"This is a milestone," state Natural Resources Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins said. "This is the biggest stab in actually getting the money to the Navajo Nation and Zuni tribe, the
Office Of Natural Resources Trustee Finalizes Restoration Plan For Injuries From 2015 Gold King Mine Release ladailypost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ladailypost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The final restoration plan commits funding for 10 natural resource restoration projects using $12 million recovered from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA contractors for injuries in New Mexico resulting from the 2015 release of acid mine drainage from the Gold King Mine into the Animas and San Juan Rivers.
It’s been more than seven years since the Animas and San Juan Rivers turned various shades of yellow from toxic waste runoff in the Gold King Mine that was released by federal contractors into the streams. In that time, New Mexico has won in court about $48 million in damages from companies and the federal government responsible for the spill. That includes a recent $5 million settlement with the contractors hired to do mine clean up in the area.
As she was sworn in to a second term, New Mexico’s head of state announced she wants to create a new state health agency with the goal of getting more people insured.