Hickenlooper On Mine Spill: 'We Take This As A Catalyst'
DURANGO, Colo. (CBS4) - Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday personally inspected the Animas River after the massive spill of wastewater and issued a disaster declaration.
The plume of wastewater is gone and the river is clearing up, but it's still off limits until at least next week. Yellow sludge can still be seen on the shorelines of the river. RELATED: Tuesday's Mine Spill Timeline Hickenlooper says he's concerned about health and businesses.
He toured the river in Durango and talked to a fish biologist at a fish hatchery to learn more about the impact the spill is having on the fish population.
"It is in every sense unacceptable. We share the anger that something like this can happen. Now our primary goal is how are we going to move forward," said Hickenlooper.
More than 100 fish from the hatchery were placed in cages to test the spill's impact on aquatic wildlife.
"The fish seem to be holding up okay," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Manger Pat Dorsey.
Officials say of all off the fish they put in cages in the river ahead of the plume only a handful died. That indicates there mostly likely won't be a massive fish die-off in the river.
Officials are monitoring the water quality.
"Based on the preliminary results the metals appear to have returned to pre-incident levels," said Exec. Dir. of the Department of Public Health and Environment Larry Wolk.
Hickenlooper said the spill has put a spotlight on a big problem in the state of Colorado.
"We take this as a catalyst and we recognize that we have not just hundreds but thousands of old mines. It was a primary part of the economy. There's a network of old mines across many of the mountain ranges of not just Colorado but the Rocky Mountains and the West," Hickenlooper said. "I think our goal here is to really focus on what we can do to make sure that those mines where we know that we have a serious problem; how can accelerate remediation to make sure something like this never happens again."
Some of the main damage on a public relations standpoint in Durango and other communities that rely so much on tourism might have already been done.
PHOTO GALLERY: Gov. Hickenlooper Tours Animas River
The spill is causing more concern downstream. Hundreds in Farmington, New Mexico took their water to be tested. The Animas River feeds irrigation ditches and wells, making it key for not only people but crops and animals.
Officials in New Mexico say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency simply took too long to tell them about the spill.
"Twenty-four hours is a huge deal. Every minute counts in this type of situation … tell that to the families … the cattle growers whose livelihoods depend on this," a New Mexico official said.
New Mexico has also declared a state of emergency because of the spill. Arizona is also keeping an eye on the plume of contaminated water.
