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EPA Downplays Dangers Of Mine Spill, But Concerns Linger

DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - More than two weeks after a mine spill fouled waterways in several Western states, officials expressed concern Thursday over the long-term effects of contaminated river bottoms as the federal agency that triggered the accident downplayed the dangers.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency workers released more than 3 million gallons of contaminated water Aug. 5 while working at an inactive mine site near Silverton, Colorado. The spill prompted the shutdown of public drinking-water systems and left rivers in the region tinged a disturbing yellow-orange color that has since faded.

The EPA said in recent days that poisons including lead and thallium have been detected in river sediment samples collected from the Animas River, which travels from Colorado into northern New Mexico, joining the San Juan River before emptying into Utah's Lake Powell.

In Colorado, contaminants exceeding drinking-water standards also were found in seven private wells out of more than 100 tested, according to the EPA. Details on what contaminants were found and at what concentrations were not disclosed.

The agency said it was not clear if the spill caused the well contamination. EPA officials have repeatedly said sediment contamination was returning to pre-spill levels and no longer threatens recreational river users on the Animas or public drinking-water treatment plants.

But state health officials were being more cautious. They were attempting to nail down the potential for long-term damage to private drinking wells and aquatic life from the heavy metals and other contaminants that dropped out of the passing plume.

Experts warn that sediments could be stirred up from river bottoms by storms or during the annual spring runoff, when snow at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains melts.

The sediment contains thallium, a naturally occurring metal that can cause hair loss and kidney or liver problems, as well as lead, which can delay mental development in children.

"We are concerned about this particular sediment load given how the various constituents in the sediment may continue to affect the stream," Colorado health officials said in a statement released by Jan Stapleman, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health and the Environment.

The officials added that there was "ongoing potential for those (private) wells to be affected as the sediment migrates into the groundwater table." They also said it could take years to gather enough data to accurately gauge the extent of problems for fish and other aquatic life.

In Utah, scientists from the state Department of Environmental Quality said tests performed to date suggests the water itself in the San Juan River presents little health risk to users. Agency officials said they were now turning to a long-term monitoring strategy that will focus on sediment and what, if any, steps can be taken to deal with it.

In the interim, Utah health officials said river visitors should not drink the water and should minimize contact with dirt and sand.

In New Mexico, environmental regulators have been monitoring the sediments and expect to release details of their testing in coming weeks. Navajo President Russell Begaye also has voiced concerns about contaminated sediment.

Despite repeated requests from The Associated Press, the EPA has not released further information on the pre-spill contamination levels in the Animas and San Juan rivers, which would shed light on how much things have changed.

EPA spokeswoman Lisa McClain-Vanderpool said the agency planned to release more information on sediments soon.

The Interior Department, which is conducting an independent review of the spill at the EPA's request, said Thursday that it expects to deliver a final report by late October.

The probe will be overseen by Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, which in the first days after the spill increased water flows from the Navajo Dam on the San Juan to dilute the slug of contaminants released from the mine.

By Matthew Brown, AP Writer

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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