THE TOXIC WASTE-WATER SPILL IS PART CONVERSATIONS AT THE NEW MEXICO HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE GOING ON ALL THIS WEEK IN ALBUQUERQUE. PARTICIPANTS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE SPILL THAT TURNED THE SAN JUAN AND ANIMAS RIVERS ORANGE. MUCH OF THE WATERS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR NORMAL COLOR, BUT THE SLUDGE HAS ONLY SETTLED ON THE BOTTOM OF THOSE RIVERS.
DEPARTMENT DEPUTY SECRETARY NICK PIATEK TELLS US THIS SPILL IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF AN UNEXPECTED EVENT. HE SAYS LESSONS ARE LEARNED FROM EVERY EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HE EXPECTS THAT WILL BE TRUE FOR THIS ONE.
PIATEK SAYS EXPERTS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS ARE ON HAND, GOING OVER THE EFFECTS OF THE SPILL THAT COULD DEVELOP OVER TIME.
