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Today Governor Richardson directed the New Mexico Environment Department to take the lead in cleaning up the Santa Fe County Courthouse site – the location of petroleum contamination that impacted excavation and construction plans for a new judicial complex.

The Environment Department and Santa Fe County drilled test wells after the courthouse excavation in Santa Fe revealed the extent of the contamination that resulted in part from leaking underground storage tanks from former gas stations in the area. The governor determined the best course of action at the site would be for the department to lead the effort because the area has various sources of contamination and several petroleum remediation sites across private, county and city property. He was particularly concerned about potential contamination of the Santa Fe River if the site is not cleaned up promptly.

“I directed the Environment Department to begin a coordinated effort to complete the most effective and efficient cleanup at the site to protect public health, groundwater, and the environment,” Governor Richardson said. “I have confidence in Secretary Curry and his department that with the state leading this effort, the contamination will be cleaned up quickly so construction can begin.”

“We met with the county and other entities involved and have already begun the process that will allow the project to be completed as safely and as practically possible,” said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry. “Our Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau’s years of experience in cleaning up numerous sites around New Mexico will ensure the cleanup is completed successfully.”

The department will coordinate efforts between the county, the City of Santa Fe, and private owners to allow construction of the courthouse to begin as soon as possible.

“The contamination is a community problem that extends beyond the County Courthouse site,” said Mike Anaya, Chairman of Santa Fe County’s Board of Commissioners. “We welcome the Environment Department’s leadership in the cleanup effort and will work together with them to ensure the property is clean.”

The county will complete the excavation of the contaminated soil at the courthouse construction site as the department continues work on a petroleum contamination remediation system on adjacent property. That system will be designed to clean up potentially thousands of gallons of petroleum in soil at the site and protect the courthouse property from further impacts from petroleum contamination. The system is expected to operate for at least two or three years.

The department’s Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau has completed about 1,800 cleanups across the state since the Corrective Action Fund was created in 1990. The courthouse location is in the vicinity of two known leaking underground storage tanks that formerly belonged to gas stations.

For more information, call Marissa Stone Bardino at (505) 827-0314.