On August 5th, while conducting an investigation of the Gold King Mine in Colorado, an EPA cleanup team

triggered a release of approximately three million gallons of mine wastewater into Cement Creek. Cement

Creek is a tributary of the Animas River which flows into the San Juan River

at Farmington, NM. EPA is working closely with responders and Navajo

officials to monitor river water and collect river sediments impacted by

the release. 

EPA regrets and deeply apologizes for the potential impact this is having on the

health, finances and culture of Navajo communities. EPA recognizes the San

Juan River as not only an important water resource for agricultural use, but as of

cultural significance for Diné people. We are committed to working closely with

Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management to provide alternative

drinking, agricultural, and livestock water, and livestock feed, and restoring the

river to pre-release conditions.

EPA has activated its Emergency Operations System to ensure coordination

among its regions, laboratories and national program offices in Washington,

D.C., and is closely coordinating with officials in Navajo Nation, Colorado,

New Mexico, Utah and the Southern Ute Tribe.

EPA staff are partnering with various Navajo officials, Navajo incident

command, and other responding agencies to ensure comprehensive

outreach to all affected Navajo Chapters.

• EPA has taken emergency response actions at Gold King Mine to capture and treat any remaining

 discharge, limiting the risk of additional downstream impacts.

Gold King Mine

Emergency Response

in Navajo NaƟon

• EPA constructed four ponds at the mine site in order to treat water, lower

 acidity levels, and remove dissolved metals.

• EPA has implemented a sampling plan to track pollutants and test the

 water quality.

• A joint EPA and Navajo EPA river sampling program has started, focusing

on the San Juan River between Hogback, N.M.

and Mexican Hat, UT, and will continue for the

foreseeable future. 

What has been done?
• EPA and participating agencies will continue to treat the mine

 discharge in the constructed ponds, sample the river and the river

 sediments, provide water and livestock feed, and share information

 as it becomes available.

• EPA is coordinating with Navajo Department of Emergency

 Management, attending specially held community meetings,

 chapter meetings, and working to protect the health of Navajo

 Nation members. 

While the situation is improving, precautions still must be taken. EPA strongly recommends residents:

• Stay out of the San Juan River and its tributaries. 

• Do not drink water from the river.

• Wash with soap and water immediately, if you come into contact with the San Juan River water

For more information, please visit the Gold Mine Release Incident website: http://www.epa.gov/goldkingmine. 

You can also contact us through email (r8eisc@epa.gov) or call this toll-free hotline, where operators will take your

message and you will be called back with information related to your question or comment: 1-844-607-9700. 

A Joint Information Center (JIC) has been set up to handle local and national media inquiries. Reach the JIC at

970-812-3351 or email press@epa.gov.

In addition, the Navajo Nation Emergency Operations Center maintains a contact number for community

members’ questions and requests. To contact the Navajo Nation directly, please call 505-371-8415 or 505-371-8408.

• EPA working with Navajo Nation Emergency Management to provide alternative drinking, agricultural, and

 livestock water and feed. 

• Experts are working to understand and validate data from August 7th, 8th, and 9th sampling efforts. As soon

 as this data is available, EPA will publish the information widely and with affected Navajo communities. 

• EPA teams are attending chapter meetings across Navajo Nation to share information and keep community

 members updated with the latest information. 

• The States of Colorado and New Mexico are sampling fish tissue and have yet to see any impact to fish

 populations from the spill.

What is happening now?

What will happen next?

What about my water?

How can you learn more?

n

EPA is working with the Navajo Department of Emergency Services to provide alternative drinking, agricultural,

and livestock water, and livestock feed. To arrange for any of these, Please contact:

• your local Navajo Tribal Utility Authority district office for Drinking Water needs

• your Grazing Official for Livestock Water and Feed needs

• your Farm Board Official for Agricultural Water needs