Gold King Mine Settlement Projects Announced

June 14, 2023

The New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee has announced the 10 projects that will be funded with the $12 million settlement from the Gold King Mine spill. These projects aim to address economic loss and the impact on outdoor recreation caused by the spill. Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity Restore is celebrating its 9-year anniversary with a parking lot sale, offering discounts and a festive atmosphere on June 24th, and public meetings are being held to discuss the feasibility of bringing a freight rail service to the Four Corners region, inviting feedback on potential route alignments. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Traeger’s Bar

Learn More...

New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee - https://onrt.env.nm.gov/

New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee: Gold King Mine - https://onrt.env.nm.gov/gold-king-mine/

Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity Restore - https://www.tresrioshabitat.com/

Four Corners Freight Rail - https://4cornersfreightrail.com/  

Read the Full Transcript

The 10 projects from the Gold King Mine settlement have been announced by the New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee. Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity ReStore invites you to its nine year anniversary parking lot sale. And mark your calendars for the second round of public meetings for the Freight Rail Feasibility Study. You're watching the "Local News Roundup" brought to you by Boon's Family Thai Barbecue and Traegers Bar. I'm Haley Opsal. The New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee announced the final version of the Natural Resource Restoration Plan, which details how the $12 million from the Gold King Mine spill settlement will be spent. The final plan was released at the end of May with 10 projects selected from the initial list of 17 total grant proposals. Selected projects were prioritized based on their abilities to address economic loss and the loss of outdoor recreation opportunities due to the spill of toxic mined wastewater from the Gold King Mine in Silverton, Colorado. Two of the projects are for the city of Aztec, $950,000 for rehabilitation work of Raw Water Reservoir 1, and $480,000 for wastewater management. One of the projects is for the City of Farmington. $2 million for the construction of the Whitewater Wave and Irrigation Division Dam on Animas River behind the Farmington Museum at Gateway Park. Three of the projects are for San Juan County. About $682,000 for the construction of boat ramps and park improvements along the San Juan River. $3.2 million for the construction of a New Mexico State University Extension Service Office building, and $1 million for the construction of water and wastewater improvements for the Toha subdivision. Additional projects include an irrigation ditch diversion project for San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District. A boat ramp on the San Juan River for the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. A San Juan River Water Lease Agreement, and the construction of an aquatic invasive species station. Tres Rios's Habitat For Humanity ReStore invites you to come and celebrate its nine year anniversary on June 24th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The celebration will include a parking lot sale with major discounts, including 10% off storewide, and 20% off if you spend $150 or more. As well as food trucks, music, and a festive atmosphere. The sale is one day only. So make sure to mark your calendars to support Tres Rios' Habitat for Humanity and its mission in San Juan County. San Juan County, the Navajo Nation, and the Federal Railroad Administration invite you to come to the second round of public meetings to discuss the economic feasibility of bringing a freight rail service to the Four Corners region. The Four Corners Freight Rail Study Team is looking specifically to hear any comments about potential route alignments and the study team's progress at the two meetings, June 21st at Newcomb High School from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and June 22nd at Navajo Technical University from 4:00 to 7:00. Learn more about these and other stories online at farmingtonlocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of "Local News Roundup", I'm Haley Opsal.

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