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Contaminated Ground Water under Albuquerque Proposed for Federal Superfund Listing

Release Date: 7/22/1999
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) have proposed to add an area of the Santa Fe Group aquifer underlying downtown Albuquerque to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The area is contaminated by a plume of industrial solvents.

       "Albuquerque residents rely on this aquifer for drinking water. While public drinking water sources are safe, they could eventually become contaminated if this plume is not cleaned. Listing this area on the National Priorities List will expedite the cleanup and protect this vital source of drinking water," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

       New Mexico's Secretary of the Environment Peter Maggiore described the cleanup as important for the City's future. "This is an important step toward cleaning up Albuquerque's legacy of contamination. We will shepherd this project so that it is completed as quickly as possible and with as little negative impact on downtown as possible."

       Albuquerque Environmental Health Department Director Sarah Kotchian stressed the collaboration of the local, state and federal agencies. "The City's goal is to ensure a thorough and expeditious cleanup of the contamination. My staff and I are working closely with EPA, NMED and the downtown community to accomplish just that."

       NMED discovered the contamination during routine testing of an industrial well. Further testing allowed NMED to determine that the chemical plume underlies about six square city blocks in the downtown area.

       More than half of the city's ground water supply wells and two private wells are within four miles of the designated site. Traces of the solvents have been found in only one private well which was closed. The other wells are being continually monitored to ensure safe drinking water.

       The EPA Superfund Program works closely with state agencies to clean and restore uncontrolled contaminated properties. The federal Superfund program cleans sites when the work required is beyond the resources of state and local agencies. Currently there are 1,241 sites on the NPL and about 60 sites proposed as additions to the list.

       EPA will seek public comments for 60 days on adding this site to the NPL. Those comments will be addressed when the Agency makes the final decision about adding the site to the NPL. During this period, the Agency will continue to develop cleanup plans so that actual work may begin as quickly after NPL listing as possible.

       Send comments to Docket Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CERCLA Docket Office, Mail Code 5201 G, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.

       Additional information about this site is available on the regional web site at www.epa.gov/region6/6sf/6sf-nm.htm.