Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it tested water and sediment at Lake Powell, including the San Juan arm, and found that contaminants meet drinking water standards and sediment results are within "recreational" range.
The testing was in the aftermath of the Aug. 5 breach of the Gold King Mine that sent 3 million gallons of water laden with heavy metals into the Animas River, which eventually flowed downstream into the San Juan River and Lake Powell.
Sampling results are posted on the EPA's website and will be updated as the assessment continues.
A news release by the National Park Service said no area closures or human safety advisories are in effect for Lake Powell, but as always, visitors are encouraged to purify Lake Powell water for drinking.
The Utah Department of Health continues to advise San Juan River users to carry their own drinking water and refrain from relying on filtering or purification methods. Boat and paddle craft tours remain open for business.
Long-term impact and investigation
The long-term impacts of the spill continue to be under scrutiny by the park service, EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and both the Utah and Arizona state governments.
Authorities say the spill happened after a contractor using heavy equipment entered the abandoned mine to start pumping and treating the wastewater.
On Tuesday, Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, penned a letter to the EPA asking for documents related to its investigation of the incident.
The Utah congressmen want to know why the federal contractor was allowed to carry out the work given the EPA's knowledge that the abandoned mine was at risk of a spill.
Six days after the breach became public and sent a mustard-colored plume of sludge down the southwestern river system, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency and also ordered an investigation for possible legal action.