Major Pollution: Massive Mine Waste Spill in Animas River

AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT

Everyday, the news has to break a series of unfortunate events, some of which inevitably concern pollution. Today’s news is no different.
When the news first broke out amidst Colorado mainstream media about the mine waste spill in the Animas River in Colorado, reaching all the way to Farmington, New Mexico, everyone was wondering who did this and why natural environments must be so polluted.
Coverage by Colorado news outlets like the Denver Post, reported that around the mine waste spill was had one million gallons of wastewater spill into the Animas River from an abandoned mine. The result was the once clean waters now run an orange tinge.

TRACKING POLLUTION AS IT SPREADS

The question regarding who caused the mine spill was answered when in the same outlet source the EPA acknowledged the spill was caused by their mistakes. How did this major pollution happen?
The EPA had been using some heavy equipment to examine some pollutants at the Gold King Mine when it inadvertently let loose the contamination into the river. Officials are now examining the river to see the effects it will have on the ecosystem due to the variety of contaminants in the mine waste spill.
Shortly after the accident, which occurred in the morning at 10:30am, the EPA later released a statement late Wednesday (around 10:40pm) about how they will address the mine waste spill and what to do about it. You can find the EPA’s regulations about reporting oil spills and other such hazardous spills here.

THE AFTERMATH OF POLLUTION

The orange tinge is the visible result of the mine waste spill caused by the EPA that is now flowing into other water systems that flow as far as Farmington, NM. Samples are being taken from the contaminated water sources for further concerns.

However, not all are swayed into relief efforts by demonstrations thus far. In a press release by the Center of Biological Diversity dated to yesterday, the issue of federal officials downplaying the concern of the mine waste spill in the Anima River is brought to full bore.

The river contaminated flows into other river systems such as the San Juan River that goes into New Mexico and Utah. The San Juan River is home to several species of endangered fish and birds that are already suffering from the pollution of present contaminants. The downplaying raised troublesome doubts and questions about what the long term effects of contamination will be.

In the press release, the center will be taking actions. The actions include inspecting the EPA’s efforts in accordance to various laws in place involving endangered species, hazardous contamination and spills.


 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POLLUTION-FREE REFRESHING WATER WHILE YOU CAN