EPA says Rico mines pose little risk for blowout

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EPA says Rico mines pose little risk for blowout

Monitoring and pumps installed to control flows
County has plan in case of spill

If there were a toxic spill into the Dolores River, Montezuma County has a plan to address the situation, officials say.
Emergency manager Paul Hollar said in such an emergency, water companies, irrigators, city and county governments, the Ute Mountain tribe, health departments and law enforcement will be notified as soon as possible.
“Whether its a truck with chemicals crashing into the river, or a mine spill, we have a plan in place to take action quickly to protect the public,” Hollar said.
In Rico abandoned mines are being monitored. Flow meters and pressure monitors in the mines use satellite telemetry to immediately notify safety officials if there the risk of a back up of mine waste.
Hollar said if there were a mine spill into the river at Rico, down river irrigators and McPhee Reservoir managers would get 12-18 hours advance notice before it hits.
“It would give them time to close their headgates, and take appropriate action at water treatment plants,” he said.
If there were a major release from the main mine complex at Rico, retention ponds and dikes would absorb a lot of the impact.
In the event of a spill, a list of irrigators on the upper Dolores River is being compiled, and they will be notified through the Nixle system on their mobile phones and by email.
Downstream users below McPhee dam would also notified, along with Utah and New Mexico.

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