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EPA weighs options for dumping treatment plant sludge

Non-toxic sludge could go to mining site or landfill
The Environmental Protection Agency is deciding where to dispose of sludge produced by the temporary water-treatment plant, agency officials said in a Wednesday update.

Environmental Protection Agency officials said Wednesday they are deciding where to haul sludge from the temporary water-treatment plant for Gold King Mine wastewater.

The EPA periodically has updated the communities of San Juan and La Plata counties in recent months as a Superfund proposal moves forward, and most aspects of the agency’s work has been in the evaluation stages thus far.

On Wednesday, the EPA told La Plata County commissioners that the agency is considering whether to dispose of nontoxic sludge produced by the temporary treatment plant at a mining district site or a landfill.

La Plata County Commissioner Brad Blake said he opts for the least expensive option.

“It’s not toxic waste, so it can go anywhere,” he said.

Commissioners inquired about the life of the plant, which is supposed to end this fall.

“It was designed and constructed to be an interim measure,” Superfund project manager Rebecca Thomas said. “We’ll continue to evaluate options, but we’ll come up with a comprehensive remedy for the entire mining district.”

Thomas said for now, the temporary plant is operating as usual, and a long-term solution could include a permanent water-treatment facility.

The EPA also is evaluating what Superfund designation will mean for private property owners, officials said Wednesday.

Last August, an agency-contracted company triggered a blowout at the Gold King Mine in Gladstone, an area north of Silverton.

The spill dumped 3 million gallons of heavy metal-laden mining waste into the Animas and San Juan rivers, affecting southwestern states and tribal communities.

Since then, the EPA and local communities have been navigating the process for a Superfund cleanup at the Bonita Peak Mining District.

jpace@durangoherald.com

Jan 16, 2016
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