States Brace For Snowmelt To Kick Up Metals From Mine Spill

DENVER (AP) — States and Indian tribes are getting ready in case a rush of melting snow stirs up potentially toxic metals in two rivers after a massive spill from a Colorado mine last August.

More than two dozen agencies said Thursday they'll monitor the Animas and San Juan rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah at about 18 sites.

A crew led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inadvertently triggered the 3 million-gallon spill at the Gold King Mine Aug. 5 during preliminary cleanup work.

The EPA estimates the spill released 880,000 pounds of metals into the rivers. Some settled to the bottom and could be stirred up when snowmelt swells the rivers.

Separately, the EPA released an updated plan Thursday for its own water-quality monitoring to last at least through August.

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