Santa Fe NM (8/10/2016) ? A consent decree requiring Chevron Mining to pay for $143 million in cleanup work near Questa, New Mexico was announced earlier today by the State of New Mexico, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Acting New Mexico Environment Secretary Butch Tongate said, ?This $143 million cleanup is a powerful example of regulatory protections that work. In addition to the $112 million already collected for environmental work during this administration, the State of New Mexico is pleased with the enforcement of regulations that hold Chevron Mining accountable for the environmental impacts caused by the now-closed Questa Mine which will foster a renewed Questa/Red River destination area.?
Today?s settlement follows an earlier September 2015 consent decree entered into by the State of New Mexico on behalf of New Mexico State Office of Natural Resource Trustee and by the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture that resolved separate claims for natural resource damages at the mine. Under that separate consent decree, CMI paid more than $4.2 million for restoring, replacing, or acquiring natural resources damaged by mine activities. The current consent decree addresses claims separate from the natural resource damages consent decree.
The proposed partial consent decree, if approved by the court, will provide for the initial phase of the cleanup at the Questa Mine. Covering and revegetating the area, treating water affected by the mine, and preventing contaminated water from reaching the Red River, are among that remedial actions required. Acting Secretary Tongate said, ?While we?re pleased to see the necessary steps for cleanup work to begin, we also look forward to addressing the remaining environmental issues at the Questa Mine in future enforcement collaborations with DOJ and EPA.?
Contact: Allison Scott Majure Communications Director allison.majure@state.nm.us 505-231-8800
