Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
BLM reports high surface lead at Animas Forks; county asks for cautious messaging and interim fencing
Summary
BLM's Abandoned Mine Lands team presented surface sampling at Animas Forks showing very high lead readings in places (maximum cited ~68,000 ppm). Commissioners and local geologists debated bioavailability; BLM proposed interim signage/fencing and dust‑control trials while risk assessment and further testing continue.
Lisa Merrill and Todd White of the Bureau of Land Management briefed the board on 2025‑26 AML projects and presented new surface sampling at Animas Forks that includes XRF and 0–2 inch ISM sampling. Merrill said the site includes numerous hotspots: "the black squares" on the sampling map represent readings above 10,000 parts per million lead with a reported maximum of about 68,000 ppm at a location near the public toilet and mill area.
The sampling set prompted a sometimes sharp exchange with commissioners and local attendees. One county speaker urged the BLM to show the science on bioavailability before alarming the public: “I think you guys need to do the science… you haven't proven to me whether that's dangerous or not,” he said. BLM staff and their risk assessor pushed back that bioavailability is an active area of research and that inhalation or ingestion of lead is a recognized risk, especially for seasonal or occupational exposure. "If inhaled or ingested, [lead] can cause issues, especially long‑term chronic issues," said John (BLM/risk discussant).
BLM outlined short‑term mitigation options the agency may employ before any surface‑disturbing cleanup: non‑disturbing fencing around the highest hotspots, historically appropriate wooden signs or kiosks with plain language warnings about former mining areas, and dust‑control pilots (magnesium chloride, beet‑juice alternatives, bench‑scale jarosite‑clay trials) and possible gravel surfacing. Merrill emphasized the need to coordinate with archaeological preservation (SHPO) before any surface disturbance and said a formal risk assessment should be completed in March to guide further work.
Commissioners asked that BLM coordinate messaging with the county and historical groups to avoid unnecessary tourism impacts while protecting vulnerable people (children, workers, seasonal guides). The board and BLM agreed to further technical sampling (including consideration of bioavailability tests) and to look for funding/technical assistance to support mitigation and monitoring.
No formal enforcement action was proposed; the briefing set expectations for continued interagency coordination and follow up.
