Mining Company Settles with Feds for $143M Cleanup

The federal government and state officials have reached a settlement with Chevron Mining Inc. that calls for $143 million in cleanup work at a Superfund site in northern New Mexico.

The company will conduct a pilot project on 275 acres where tailings from the mine near Questa were stored. It also plans to operate a water treatment plant and install a groundwater extraction system to remove contamination.

Chevron Mining also will reimburse the EPA more than $5 million for past expenses related to cleanup at the site.

Chevron Mining has already completed some projects at the site under previous agreements with EPA. Officials say the new work will improve efforts to permanently prevent contamination from affecting the Red River and other water resources and further reduce risks for nearby communities.