Environmental Contaminants Cleanup of Hazardous Waste
Molycorp Mine (Red River/Rio Grande)
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Nearly 100 years of Molybdenum mining in the Red River watershed near Questa, New Mexico, has created massive
waste-rock and tailings piles. These wastes appear to be contributing to the impairment of the Red River fishery,
and may be adversely impacting wildlife. After several years of rigorous technical discussions, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund Program agreed to work with Molycorp and other involved entities
to investigate, and possibly remediate portions of the Molycorp Mine and Mill. The New Mexico Ecological Services
Field Office (NMESFO) played a key role in establishing the scientific basis for the EPA’s National Priorities List
(NPL) proposal. Whereas most Superfund sites are placed on the NPL due to human health concerns, the Molycorp site
was listed on the basis of environmental issues. Thanks to our involvement in the site, the EPA has invited NMESFO
staff to join the EPA Technical Team that will work with the mining company, Molycorp, Inc., and State and Federal
Agencies, to cleanup the mine and watershed.
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