The governor’s irresponsible act of drinking water from the Animas after putting in iodine tablets, then declaring the river to be safe for recreation is absurd. The spill from Silverton did not release harmful bacteria, it released known toxic heavy metals and an unknown amount of toxic chemical compounds that have not yet been identified or tested. The governor does not drink this water every day as we in Durango do, and his “show” has the same logic as “the sun sets in the west because the car is blue.” His analogy on this matter puts him on par with former president George W. Bush in both logic and perceived IQ.

His “show” also put out a message to the public that the water is safe to drink and recreate in. This remains to be seen and will require years of ongoing testing, as toxic levels will change with spring run off, heavy rains, etc.

As a Durango resident, I would like our governor to look at the root of the water-quality problem (which is toxicity caused by years of mining) and to address the toxic yellow sludge on the river bottom and banks.

To accomplish a complete cleanup, the area around Silverton and adjacent waterways must be declared a Superfund sight. Durango and its residents need government at all levels to help us accomplish this, not political theatrics and clown shows.

For the sake of public safety and health, I ask that the governor and government officials at all levels to stop misleading the public in the name of economic agendas. After all, public health trumps economics every day of the year.

Dennis O’Brien

Durango