Heinrich Statement on Adding Gold King Mine Spill Site to Superfund National Priorities List

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, issued the following statement in support of adding the site of the Gold King Mine spill that polluted the Four Corners region last summer to the Superfund National Priorities List. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper formally endorsed a Superfund cleanup for 48 abandon mining sites, including the Gold King Mine.

"I fully support the local communities and Governor Hickenlooper in their effort to add these mine sites - including the site of the Gold King Mine spill - to the Superfund National Priorities List. Designating these abandoned mines a Superfund site will allow the EPA and the state of Colorado to work on long-term and robust cleanup that will directly benefit New Mexico communities downstream, and ensure this never happens again.  This must continue to be a collaborative effort with input from the community in the entire watershed."

Senator Heinrich called for the area to be put on the national priorities list during a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on the Gold King Mine spill in September 2015.