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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Colorado Disappointed With New Mexico Lawsuit

(AP) - Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's office said Friday it is disappointed New Mexico has chosen "costly and time-consuming litigation" in response to the Gold King Mine spill.

New Mexico has filed a complaint against Colorado with the U.S. Supreme Court, saying Colorado should be held responsible for decisions that led up the August 2015 spill.

The governor's office says the litigation doesn't affect Colorado's commitment to addressing challenges posed by historic drainage from mines into the Animas River and other watersheds in the state.

Colorado officials vow to continue work to protect natural resources and public health.

The spill sent millions of gallons of mine wastewater containing arsenic, lead and other heavy metals into the Animas River. The plume coursed downstream into the San Juan River and eventually Lake Powell.

The lawsuit seeks damages and demands that Colorado address problems at the mines.

It marks the second major legal salvo fired by New Mexico in the wake of the August 2015 spill, which fouled rivers in three states with a yellow soup of arsenic, lead and other heavy metals. New Mexico is also suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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