Animas River Mining Spill

From Neon Orange To Chocolate Brown: The West's Unluckiest River Takes A Beating

Luke Runyon

In early August three years ago, Barb Horn stood along the banks of the Animas River in the city of Durango, Colorado. Word had spread of a mine waste鈥�

Orange sediment laced with heavy metals is visible in the path of water coming out of the Natalie/Occidental Mine in southwestern Colorado. This mine is one of dozens on a proposed Superfund listing pending with the EPA. Several mines in the area have been leaching the tainted water for years 鈥� well before the Gold King Mine spill.

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One Year After A Toxic River Spill, No Clear Plan To Clean Up Western Mines

Grace Hood

Last August, 3 million gallons of orange wastewater flooded into Colorado's Animas River, ending up in Lake Powell. But Congress has failed to come up with a way to stop this from happening again.

Environment

With Superfund Status On The Way, What's Next For Silverton's Polluting Mines?

Stephanie Paige Ogburn

Gov. John Hickenlooper has formally requested that a set of abandoned mines above Silverton be listed as a Superfund site. The request comes nearly seven鈥�

Politics

TRANSCRIPT: Hickenlooper's 2016 State Of The State Address

Text of Gov. John Hickenlooper's 2016 State of the State address, as prepared and delivered, Jan. 14, 2016.Text courtesy of the Office of the Governor,鈥�

Environment

Colorado Is Cleaning Up Its Toxic Mining Legacy, One Creek At A Time

Stephanie Paige Ogburn

Carol and John Wagner鈥檚 ranch is surrounded by green pastures, with spectacular views of the northern San Juan mountains. The Wagners moved here from鈥�

Environment

Mercury, Selenium Accumulating In Grand Canyon Stretch Of Colorado River

Stephanie Paige Ogburn

The Colorado River rushes through the Grand Canyon in a powerful pulse. Trips down the remote river are legendary for knock-down rapids and gorgeous鈥�

After the Animas River spill, rancher Irving Shaggy is forced to travel a 70-mile round trip to get water for his livestock. "It's going to be a long struggle," he says.

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Navajo Nation Farmers Feel The Weight Of Colorado Mine Spill

Laurel Morales

The spill of heavy metals into the Animas River has contaminated water for hundreds of farmers in the Navajo Nation downstream, bringing up memories of past environmental disasters.

Environment

Animas River Spill A Stark Reminder Of Colorado's Mine Pollution Legacy

Stephanie Paige Ogburn

Say the names of these Colorado towns out loud: Silverton. Leadville. Silver Plume. Rico. Bonanza. Ironton. The last two are ghost towns, but the names of鈥�

As it monitored the wastewater blowout that began Wednesday, the EPA took this photo of a sampling point near the source outside Silverton, Colo., on Sunday.

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Rivers Shut Down Over EPA's Spill Of 3 Million Gallons Of Toxic Water

Bill Chappell

Water samples taken after the spill showed lead concentrations that were 3,500 times the levels normally seen in Durango, Colo.

Environment

Why Was The Environmental Protection Agency Messing With A Mine Above Silverton?

Stephanie Paige Ogburn

The Environmental Protection Agency has said it caused a large release of hazardous water from a mine above the town of Silverton, in Southwest Colorado.鈥�