Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announces remediation work of Carlsbad Brine Well complete

Finishing touches remained at the former Carlsbad Brine Well site after government entities spent more than $80 million on remediation work, said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

She made the announcement Wednesday in Carlsbad at the National Cave and Karst Research Institute before multiple government officials and business leaders.

The State of New Mexico invested $67.4 million from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).

“The surface is now safe. The ground water is now safe,” said Sarah Cottrell Propst, cabinet secretary for EMNRD. She joined Lujan Grisham and Eddy County Manager Allen Davis Wednesday for the announcement.

More:EMNRD says Brine Well remediation work on track for 2022 completion

“We’ll be moving into a two-year monitoring phase just make sure there’s no surprises and nothing changes. We’re really pleased that we’re remediating this site,” Cottrell Propst said.

The state would invest $1.4 million in remaining project funds toward installation of the monitoring system and support, according to a news release from Lujan Grisham’s press office.

Remediation work started nearly three years ago at the former I&W Brine Well site located south of Carlsbad at the intersection of United States Highways 62/180 and 285 at the South Y.

More:State hopes Brine Well work resumes sometime this month

Lujan Grisham said work on the project was a team effort as the State of New Mexico, City of Carlsbad and Eddy County partnered to fill a large void created by the brine well that operated for nearly 30 years as a source of salt-laden water for use in oil well drilling.

“This is what good, collaborative government in action looks like,” she said.

“The team we assembled has successfully protected infrastructure in Carlsbad that is critical to our state’s economy, local groundwater, and the community. I am grateful for the work of all of our partners to get this project completed.”  

More:Preparation work underway at Carlsbad Brine Well site

Davis said remediation work was complex as everyone worked together for completion.

“I am grateful for the perseverance of our local elected officials and thank Gov. Lujan Grisham and state and local partners who made this a reality,” he said.

Work in November 2019 stabilized the southern portion of the Brine Well with high-mobility grout.

The larger, northern portion of the cavity presented a greater challenge. Crews added more than 170,000 cubic yards of sand this February, filling a large portion of the remaining void.   

More:Carlsbad City Council approves $1.5M for reinstitution of Brine Well work

Operations were suspended in July 2020 as funding for the project became a concern. The State resumed work in late 2021 when the City of Carlsbad and Eddy County provided $12.6 million to the project, stated the news release from the governor’s office.

“We’ve had trouble all along on trying to get the funding for it,” said State Sen. David Gallegos (R-41). “Her (Lujan Grisham) and her administration jumped in. It’s a public safety issue.”

The New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (OCD) recognized the hazard in Carlsbad after a brine well near Artesia collapsed in July 2008. A second brine well north of Loco Hills collapsed months later.

It was estimated that a similar collapse at the Carlsbad Brine Well could cause in excess of $1 billion in damages, affect an essential irrigation canal, a major highway intersection, a rail line and multiple businesses and residences, per ENMRD documents.

More:Remediation work at Brine Well expected to resume soon

Gallegos said properties impacted by the Brine Well work would be returned to the rightful owners.

“I just think it’s a good thing for southeast New Mexico and Carlsbad. You look at the liability Carlsbad and Eddy County had way before we got involved in it. That liability was there laying underground waiting for something bad to happen,” he said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter. 

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