New Mexico
New Mexico officials review plan to address potash pollution
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — State environmental regulators are reviewing plans submitted by Mosaic Potash to research and outline the extent of groundwater contamination from discharges related to potash mining alongside the Pecos River in southern New Mexico.
The state Atmosphere Division introduced earlier this month that contamination had been detected in close by groundwater monitoring wells between the corporate’s Laguna Grande lake and the river. Consequently, the corporate was required to submit a plan for monitoring and coping with the air pollution.
Potash mining is a predominant financial driver in Eddy County. A salt wealthy in potassium, potash is used largely as a plant fertilizer and in animal feed.
Carlsbad was the location of potash’s first discovery in North America in 1925 throughout oil drilling, the Carlsbad Present-Argus reported. The invention led to a growth in improvement within the former ranching city that predated the world’s prominence in fossil fuels.
Mosaic’s mine, about 16 miles east of Carlsbad, produces the ore each by means of its underground mining and floor operations.
Waste ensuing from mining the ore is moved across the facility into a number of disposal areas, doubtlessly leeching into groundwater provides.
Extracting potash from underground generates tailings which are disposed of together with salty brine water. The salt and clay settle and the brine water and residual clay movement right into a settling pond. The brine is then discharged from the pond by means of a pipeline into Laguna Grande, after which into evaporation cells the place the ensuing chloride salt is harvested.
Mosaic’s discharge allow permits for as much as 7.5 million gallons (34 million liters) per day of tailings, brine and different liquids, together with 29,000 gallons (109,777 liters) per day of untreated home wastewater.
These discharges have the potential, in response to the state Floor Water High quality Bureau, to extend groundwater within the space to greater than state requirements for whole dissolved solids, doubtlessly impacting the Pecos River.
Ought to that occur, the Atmosphere Division has the authority to shut the ability and require Mosaic present a direct plan to mitigate the air pollution.
The company holds a bond with Mosaic for about $82 million to fund such a closure ought to elevated contaminant ranges be detected.
Mosaic’s discharge allow was final renewed in 2011. The allow contains the abatement plan that defines how the corporate reduces its setting affect.
Mosaic is required to gather water samples quarterly from a number of monitoring wells within the space and from the Pecos River, and report back to the state on the degrees of dissolved solids and different contaminants.
As soon as Mosaic characterizes the character and extent of groundwater contamination from mine discharges between Laguna Grande and the Pecos River, the state might require the corporate to develop an extra detailed abatement that outlines methods to wash up the groundwater contamination.