NEW REPORT SHOWS DRILLING INCREASES WASTEWATER CONTAMINATION
CROSSROADS, N.M. (AP) – The U.S. oil and gas production boom of the past decade has an unwanted side effect: Millions of gallons of briny wastewater have spilled onto land and flowed into waterways, often doing severe damage. An Associated Press analysis of state and federal record finds some 21,651 spills of oilfield wastewater between 2009 and 2014. They add up to more than 180 million gallons. And officials acknowledge many releases are never reported.The spills happen primarily because of human error and equipment failures such as ruptured pipelines, overflowing tanks or illegal dumping. Experts say wastewater spills can be more environmentally harmful than oil spills. The salty byproduct turn can land into barren moonscapes where plants can’t grow. Oil industry officials say they’re trying to reduce the number of spills.
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATED
Silverton—A federal aviation investigator is expected to examine the scene of a plane crash that killed five people in the southwestern Colorado mountains. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said Tuesday the investigator was expected to be at the remote site later in the day. Knudson has said all five people aboard the twin-engine Cessna 310 died when it crashed Sunday in the San Juan Mountains near Silverton. Knudson couldn’t say whether the plane is the same Cessna 310 reported overdue on a flight from Barstow, California, to Amarillo, Texas.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department said on Twitter that authorities were still trying to notify the family of one victim before releasing any names. Sheriff’s officers didn’t return calls. A dispatcher referred questions to federal officials.
BOGUS BILLS FLOATING AROUND WESTERN COLORADO
GRAND JUNCTION (AP) – Grand Junction police are investigating eight reports of counterfeit bills.Some of the bills surfaced in bank deposits made by three gas stations. All of the reports were made in August with the last one on Aug. 31. Fake $5 bills were the most common reported. Bogus bills of $1, $10, $20, $50 and $100 were also reported.Police say they don’t know whether the fake bills are related to a 28-year-old woman who was arrested on Aug. 15 on charges of counterfeiting.
