livestock, individuals will be on hand to offer information and/or assistance.

La Plata County has set up a Call Center for the public at 970-382-7592 and it is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Southern Ute Tribal members may call the Tribal Hotline at 970-563-5025. Public information can be found on the following sites:

Blog:  goldkingminerelease.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/goldkingminerelease
Twitter:  @GKMRelease
YouTube channel:  Gold King Mine Release.

EPA website for the incident can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/goldkingmine.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also has a webpage for the incident at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/animas-river-spill.