(Aztec & Farmington, NM) - New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte, and State Engineer Tom Blaine today initiated the plan to flush irrigation ditches, in order to reduce the Gold King Mine Spill's potential contamination effects on San Juan County's crops and livestock.
"Today we are initiating a strategic plan for flushing ditches as a safety precaution prior to resuming irrigation," said Blaine. "As part of the Gold King Mine Spill's Long Term Impact Team announced by Governor Susana Martinez this morning, our agencies are approaching this with the same synchronized communication, expertise, and caution used throughout our response."
"We encourage San Juan County Ditch Superintendents to start flushing ditches immediately. Flush from the diversion to the first sluice for 12 hours. All head gates should be closed and only return gates should be open during this flushing operation," said Blaine. "12 hours following flushing, normal irrigation and livestock watering operations may resume." Revised safety precautions concerning the Gold King Mine Spill are posted at www.NMEDRiverWaterSafety.org.
The operation will begin at the New Mexico state line along the Animas River down to the confluence with the San Juan River. It will include ditches below the San Juan River out to Hogback. Representatives of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer's Aztec district office are communicating with Ditch Superintendents.
All other safety precautions remain in place as follows:
- Do Conserve Water
- As Needed, Do Get Potable Water from Water Stations
- Do Not Ingest Fish from the Rivers
New Mexico agency representatives on the Long Term Impact Review Team for the Gold King Mine Spill (Environment, State Engineer, Agriculture, Game and Fish, Health, Homeland Security, and others), along with the US EPA and local officials, continue assessing the full impact of the August 5th event on the state for the development and recommendation of safe practices for the San Juan County region.
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8/14/15 P.M. Advisory on Safety Precaution Status for EPA Gold King Mine Spill
(Aztec & Farmington, NM) - The New Mexico Environment Department continues working with local, regional, and federal stakeholders to advise San Juan County citizens of safety precautions, while updating those affected about the Gold King Mine Spill's pulse location and effects. Adherence to the following important safety measures is critical.
Do Not Use Nearby "Floodplain Level" Wells. If you live in the Animas River or San Juan River flood plain and your wellhead is at roughly the same level as the river, the Environment Department advises you to refrain from using the water for cooking and drinking or any human or animal ingestion until further notice. Do not boil river water in an attempt to purify it and use it for ingestion. Boiling the contaminated water will not remove potential contaminants.
Precaution Lifted 8/14/15- No Longer in Effect
Do Not Draw Canal or River Water. People who draw water directly from the Animas River, San Juan Rivers into irrigation canals should refrain until further notice.
Precaution Lifted 8/14/15- No Longer in Effect
Do Not Water Livestock or Irrigate Crops. Livestock owners should refrain from watering livestock from Animas or San Juan River water. Do not irrigate crops.
Precaution Lifted 8/14/15 following 12 hours of flushing ditches.
Do Conserve Water. Conservation of water is critical during the time that the pulse of contaminated water is passing through the region, and possibly for days thereafter. Until the concentration of constituents is known, drinking water systems and nearby well water users are refraining from drawing the river water, and thus supplying customers from limited clean water reserves.
Remains in Effect
Do Get Potable Water from Water Stations. Potable water stations have been set up through San Juan County's Office of Emergency Management (www.sjcounty.net) for residents at the following locations:
Center Point Fire Station # 1 - 16 Road 2755
Flora Vista Fire Station #1 - 2 Road
3275 Valley Fire Station #4 - 4 Road 6200
Stations will be open:
Saturday 8/8/15 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 8/9/15 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Bring your own water containers. No large tanks. Remains in Effect
Do Not Ingest Fish from the Rivers. The New Mexico Game and Fish Department advises anglers not to fish in the Animas River and not to eat fish caught in the San Juan River watershed. Remains in Effect
Please visit www.NMEDRiverWaterSafety.org for continuing updates and informational resources associated with the New Mexico Environment Department's activities to inform and protect communities affected by the Gold King Mine Spill of Wednesday August 5, 2015.