For Immediate Release:
December 20, 2022
Contact: Jerri Mares – (505) 321-4372
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced awards of nearly $4.3 million in grant funding to 6 applicants to address harms in the northwest region of New Mexico as a result of the Gold King Mine Spill. Under the grant program, the NM Office of the Attorney General (NMOAG) posted a request for proposal (RFP) from New Mexico government agencies, all political subdivisions (counties, municipalities, and special districts), non-profit organizations, and tribal governments.
“Out of tragedy comes hope, and I am honored to award these amazing applicants and their ideas to invest in their own communities,” said Attorney General Balderas.
Grant recipients’ projects will address areas that will benefit farming and agriculture, river management, water quality testing and education, outdoor recreation, natural resource management, and address stigma damages in northwestern New Mexico. The following entities were awarded:
Recipient Grant Amount
San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District $642,696.86
City of Aztec $717,720.00
San Juan County $848,840.57
City of Farmington $848,840.57
NMSU Extension Office $930,402.00
NM Tourism Department $300,000.00
In 2021, New Mexico reached an $11 million settlement with the mining company defendants, Sunnyside Gold Corporation, Kinross Gold Corporation and Kinross Gold U.S.A., Inc., for their contributions to the Gold King blowout. Combined with the $32 million final settlement with the United States and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June 2022, the State has thus obtained $43 million towards making New Mexico whole.
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