Pollution

Alternative energy

Residents say Durango must not renege on greenhouse gas goals

demand action, accountability from city

December 27, 2025 • Christian Burney — Herald Staff Writer

Coal

New Mexico officials to hold update on San Juan generating station cleanup

pollution cleanup plan delayed until November

October 6, 2025 • Danielle Prokop — Source NM

Environment

New Mexico’s billion-dollar oil field orphans

report says abandoned oil infrastructure could cost the state up to $1.6 billion in coming years

September 16, 2025 • Jerry Redfern — Capital & Main

Air pollution

Bennet introduces bipartisan carbon dioxide removal tax credit bill

Reimbursements could be issued for direct and indirect capture methods

November 21, 2024 • Maria Tedesco — Herald Staff Writer

Associated Press

‘We were expendable’: Downwinders from world’s 1st atomic test are on a mission to tell their story

Downwinder Paul Pino heads through the SALA Event Center toward the screening of "First We Bombed New Mexico" during the…

August 25, 2024 • By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN — Associated Press

Bayfield

La Plata County settles litigation with state over Bayfield landfill

Commissioners concerned over the financial commitment

December 20, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Community

New Durango code amendments target ‘stream pollution’

Ordinance restricts sleeping, camping and pollution near public waterways

September 29, 2023 • Christian Burney — Herald Staff Writer

Bonita Peak Mining District

Colorado attorney general meets with stakeholders in Durango on Gold King Mine settlement spending

was to explore how best to leverage funds

May 18, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Environmental issue

La Plata County approves new gas and oil regulations

Two-year process concluded Wednesday with unanimous approval of Chapter 90

April 26, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Air pollution

EPA blames Utah for Colorado ozone pollution

Federal agency won’t approve Utah’s clean air plans until they stop violating “good neighbor” rules

March 8, 2023 • Michael Booth — The Colorado Sun

Business (general)

Troubled operator K.P. Kauffman violated state order to stop selling its oil and gas

says it must sell oil and gas or its 1,200 wells may end up orphaned

February 28, 2023 • Mark Jaffe — The Colorado Sun

Business (general)

Can La Plata County residents agree to disagree, without being disagreeable?

Valentine’s Day, we asked leaders from differing perspectives to come together in the name of cordiality

February 15, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Colorado state government

Free reusable bags available at various locations in Durango

Revenue collected from plastic and paper bag fees to fund waste-reduction efforts

February 7, 2023 • Christian Burney — Herald Staff Writer

Animas River

What was the social impact of Gold King?

Environmentally, the spill was negligible. But seeing a mustard-yellow river spurred action to clean up mines

January 8, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Local News

Durango-area subdivision couldn’t be more proud of its wastewater discharge

Housing development has a state-of-the-art $8.6 million sewage system out of Austria

December 11, 2022 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Housing and urban planning

Seeping sewage torments Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park

Wastewater lagoon discharges 10,000 gallons per day into namesake creek

October 24, 2022 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Astronomy

‘Reach up and touch the stars:’ The dark is starting to shine through Colorado’s astrotourism

Fork Valley Conservancy starts ambitious project to transform park into a nocturnal classroom

August 15, 2022 • Erica Breunlin — The Colorado Sun

ColoradoSun.com

Microplastics are seemingly everywhere – including Colorado’s snowpack

Samples find growing rate of shredded plastic fibers

August 1, 2022 • Michael Booth — The Colorado Sun

Abortion

Colorado attorney general vows to protect abortion access, gun laws

Weiser calls U.S. Supreme Court term ‘adventuresome,’ ‘aggressive’ and ‘destabilizing’

July 12, 2022 • Ryan Warner and Carla Jimenez — Colorado Public Radio

Air pollution

Could prescribed burns curb the health impacts of wildfires?

Controlled fire seen as a tool to mitigate some of the harm, report says

June 23, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Air pollution

Smoke, dust darken Durango skies

burning in Arizona linked to Monday’s haze in Southwest Colorado

June 14, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Air pollution

Hamburger helper: Beef fat may be coming to help fuel a fancy jet near you

Tallow-based fuel is advertised to cut carbon output of jet flights by 25%

April 20, 2022 • Michael Booth

Bonita Peak Mining District

Bulkheads caused the Gold King Mine spill. Could they also be part of the solution?

Remediation tool can limit acidic drainage, but experts must also understand the complicated hydrology

March 30, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

ColoradoSun.com

Colorado needs to cut greenhouse gas pollution from industry. They’ve put it off until 2023

officials say their rulemaking plan will make deeper cuts across more factories. Environmental advocates say it’s delay and betrayal all…

March 8, 2022 • Michael Booth — The Colorado Sun