Minturn, Colo.-Federal and state investigators have determined that a 29-ton load of sulfate of potash that was dumped when a semi-truck crashed into Eagle River Nov. 16 caused no serious environmental damage to the river or shoreline. “Samples were taken initially from the river at various locations above and below the crash and were found to be below any level of concern,” reported EPA Region 8 spokeswoman Sonya Pennock. She said EPA on-scene coordinator Craig Myers and EPA contractors arrived on the site a day later and took additional samples, and there were no signs of any impact on the water system. As a precaution, Eagle River Water and Sanitation personnel immediately closed their intakes on the river and diverted to a back-up supply line coming from nearby Vail. They obtained samples from the river at various locations above and below the crash site, as well as at each of their intakes the following morning. But the systems remain on a diverted status just in case. “In addition there have not been any observed impacts to fish in the river,” Pennock noted. “However, until the material is removed from the shoreline there remains a slight risk.” It couldn’t be fully determined, but the shipment apparently came from Great Salt Lake Minerals’ operation near Ogden, Utah. Myers told Green Markets that he had obtained the bill of lading, which indicated the potash was being transported from Salt Lake City to Center, Colo. The semi-truck crashed near milepost 144 on US 24 outside of Minturn and came to rest on its side on the river bank.
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