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Senators, representatives launch new water quality monitoring program

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and U.S. representatives Steve Pearce, R-N.M., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., welcomed the launch of a new program to develop and implement long-term water quality monitoring for the San Juan River watershed. The delegation secured $4 million in the omnibus that was signed into law last month for the program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that it has partnered with the seven states and tribes adjoining the watershed—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, the Navajo Nation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe—to sample and assess the water quality of the watershed, including the San Juan River, the Animas River, and Lake Powell.

“Today’s welcome announcement is possible because of the New Mexico delegation’s hard work to authorize and provide funding for the San Juan Watershed Monitoring Program, a critical effort that will support Navajo Nation and Northwestern New Mexico communities as they continue to recover from the devastating Gold King Mine spill,” said Udall, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the EPA’s budget.

For more information, visit: www.heinrich.senate.gov.

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