QUESTA, N.M. (Legal Newsline) — Chevron Mining Inc. (CMI) will pay $143 million in cleanup work at the Chevron Questa Mine Superfund site, the Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have announced.
“This settlement will advance substantial cleanup work at the Questa site, and require actions to prevent future contamination of the Red River,” said assistant attorney General John C. Cruden for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement is the product of excellent cooperation between the state and federal governments and CMI to continue the vital cleanup work at the Chevron Questa Mine site.”
CMI operated the mining site from 1919 until 2014. During that time, mining operations and waste disposal allegedly contaminated soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater. To settle the case, CMI will pay more than $5.2 million to the EPA, perform a pilot project that will cover roughly 275 acres of the facility, operate a water treatment plant and build groundwater extraction systems.
“Protecting precious water resources is essential to the health of New Mexico’s communities and the state’s economy,” said EPA regional administrator Ron Curry. “While mining pollution is a complex issue, EPA and our partners are pleased to see the next phase of the cleanup at the Questa site take shape.”