A public comment period set by the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources is scheduled to expire on March 2 for a clean-up plan of areas damaged by a massive mine waste water spill in 2015.
The Gold King Mine spill, which began near Silverton, Colorado, saw some 3 million gallons of mine waste water released into the Animas River, as well as the connecting Cement Creek, Colorado River, and San Juan River.
The spill impacted waterways in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, not to mention on the lands of the Navajo Nation.
In response, the state and tribal governments enacted temporary water use restrictions, which included the Navajo Nation posting a “do not use” public service announcement, warning against the use of drinking and irrigation water intake systems.
Now the State of New Mexico has released the draft of a plan using funds from a settlement with the Sunnyside Gold Corporation that would, among other things, pay for the upgrading of an irrigation system belonging to the Navajo Nation’s Tse Kaan Chapter.
The $1 million plan, which is a part of the $11 million settlement forged in 2019 between the state and the Sunnyside, would also provide funding to San Juan County for the construction of a new boat ramp on the Animas River; while the City of Farmington would get money to build a farmers’ market pavilion at its Gateway Park.
One other initiative to be funded under the plan: a soil restoration project in the San Juan Valley to be undertaken by the San Juan County Soil and Conservation District.
By Garry Boulard
