Gold King Mine - The Durango Herald

Gold King Mine owner sells property to government, ending litigation

Todd Hennis will receive $919,000 for property near Silverton

DATE: May 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Frustrated, Peter Butler leaves Superfund advisory group

‘We are not consulted’ wrote outgoing chairman

DATE: Dec 21, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

After 8 years, businesses’ Gold King claims denied

Nearly 100 businesses and individuals applied for compensation for losses related to the spill

DATE: Aug 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

How did Silverton save a seat at the table?

The small town sits adjacent to a Superfund site; it fought to have a voice

DATE: Jul 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

State announces $5 million settlement for Gold King, mining damages

Federal government will open its wallet to address natural resource harms in Bonita Peak Mining District

DATE: May 11, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Silverton mine waste repository construction to begin

The site will provide a final resting place for sludge removed from drainage of mines

DATE: Mar 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

EPA outlines 2023 Bonita Peak cleanup priorities

Agency has several large projects in the Silverton Superfund site on next year’s schedule

DATE: Jan 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

What was the social impact of Gold King?

Environmentally, the spill was negligible. But seeing a mustard-yellow river spurred action to clean up mines

DATE: Jan 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Environmental Protection Agency assesses permanent mine waste repository

Mayflower Tailings Impoundment offers large capacity for sludge created by water treatment

DATE: Oct 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bulkheads caused the Gold King Mine spill. Could they also be part of the solution?

Remediation tool can limit acidic drainage, but experts must also understand the complicated hydrology

DATE: Mar 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Owner of mine to pay $1.6 million in settlement for Gold King blowout

Money will go toward restoration projects in areas damaged by spill

DATE: Dec 13, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gold King Mine owner sues over taking of private property after 2015 mine spill

Lawsuit seeks $3.8 million in compensation

DATE: Aug 5, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

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Photos: Durango High School girls swimmingDHS girls swimming hosts swim meet

DHS girls swimming hosts swim meet

Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Gold King Mine owner sells property to government, ending litigation

Frustrated, Peter Butler leaves Superfund advisory group

After 8 years, businesses’ Gold King claims denied

How did Silverton save a seat at the table?

State announces $5 million settlement for Gold King, mining damages

Silverton mine waste repository construction to begin

EPA outlines 2023 Bonita Peak cleanup priorities

What was the social impact of Gold King?

Environmental Protection Agency assesses permanent mine waste repository

Bulkheads caused the Gold King Mine spill. Could they also be part of the solution?

Owner of mine to pay $1.6 million in settlement for Gold King blowout

Gold King Mine owner sues over taking of private property after 2015 mine spill

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