While investigating the Gold King Mine in Colorado on Aug. 5, the EPA and State Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety triggered a large release of mine wastewater into Cement Creek, which flows into Animas River.A plume of contaminated wastewater has reached northern New Mexico waters, causing utilities in Aztec and Farmington to shut down river water intakes. Officials have said up to 3 million gallons of orange-hued waste was released, up from their previous estimate of 1 million gallons.“We typically respond to emergencies – we don’t cause them – but this is just something that happens when we are dealing with
