Local governments boost monitoring efforts in wake of spill

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) – Local governments are stepping up monitoring activities for heavy metals as the spring runoff increases the flow of the Animas River.

The river was among the waterways affected when a federal cleanup crew triggered the spill of 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater from the Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado last August.

The New Mexico Environment Department has warned that the spring runoff is expected to stir up metals deposited in the river.

The department is working with the cities of Farmington and Aztec, San Juan County, the Navajo Nation and Utah officials to monitor the river.

Farmington’s public works director, David Sypher, tells The Daily Times the city’s tests have already shown a correlation in the turbidity of the river water and the level of heavy metals.

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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com