A Claims process for the Colorado Mine Animas River

I know this is far from Eddy County, and may not be of interest to some but I thought it might be to others. Erin Brockovich A Claims process for the Colorado Mine Animas River corridor spill has been set up and will begin tomorrow: A claims process exists for compensating citizens who suffer personal injury or property damage caused by U.S. government actions. The process is available in the EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR Part 10, and includes guidance on documentation that may be required to support claims for loss of employment and loss of income, among other claims. Claims for monetary compensation may be filed by submitting a Standard Form 95 specifying the nature of the loss suffered and the EPA actions, if known, causing the loss or damage to property, to either of the following contacts: Richard Feldman Claims Officer U.S. EPA Office of General Counsel 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC 2399A) Washington, D.C. 20460 Michael Nelson U.S. EPA Region 8 Office of Regional Counsel 1595 Wynkoop Street (MC 8RC) Denver, CO 80202 Alternatively, claimants may submit signed electronic versions of Standard Form 95 to the EPA for the Gold King Mine Release via e-mail at R8_GKM_Claims@epa.gov beginning Tuesday, August 11, 2015. The fillable PDF version of Standard Form 95 is available in the documents section of this website or via the link below: http://www.epaosc.org/sites/11082/files/StandardForm95.pdf Standard Form 95 is used to present claims against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) for property damage, personal injury, or death allegedly caused by a federal employee's negligence or wrongful act or omission occurring within the scope of the employee's federal employment. Standard Form 95 is not required to present a claim under the FTCA, but it is a convenient format for supplying the information necessary to bring an FTCA claim. Please note that a completed form must state a claim for money damages in a “sum certain” amount (that is, a specific amount) claimed for personal injury, death, or injury to or loss of property. In addition, if a sum certain is not specified in Standard Form 95 block 12d, or in accompanying information, a submission cannot be considered a valid presentation of a claim. Although the EPA’s regulations state that the EPA has 6 months to resolve a claim, the Agency will make every effort to respond to Gold King Mine release claims as soon as possible. Claims must be presented to the EPA within two years after the claim accrues.

August 10 – Gold King Mine Release Update

August 10 – Gold King Mine Release Update BACKGROUND On August 5, while investigating the Gold King Mine in Colorado, an EPA cleanup team triggered a large release of mine wastewater into Cement Creek. EPA is working closely with responders and local and state officials to monitor water contaminated by the release. The release’s path flows through three of EPA’s regions (Region 8 (Colorado/Utah & Southern Ute Tribe); Region 6 (New Mexico), and Region 9 (Navajo Nation). EPA has activated its Emergency Operations System to ensure coordination among its regions, laboratories and national program offices in Washington, D.C. EPA is closely coordinating with officials in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Southern Ute Tribe and Navajo Nation. For the latest information and photos visit: http://www2.epa.gov/region8/gold-king-mine-release-emergency-response August 10 Update EPA Region 8 has deployed a large response team to Durango and Silverton, Colorado and to several locations in New Mexico, Utah and the Navajo Reservation to coordinate with affected states, tribes and communities on various response activities and to address impacts associated with the Gold King mine wastewater release. EPA’s primary objectives include working with federal, state, tribal and local authorities to make sure that people continue to have access to safe drinking water, ensure appropriate precautions are in place for recreational use and contact with river water, evaluate impacts to aquatic life and fish populations, and stop the flow of contaminated water into the watershed at the Gold King Mine site. Aerial and ground reconnaissance indicates that the plume associated with the Gold King Mine release has dissipated downstream and there is no leading edge of contamination visible in downstream sections of the San Juan River or Lake Powell. EPA has also taken steps to capture and treat the discharge at the Gold King mine, addressing the risk of additional downstream impacts. We have constructed four ponds at the mine site and which are treating water by lowering acidity levels and removing dissolved metals. This system is discharging treated water to Cement Creek at levels cleaner (higher pH and lower levels of metals) than pre-event, background conditions in the creek. Over the next several days, EPA will make upgrades to the system to ensure its continued operation. EPA is collecting and assessing water quality from the Animas and San Juan Rivers daily. Over the next several days, we will be jointly evaluating data and information with partners to determine when access to the Animas River will be restored for activities and uses such as rafting, fishing, irrigation, and drinking water. EPA, tribal, state and local officials are coordinating these decisions based on sampling data, risk screening levels, and other related factors. We do not anticipate any reopening decisions until at least August 17. The timing of these decisions could vary among local, state and tribal governments based on local conditions and by uses. Until notified otherwise, people should continue to abide by existing closures. The assessment of impacts to wildlife and fish populations is ongoing. To date we have seen no indication of widespread fish mortality in the Animas or San Juan. Fish cages placed directly in the Animas River by the State of Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife for two days indicate one mortality out of 108 fish tested. The State will be evaluating those and other ecological impacts with partners as we move forward. EPA is also working with the New Mexico Department of Game Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate reports of impacts to wildlife. EPA has established a response center in Durango, Colorado and has deployed ten On Scene Coordinators in Silverton, Durango and Farmington, New Mexico. Water quality experts and several technicians and contractors will respond to the discharge as it reaches communities in New Mexico. Two Public Information Officers (PIOs) are also on site in Durango at the Joint Information Center (JIC). Two Community Involvement Coordinators (CICs) were deployed to Farmington yesterday and met with local Navajo Chapter officials and hosted public meetings. The CICs will also partner with Navajo Nation EPA (NNEPA) and Navajo Department of Public Safety to ensure comprehensive outreach to all affected Navajo Chapters. EPA is using several contracting mechanisms to provide support for the response, which includes water quality sampling, drinking water and agricultural water distribution as well as construction and maintenance of the water treatment ponds. In New Mexico, EPA has a team of two federal on-scene coordinators, two water quality experts and ten technicians and contractors responding to the spill as it reaches communities in the state. Additional personnel are arriving in Farmington and will total 26 employees and contractors by the end of the day. Staffing is expected to continue to grow to support outreach and door-to-door canvasing. EPA mobile command center has arrived in Farmington and will be fully operational later today. EPA is also co-locating personnel with NMED in Santa Fe to enhance planning and communication between the agencies. EPA is continuing to collect water quality samples from nine locations in the river near intakes for Aztec, Farmington, the Lower Valley Water Users Association, the Morning Star Water Supply System and the North Star Water User Association. Each of these locations will continue to be monitored as the spill makes its way past these areas. EPA has two dedicated water quality experts available in New Mexico to assist the five drinking water systems. Working with San Juan County, NM officials, EPA is providing alternative water supply for livestock in New Mexico. EPA and New Mexico Environment Department are providing free water quality testing for domestic drinking water wells along the river. Teams of qualified technicians are going door-to-door to collect samples for laboratory analysis. At 7 pm on Sunday, Aug 9, New Mexico Environment Secretary notified EPA that the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish needed help responding to reports of wildlife that may have been impacted by the release. EPA immediately connected NM Fish & Game with the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). NM Fish & Game is sending one biologist and two game wardens to assess the situation today and will follow up with USFWS. The USFWS has requested EPA contract with a wildlife rehabilitator to assist with cleaning any animals. USFWS will provide capture and oversight of the operations for the state. On Saturday (Aug. 8) the President of the Navajo Nation declared a State of Emergency for the San Juan River valley. On Sunday, President Begaye and his staff toured the Gold King Mine Site. R9 public information officer Rusty Harris-Bishop escorted the President on the tour. The President and his staff then attended the community meeting in Durango. Navajo officials have reacted quickly, assessing their well fields and drinking and irrigation water intake systems and issuing a precautionary "do not use" public service announcement regarding water from potentially impacted sources. EPA Region 9 held a conference call Sunday with Navajo Nation EPA (NNEPA) and Navajo Department of Public Safety. The Navajo EPA surface water monitoring program (Shiprock Office) collected water and sediment samples from the San Juan River - prior to the spill impact. Region 9 has provided 6 START contractors to coordinate and conduct increased sample collection and lab analysis in conjunction with NNEPA. This joint EPA/NNEPA river sampling program has commenced focusing on the San Juan between Shiprock/Hogback, NM area and Mexican Hat, UT and will continue for the foreseeable future. A Region 9 OSC reported to Farmington on Monday to assist. NNEPA also requested drinking water sampling support immediately for Navajo operated water intakes. NNEPA and USEPA drinking water experts agreed to inventory and assess water sources including private wells and intakes. Region 9 will be providing assistance to Navajo NTUA (utilities) to deliver water to the areas impacted by the Gold King Mine Spill - starting with the Montezuma Creek area. NTUA is sourcing the water from their Sweetwater wells and filling up the service tanks in the affected areas. The ERRS contractor will be providing assistance in the transportation of these waters. Two EPA Community Involvement Coordinators (CICs) arrived in Farmington Sunday. The CICs will partner with NNEPA and NN Department of Public Safety to ensure comprehensive outreach to all affected Navajo Chapters. The CICs have begun working with local Navajo Chapter officials and will participate in public meetings at Aneth and Oljato on 8/10. Claims Process EPA is committed to taking responsibility for the discharge and impacts to affected communities. Detailed instructions and links to electronic forms was provided in the August 9, 2015, update. Beginning on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, claimants may submit signed electronic versions of Standard Form 95 to EPA for the Gold King Mine Release via e-mail at R8_GKM_Claims@epa.gov. Although EPA’s regulations state that the EPA has six months to resolve a claim, the Agency will make every effort to respond to Gold King Mine release claims as soon as possible. Claims must be presented to EPA within two years after the claim accrues. Public Health Update The downward trend in water quality concentrations for metals continues for the sites sampled. Cement Creek 14th Street Bridge, only had one sampling event, so a trend could not be developed. The Animas River is an open water source and not considered potable until it has been properly treated. Washing with soap and water after contact with the river water is a sound public health practice to minimize exposure to the metals, and also any bacteria that maybe present in the untreated river water. Anyone who feels illness as a result of exposure to metals or pathogenic organisms in the river water should contact their local health care provider. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends that additional monitoring should be conducted until the river returns to pre-release levels. If local health care providers have questions they can contact the ATSDR Regional Office at 303-312-7013. ATSDR’s Regional Office can arrange a consultation between the health care provider and ATSDR physician. Additional information about exposure with metals at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/index.asp

Preventing Persistent Infections of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Beef Cow Herds

The following CES publication has been revised and is now available online in PDF format. Guide B-225, "Preventing Persistent Infections of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Beef Cow Herds,” revised by John Wenzel http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B225.pdf

Tomatoe Plants late Season Problem

Press Release Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad, NM 88220 For More Information, Contact: Woods Houghton, Eddy County Agriculture Agent Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service Phone: 575-887-6595 Fax: 575-887-3795 whoughto@nmsu.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE What’s Killing My Tomatoes? The popularity of homegrown tomatoes is probably only exceeded by the pests and other problems that plague tomato plants. Insects and diseases, stress from insufficient water, nutrient imbalances and heat can all affect plant growth. Curly top virus is a common problem from late June to August. There is no cure for the disease, which is spread by an insect called the beet leafhopper. Curly top stunts plant growth. It turns leaves yellow-green and leathery and makes them curl upward. Veins in the leaves often turn purple. Infected plants usually feel warm to the touch compared with healthy plants. Pull up and discard all infected plants. Verticillium and fusarium wilt are other common diseases. They are soil-borne fungal diseases that cause older plant leaves to turn yellow and die. When the stem of the plant is cut near the soil line, the tissue just below the bark will look tan to dark brown in color. Pull up wilted plants and discard them in the trash. Stunted yellow plants can also be a sign of nematodes, particularly in sandy soils. Nematodes, microscopic worms that live in the soil, feed on roots and eventually cause plants to wilt. To help avoid these problems plant resistant or tolerant tomatoes varieties in Eddy County. Look for the letters “V” “F” and “N” with the variety name an example is Early Girl VFN. Remember resistance is directly related to the challenge and in some cases there is more of the bad guys then the plant can resist. If you have had problems in a particular part of your garden you can solar sanitize it by put clear plastic over that part of the garden and let the sun cook it. Tomato hornworm is often the biggest tomato pest but the hardest to see. The five-inch, green worm is relatively plump and blends well with foliage. It has white diagonal stripes and a horn on its posterior. Look for worms near shredded foliage just above the black droppings they leave on the soil. Round holes found in fruit are generally caused by tomato fruit worms. They’re also known as corn earworms because they chew around the tips of sweet corn or boll worm because they chew into cotton bolls. Striped worms can be brown, green or yellow. They are relatively small, growing up to two inches long. They can also be found chewing on foliage. August weather can cause several problems for tomatoes. Fruit often cracks because dry, hot weather alternates with rainfall. Lack of water can also cause blossom-end rot, especially if soil is low in usable calcium. A water-soaked spot appears on the bottom of fruit, eventually turning brown to black with a leathery texture. Our soil has lots of calcium but it is not all usable to the plants. Application of gypsum, bone meal, or sulfur helps. Intense sun and poor foliage cover can cause sunscald on tomato fruit. Fruit shoulders will blister, forming a gray, paper-like spot. Training vines to a cage will create more shade for fruit and keep it off the ground, resulting in less fruit rot. Hot weather, particularly at night, can also result in poor fruit set. Excessive nitrogen in fertilizer can cause the same problem. Tomatoes require fertilizer with a good balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. I get lots of call this time of year with people asking why no fruit but lost of lush green vines. I always ask if they are using Miracle Grow TM. and the answer is almost always yes. Miracle grow is a good fertilizer but is low in phosphorus for our soil. Starting in the spring apply a good phosphorus fertilizer as well, 0-46-0, 0-35-0, 11-54-0. The middle number in on the product is phosphorous. Miracle makes a product call Miracle Grow for western soils TM. which is better suited for our soils then the regular product. It is difficult to find however. Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

HOME ECONOMIC AGENT STARTS IN EDDY COUNTY

HOME ECONOMIC AGENT STARTS IN EDDY COUNTY New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service office in Eddy County has a new home economist, whom as a native of Carlsbad, is eager to get people of all ages excited about various programs that Extension has to offer. Jennah McKinley joins a staff of three who provide Extension services to the county through 4-H youth programs, nutrition education programs and agriculture expertise. Her main focus for adults in the county will include diabetes awareness, nutrition and life skills. McKinley explained that the population of Eddy County is approximately 54,000 with 12.8% of the population below poverty (2012 U.S. Bureau of the Census). The two largest age groups of the population below poverty level are the youth groups ages <5 (38.3%) and 5-17 (28.1%). The largest ethnic groups are Hispanic (44.7%) and White (51.5%). The largest family type is the husband-wife householder with children < 18 (50.3%). Low income levels often indicate low educational achievements. The situation in Eddy County is such that 32% of all persons 25 years of age and older have obtained less than a high school level of education. 7.4% have attained less than a ninth grade level of education. These low income and low educational groups can improve their health through basic nutrition, food safety, food preparation, and food resource management education. Eddy County youth have the potential to be influenced by negative indicators such as crime, poverty, teen birth rate, and single parent families. Basic life skills are imperative in the development of knowledgeable and productive citizens for the future of Eddy County. Home economics subject matter projects include consumerism, nutrition, personal development and creative arts providing stepping stones in the development process. She says that she is really excited to get started on developing various workshops to educate the community on various topics that our community has needed for a long time. Workshops will be advertised in the local newspaper; however the Eddy County Extension also has a new Facebook page that will display upcoming events and workshops. Besides coordinating nutrition and family consumer science programs in the county, she will work with 4-H agent Allison Leimer to develop youth programs. "I really enjoy working with kids," McKinley said. "It's an honor to watch them develop life skills as they grow into young adults.” McKinley has three years of experience working as a teacher in the Carlsbad Municipal School District. She says that “the home economist position will enable her to extend her expertise to people of all ages in the community”. She said her goals for Eddy County programs include developing the 4-H home economics program by teaching nutrition, cooking and other life skills workshops and having youth participate in various home economics contests. She said she would like to have the 4-H youth work with adults in the Carlsbad and Artesia homemakers clubs in hopes of increasing membership in those groups. McKinley earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and a Master’s of Arts in Education Degree from NMSU in 2011 and 2015. While in college, she served as President for New Mexico State University’s Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for three terms, as well as Vice President for the New Mexico Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for one term. She has acquired several distinguishing awards including New Mexico Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Student of the Year and New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Student Award for the Class of 2011. She encourages the community to come visit with her at 1304 W. Stevens in Carlsbad.Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

NMSU, NRCS hosts field day at Los Lunas agricultural science center

NMSU, NRCS hosts field day at Los Lunas agricultural science center DATE: 08/10/2015 WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Mark Marsalis, 505-865-7340, marsalis@nmsu.edu LOS LUNAS – Middle Rio Grande farmers and community members will have an opportunity to learn about the research being conducted at New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas during the farm’s field day Wednesday, Aug. 12. The purpose of the NMSU College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences experimental station is to address various crop and horticultural issues in the area, as well as conduct research to determine if alternative crops and other plants can grow in the region. Los Lunas ASC is among 12 agricultural science centers around the state. Also located at the farm is the Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Materials Center that serves New Mexico and other Southwestern states by testing diverse ecotypes of plant species for adaption to various conditions and suitability for conservation efforts and commercial production. “We have a wide range of research programs here to serve the area’s broad clientele base that ranges from the horticultural needs of individual homeowners to small- and medium-sized farming operations in the Middle Rio Grande Valley,” said Mark Marsalis, NMSU Extension forage specialist and superintendent of the Los Lunas facility. “The field day will have something of interest to everyone, and is a great opportunity to have a glimpse into the research efforts of both NMSU and the NRCS,” he said. “The station is really quite unique with respect to the diversity of projects being conducted. We have everything from vegetables, fruit trees and berries, pecans, and ornamental plantings, to forage crops and range grasses.” New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte and NRCS’s State Conservationist Xavier Montoya will begin the day’s activities with welcome addresses at 8:15 a.m. Wagon and walking tours and demonstrations will start at 9 a.m. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The event concludes with a catered lunch and door prizes provided by area sponsors at noon. Presentations on the field tours will cover a variety of interests and include mechanical chile harvest and papa criolla potato research, by Stephanie Walker, NMSU Extension vegetable specialist; weed control in chiles, by Brian Schutte, NMSU weed physiologist; jujubes as an alternative fruit crop for New Mexico, by Shengrui Yao, NMSU Extension fruit specialist; and alfalfa and guar forage research, by Marsalis. NRCS has research being conducted at the Los Lunas PMC located at the experimental farm. Presentations on its research will include soil solarization through poly sheeting, by Bernadette Cooney, manager of the PMC; cover crops, by Danny Goodson, NRCS agronomist; innovative grass seed harvesting, by Keith White, bio-technician, and a riparian restoration presentation and pollinator plant walking tour, by David Dreesen, NRCS agronomist. NRCS will also conduct a rainfall simulation demonstration that shows the benefits of maintaining ground cover in an effort to improve overall soil health. Other demonstrations and educational booths will include an insect display, organic programs, and milkweed for monarch butterfly recovery. A variety of organizations will have booths, including New Mexico Cow Belles, Native Plant Society, Sierra Irrigation and the Valencia County Soil and Water Conservation District. The event is free and open to the public. The research farm is located on 1036 Miller St. SW, one mile west from the turnoff at Miller Road and NM 314. For more information, contact the Agricultural Science Center at 505-865-7340. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

NMSU hosts second annual Rio Chama Equine Expo on Aug. 29

NMSU hosts second annual Rio Chama Equine Expo on Aug. 29 DATE: 08/10/2015 WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Donald Martinez, 505-685-4523, donmart@nmsu.edu ABIQUIU – All things horse will be the order of the day at the second annual Rio Chama Equine Expo, Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Rio Arriba Rural Events Center in Abiquiu. New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service in Rio Arriba County is hosting the day’s event, which begins at 9 a.m. “The expo is a great way for people to network and learn better horsemanship skills,” said Donald Martinez, NMSU Rio Arriba County agricultural agent. “Last year we had 50 people participate; this year we are expecting it to double. There’s not a whole lot of these expos around anymore, so a lot of people who board horses in Santa Fe and Taos are coming to join us.” Nutrition and care of the animal will be two tracks of education workshops during the morning. During the first session, Marcy Ward, NMSU Extension livestock specialist, will discuss nutrition, while Jason Turner, NMSU Extension equine specialist, will talk about creating an equine first aid kit. During the second morning session, Mark Marsalis, NMSU Extension forage specialist, will talk about hay selection, while Clint Mortenson will discuss bit selection. Following lunch, where participants will eat and trade during the Tack Swap, Willie Creamer will demonstrate basic horsemanship and problem-solving techniques in the rodeo arena and Erlene Seybold Smythe will conducted a Morgan Horse presentation. During the day, there will be live demonstrations on hoof trimming by farrier Kardy Martinez, worming the horse by Turner, and packing by Eldon Reyear. Vendors will also be present exhibiting their products. The day will conclude with a kids’ dummy-roping contest. “We’re expecting a group of kids from the Dulce rodeo club to attend the expo,” said Martinez. “The roping contest will give the kids something to do and brag about.” For more information about the expo, contact the Rio Arriba County Extension office at 505-685-4523.