"EPA's Colorado Mine Disaster Plume Flows West Toward Grand Canyon"

"SILVERTON — Three days after EPA workers triggered a huge blowout at a festering mine in southwestern Colorado, a mustard-colored plume — still fed by 548 gallons leaking per minute — stretched more than 100 miles, spreading contaminants including cadmium, arsenic, copper, lead and zinc.

Environmental Protection Agency regional chief Shaun McGrath on Saturday conceded that federal officials know the levels of the heavy metals in Cement Creek and the Animas River but would not reveal early testing results. 'Those data sheets have not been finalized by the scientists,' McGrath said. 'As soon as we are able to release them, we will.'

Potentially toxic contaminants had spread as far as a domestic well 60 miles away near Durango, which La Plata County officials said has prompted them to launch a well-testing operation for hundreds of residents. City water and irrigation intake gates were being shut in New Mexico and Navajo Country as the plume, moving at about 5 miles per hour, flowed from the Animas into the San Juan River."

Bruce Finley reports for the Denver Post August 8, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Wastewater Spill From Colorado Gold Mine Triples in Volume: EPA" (Reuters)