F***'
EPA Region 8 Superfund and Land Revitalization
Annual Report \ FY 2010
Advancing Environmental Protection,
Strengthening Healthy Communities
I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
I Region 8 Superfund
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CONTENTS
Welcome I
Region 8 Superfund: An Overview 2
FY 2010: Measuring Outcomes 4
Assessing Risks, Prioritizing Next Steps: Site Assessment 5
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Making a Difference 6
Protecting Human Health and the Environment: Superfund Cleanup 8
30 Years of the Superfund Program: 10
Healthier Families. Cleaner Communities. A Stronger America.
Responding Rapidly to Emergencies 12
Enhancing Preparedness 13
Strengthening Engagement, Protecting Vulnerable Communities 14
Enforcement: Driven by the Rule of Law 15
Strengthening Outcomes: Green Remediation and Renewable Energy 16
Moving Forward: Reuse and Redevelopment 18
Moving Forward: Ecological Revitalization 20
Supporting the Cleanup and Sustainable Reuse of Brownfields 22
Expanding Information Access, Ensuring Accuracy and Transparency 24
Working with Our Partners: Grants and Contracts Management 25
Looking Ahead: FY20II 26
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The future for further environmental progress
and innovation in EPA Region 8 is bright.5
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WELCOME
Welcome to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Annual Report for the Region 8 Superfund program; this report provides a
summary of EPA's activities and achievements in the Rocky Mountains and Plains Region over the past year. In 2010,
we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Superfund program and the 40th anniversaries of Earth Day and the founding
of EPA.
Since 1980, the Superfund program has played a vital role in protecting human health and the environment across
the United States. In our rural communities and cities, suburbs and industrial areas, the program responds rapidly
to uncontrolled hazardous waste releases and cleans up the nation's most contaminated lands. In Region 8, EPA has
been working hard to fulfill the program's mission, relying on scientific excellence, updated technologies, a network
of dedicated partners and innovative approaches like our "enforcement first" policy to comprehensively and cost-
effectively achieve the program's mission to protect human health and the environment.
Over the past three decades, Region 8 Superfund has listened and learned from the citizens, business owners and partners
in other agencies and organizations across our six states and 27 tribal nations. The program has developed new tools and
updated approaches that have effectively protected public health and restored the environment while also supporting the
efforts of sustainable, resilient and livable communities to revitalize formerly contaminated, stigmatized areas. Today,
Region 8's commitment to transparent, meaningful community engagement, sound science, robust enforcement and
innovation remains at the core of our pursuit of excellence.
This report illustrates Region 8 Superfund in action. In 2010, we responded to emergencies of national significance,
including the ongoing cleanup of the Libby Asbestos site in Montana. We invested resources from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expedite environmental restoration, sustain employment and improve the health
of communities. We enabled new opportunities for vulnerable communities through EPA's Community Engagement
Initiative and related efforts.
Building on three decades of experience and expertise, Region 8 now looks ahead to the program's fourth decade.
Through collaboration, scientific and enforcement excellence, fiscal responsibility, and the dedication and integrity of
our staff, we will focus on achieving EPA's priorities for the future, including cleaning up our communities, expanding
the conversation on environmentalism, and building strong state and tribal partnerships. The future for further
environmental progress and innovation in EPA Region 8 is bright.
of.
Carol L. Campbell
Assistant Regional Administrator
Office of Ecosystems Protection
and Remediation
SUPERFUND
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Region 8 Superfund: An Overview
Superfund 101
The Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (CERCLA), better
known as Superfund, mandates
that EPA respond to uncontrolled
releases of hazardous substances
that pose an immediate or future
threat to human health and
the environment. Superfund
provides guidelines for locating,
investigating and cleaning up
the worst hazardous waste sites
across the nation.
Photos: Region 8's offices in Denver,
Colorado, Gold-level certified by the
U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) program, the facility is
sustainably designed, includes a
20,ooo-square-foot green roof, and
is EnergyStar-certifed for energy
conservation.
The Region 8 Superfund cleanup program plays a vital role in protecting
human health and the environment. Region 8 responds to the release and
potential release of hazardous wastes and cleans up sites in the Rocky
Mountains and Plains Region. Region 8 serves Colorado, Montana, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
and 27 sovereign tribal nations.
Region 8 Superfund's activities
include both short-term and emergency
cleanups as well as long-term remedial
actions at National Priorities List (NPL)
and Superfund Alternative Approach sites.
The emergency response program responds
quickly to fires, train derailments, floods
and other events involving the release of
hazardous substances. The emergency response
program also undertakes removal actions, short-
term cleanups to address hazardous substances that
pose an immediate health threat. The remedial program
oversees long-term cleanup of the most
complex contaminated sites.
From our offices in Denver, Colorado and
Helena, Montana, Region 8 works closely
with many partners - state, local and
tribal governments, non-governmental
organizations, businesses, communities
and individuals - to ensure the protection
of human health and the environment
at these sites. EPA also plays a role at
federal facilities like Department of
Energy and Department of Defense sites.
Wy o m i n c
EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Finally, Region 8 is focused on ensuring that, following cleanup,
Superfund sites are ready to be returned to beneficial use by
communities. Region 8 works across EPA programs and with
diverse partners to assess the extent of environmental problems more
comprehensively and ensure
that future use considerations
are integrated in cleanup
decisions. This also leverages
a wider range of resources and
solutions to achieve cleanup
and restoration goals. In the
long term, it is our goal that
all environmental cleanup
and restoration activities will
focus on the productive reuse
and sustained protection of
land and water resources.
Superfund Sites
Tribal Lands
Region 8 Superfund:
The Big Picture
• Superfund sites are scattered across
Region 8. Sites are located in rural
and urban areas, require a variety
of cleanup approaches, and include
former and active mines, landfills,
military bases, factories and other
facilities. Many rural sites are large,
encompassing thousands of acres in
some cases.
• Significant cleanup progress has
been achieved. Cleanup has been
completed at 35 of the 73 Superfund
sites in Region 8.
• Superfund sites continue to be
identified. In addition to Region
8's final N PL sites, seven sites in
the region have been proposed for
listing on the NPL. Most recently,
the ACM Smelter and Refinery site in
Black Eagle, Montana was proposed
for listing on the N PL in March 2010.
Historical aerial photograph of the ACM Smelter
and Refinery.
FY 2010 Annual Report
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FY 2010: Measuring Outa
The project descriptions in this report illustrate Region 8 Superfund's innovative, collaborative efforts to protect human
health and the environment over the past year. Our annual performance measure goals and program targets, presented
below, provide a way to measure the program's overall achievements and outcomes in FY 2010.
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
Performance Accomplishments
Final Site Assessment Decisions
Superfund-Lead Removal Action Completions
Voluntary Removal Actions
Overseen by Region 8
Responsible Party-Lead Removal Completions
Site-Wide Ready for Anticipated Use
39
14
6
3
3
Superfund Program Federal Facility
Measure Accomplishments
Decision Documents 6
Remedial Design Starts 1
Remedial Design Completions 1
Remedial Action Starts 2
Remedial Action Completions 5
Five-Year Reviews 2
Superfund Program Measure Accomplishments
Remedial Investigation/
Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Starts
Record of Decision (ROD) Completions
ROD Amendment Completions
Final Remedy Selected
Remedial Design Starts
Remedial Design Completions
Remedial Action Starts
Remedial Action Completions
Five-Year Reviews
Partial Site Deletion Notices
Partial Site Deletions
9
3
2
1
1
4
7
9
2
1
Superfund Program Enforcement Measure
Accomplishments
% of non-federal Superfund sites with viable,
liable parties where enforcement action was
taken prior to the start of remedial action
Private party commitments for site study and
cleanup (including cash outs)
Private party commitments for cost recovery
% of cost recovery cases greater than or equal
to $200,000 addressed before the statute of
limitations expired
100%
$16,033,000
$15,176,356
100%
EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Assessing
Site Assessment
iritizing Next Steps:
The Site Assessment program is the first door into the Superfund process.
Region 8's Site Assessment program works with states and tribes to assess and
prioritize hazardous waste sites for cleanup. The program evaluates sites to
determine whether they qualify for listing on the NPL and consult with states
and affected tribes to determine which sites should be listed. Site Assessment
Managers evaluate sites for potential threats to public health and the
environment. If it is determined that another program could better address site
conditions, Site Assessment Managers direct sites to different programs, such
as the Superfund emergency response program, the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) program or state voluntary cleanup programs.
Ongoing Groundwater Investigations in Pavillion, Wyoming
Responding to residents' water quality concerns, Region 8 is conducting
ongoing groundwater investigations in Pavillion, a town of about 160
people in central Wyoming. Sampling results to date indicate the presence of
hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds in groundwater. "EPA will work
as long as necessary to ensure that Pavillion residents have safe water," said
Region 8 Regional Administrator Jim Martin.
Region 8 staff hosted public meetings and met with private residents to
provide health information and recommendations. Region 8 is working
closely with government partners and EnCana, the primary gas operator in the
area, to ensure that affected residents receive water and to address potential
sources. This work includes securing access to alternate water sources and
evaluating potential long-term solutions such as water treatment systems and
infrastructure.
1980
President Carter
signs Superfund
law, creating
the federal
government's
program to clean
up the nation's
uncontrolled
hazardous
waste sites and
making polluters
liable for toxic
cleanups.
Superfund sampling team
preparing a domestic well in
Pavillion for sampling.
FY 2010 Annual Report
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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Making a Different
The mission of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been to create and sustain jobs, invest in
economic growth, and foster accountability and transparency in government spending. The Recovery Act allocated
$7.22 billion for projects and programs administered by EPA, including $600 million in new funding for Superfund site
cleanup and $100 million in new Brownfields program funding for the cleanup, revitalization and sustainable reuse of
contaminated properties.
Through 2010, EPA Recovery Act resources have funded activities at 61 projects nationwide, boosting local economies
by creating and maintaining more than 15,850 jobs while also protecting human health and the environment. In Region
8, the Superfund program has provided more than $75 million in Recovery Act funding for seven Superfund sites
in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. Region 8's Brownfields program has provided more
than $5 million in loans and grants to communities in four states. The Recovery Act resources are helping to sustain
employment, expedite environmental restoration and improve the health of communities.
The Recovery Act and Region 8 Superfund
At the Arsenic Trioxide site in southeastern North Dakota, Region 8 used Recovery Act funds to expand the
rural water system to provide safe drinking water to rural residents with arsenic-contaminated groundwater.
More than 180 households in Richland and Sargent counties have been connected to new water distribution
lines with improved water treatment and distribution infrastructure.
Recovery Act funding has accelerated cleanup activities and restored aquatic health at the Central City/Clear
Creek site, thirty miles west of Denver, Colorado. The site's remedy includes the capping of mine waste piles,
revegetation and restoration of disturbed areas, and enhanced water treatment to protect human health and
restore the health of the North Fork of Clear Creek.
In Utah, Region 8 expedited and completed the cleanup of the Eureka Mills site a year earlier than planned
and under budget. Recovery Act funds were used to complete the stabilization and capping of mine waste
areas, construction of drainage controls and the cleanup of lead-contaminated soils in residential areas. A total
of 722 residential properties were cleaned up during the remedial action.
Near the historic towns of Deadwood and Lead in South Dakota, acidic and heavy-metal-laced water generated
from mine wastes at the Gilt Edge Mine site impaired surface water quality in Strawberry and Bear Butte
Creeks. Using Recovery Act funding, Region 8 is grouting the drainage ditches to minimize leakage of acid
mine drainage and to accelerate the long-term cleanup of portions of the site, thereby addressing community
concerns and protecting human health.
6 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Recovery Act funding has expedited cleanup of heavy metals contamination across the 53-square mile Upper
Tenmile Creek site in western Montana. To prevent human exposure to contaminants including lead, copper,
zinc and arsenic, Region 8 is removing waste from residential yards and the Lee Mountain Mine and placing
them in a repository. These efforts are also preventing future erosion and the distribution of wastes via
Tenmile Creek, in order to protect the City of Helena's water supply.
In the cities of Bountiful and Woods Cross, Utah, Region 8 is working to eliminate human exposure to
tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene at the 400-acre Bountiful/Woods Cross 5th South PCE Plume site.
Recovery Act funding is supporting the installation of groundwater extraction wells, monitoring wells and a
water treatment system.
At the 1,200-acre Summitville Mine site in southern Colorado, Recovery Act money has funded the
construction of a water treatment plant, enabling the early completion of the site's remedy. Region 8 and the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment collaborated on this final long-term cleanup activity
to protect the Alamosa River ecosystem from heavy metals.
The Recovery Act and Region 8 Brownfields
In South Dakota, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe used a $200,000 grant to clean up hazardous
substances at the Tekakwitha Old Orphanage and Boarding School Complex. The Tribe is now reusing the
area as a recreational facility with ballparks and open space.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment is using $1.35 million in Recovery
Act funding to provide cleanup grants throughout the state. Projects to date include the cleanup of the
former Martha/Rose Walsh Smelter in Silverton, the former General Chemical site in the City and County
of Denver (see image), the Pueblo Ice House in Pueblo, and cleanup of Elysian Park in Jamestown.
Recovery Act funding is enabling the City of Aurora, Colorado, to provide low-interest loans for cleanup
projects in the urban renewal area surrounding the Fitzsimons medical and technology campus and other
redevelopment target areas.
The City of Missoula, Montana, is using its Recovery Act funds to provide cleanup grants at two important
properties in the city, the Sawmill site (see image) and Burns Street Square.
The Town of Kit Carson, Colorado, used a $200,000 Recovery Act Brownfields grant to clean up the
Paxson Building site. The centrally located property was home to a variety of operations, including an
automobile dealership, repair shop and a fuel station. With cleanup now complete, the property is ready for
commercial use.
In February 2010, the Town of Eaton, Colorado, completed the acquisition of a long-vacant 43-acre sugar
beet mill. The town's goal is to return this large piece of property to productive use as soon as possible.
Recovery Act funds were used to conduct a Phase I environmental assessment prior to acquiring the mill,
and to conduct a Phase II assessment of the property to characterize contaminants that will need to be
cleaned up prior to redevelopment.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is using a $200,000 Recovery Act-funded grant to
conduct environmental assessments at sites contaminated by petroleum throughout the state.
Recovery Act funding is enabling the Bear Paw Development Corporation of Northern Montana to
inventory and prioritize brownfields and conduct environmental site assessments for hazardous substances
and petroleum contamination.
In addition to grants, the EPA Brownfields program also provides contractual assistance to communities to
conduct Targeted Brownfields Assessments. Through the Recovery Act, Region 8 is providing approximately
$700,000 for environmental assessments and cleanup planning.
FY 2010 Annual Report
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Libby, Montana
Libby is a small town located
in the northwest corner of
Montana, 35 miles east of
Idaho and 65 miles south
of Canada. The town lies in
a picturesque valley carved
by the Kootenai River and
framed by the Cabinet
Mountains to the south.
The mine near Libby was
the source of more than 70
percent of all vermiculite sold
in the United States from
1919 to 1990. Vermiculite
from the Libby mine was
contaminated with a toxic
form of naturally-occurring
amphibole asbestos fibers
(Libby Amphibole asbestos,
or "LA"). Vermiculite from
Libby was used in the
majority of vermiculite
insulation in the United
States.
Region 8 Superfund is committed to protecting communities and the environment.
The program's dedication to this effort includes a comprehensive process that not
only provides short-term relief for emergency needs, but also determines long-term
solutions to attain and maintain human health and environmental restoration at
complex sites like Federal Facilities and NPL sites. Since 1999, the program has been
working aggressively to protect public health and restore the environment in Libby,
Montana. In 2009, EPA announced a Public Health Emergency in the community.
Additional Remedies Selected for Asbestos Contamination in
Northwestern Montana
EPA's work in Libby began in 1999, when an Emergency Response Team was sent to
investigate local concerns about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. Since that time,
EPA has been working closely with the community to clean up contamination and
reduce risks to human health.
Region 8 selected remedies for two areas at the Libby Asbestos Superfund site in
2010, signing Records of Decision for the former Export Plant and Screening Plant
areas. Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in these former processing and distribution
areas will be contained, excavated and disposed of off site. The remedies will also
pave the way for these properties to be returned to productive use.
Other major site milestones include:
In 2008, EPA negotiated the largest cash settlement in Superfund history ($250
million) to recover cleanup costs from the W.R. Grace Corporation.
• In 2009, for the first time in the history of the Agency, EPA declared a Public
Health Emergency in Libby to provide federal health care assistance for victims
of asbestos-related disease.
8 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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As of October 2010, EPA and the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have remediated nearly 1,460
commercial and residential properties, significantly reducing risks to
area families. The agencies have removed about 825,000 cubic yards
of contaminated soil, 21,879 cubic yards of asbestos-contaminated
vermiculite attic insulation and 43,164 cubic yards of asbestos-
containing debris. EPA has also conducted response actions to
reduce risks at former processing facilities, school yards and various
abandoned waste piles. EPA and MDEQ are removing asbestos from
approximately 150 properties per year.
Cleanup Progress and Transfer of Acreage to
Wildlife Refuge at Rocky Mountain Arsenal
The cleanup of this former military and pesticide manufacturing
facility near Denver is almost finished. All required cleanup activities
will be completed by mid-2011. In 2010, site activities included the
completion of the site's unique integrated covers designed to protect
waste left in place in landfills and consolidation areas.
In fall 2010, EPA also deleted an additional 2,500 acres
(3.9 square miles) of the Arsenal from the NPL. To
date, 94 percent of the Arsenal - nearly 16,000 acres
- has met cleanup requirements and been deleted
from the NPL. The deletion allowed the U.S. Army
to transfer this property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, expanding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest urban wildlife
refuges in the United States.
1986
Congress passes
theSuperfund
Amendments and
Reauthorization
Act (SARA),
strengthening
Superfund
program
authorities.
Wildlife coexists with ongoing remediation
at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. A coyote
runs alongside a scraper during excavation of
contaminated soil in the South Plants project.
FY 2010 Annual Report
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B
30 Years of the Superfund Program:
Healthier Families. Cleaner Communities. A Stronger America.
Since 1980, EPA has cleaned up 67 percent of contaminated Superfund sites nationwide, and has helped create jobs for more
man 3,300 Americans - with an average starting hourly wage of $14.26 - to help clean up contaminated sites, enabling their
reuse as bustling neighborhoods, parks and commercial centers.
With passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Superfund program has applied $600 million in Recovery
Act funds to accelerate cleanups at 31 ongoing construction projects and to start new construction projects at 26 sites. Since
1980, the Agency has readied nearly 1.3 million acres of land for return to productive use, and more than 455,800 acres are
r
L
10 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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History
It is easy to forget that there was a time in the United States when EPA lacked the
legal authority to clean up hazardous waste sites like Libby Asbestos in Montana
or to respond to emergencies such as train derailments involving dangerous
chemicals. On December 11, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed into law
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA, also known as Superfund). This historic new statute gave EPA the
authority to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and spills.
Scope of Activities
For the past 30 years, EPA's Superfund program has helped protect human health
and the environment by managing the cleanup of the nation's worst hazardous
waste sites and responding to local and nationally significant environmental
emergencies.
EPA has used its Superfund authority to address national crises like the Columbia
space shuttle disaster, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and most recently, the response
to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Equally important, EPA has used its long-term
cleanup authority to remediate sites where hazardous waste releases occurred
through years of poor and sometimes illegal waste management practices. Many of
these sites are large and complex, involving hundreds of chemicals and spanning
hundreds of acres. Addressing these sites can take years.
Progress
Since 1980, the Superfund program has made substantial progress, protecting
thousands of communities by cleaning up the nation's most serious hazardous
waste sites and by responding to thousands of oil and chemical spills. Across the
program's activities, EPA is committed to ensuring safe, healthy communities and
environmental protection.
Looking Forward
As the program enters its fourth decade, EPA renews its commitment to protect the
health of our communities and the environment. EPA is committed to enhancing
Superfund's efficiency and management, as well as that of EPA's other cleanup
programs. To that end, EPA has begun implementation of an initiative to better
use the Agency's land cleanup authorities to accelerate cleanups where possible,
address a greater number of contaminated sites, and help return these sites to
productive use while protecting human health and the environment.
SUPERFUND
Region 8 NPL Sites, by
State, 2010
Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming
21
15
2
4
20
3
Region 8
Superfund Site Universe, 2010
- 65 NPL sites
33 construction complete NPL sites
12 deleted NPL sites
8 proposed NPL sites
10 Federal Facilities
5 construction complete Federal
Facilities
• 1 deleted Federal Facility
FY 2010 Annual Report
11
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Early 1990s
Program reforms
designed to
makeSuperfund
"faster, fairer
and more
efficient" include
provisions that
encourage
redevelopment
and expand
public
involvement.
Responding Rapidly to Emergencies
Tribal Assistance
Region 8's Emergency Response
Unit provided assistance to
several tribes during 2010,
including cleanup of vandalized
buildings containing friable
asbestos that endangered
nearby residents; cleanup of
abandoned drums; investigation
and sampling at a school where
flash flooding caused a release
of stored chemicals and oil; and
investigation and sampling of
downstream impacts where spring
flooding caused a wastewater
treatment plant to overflow.
Initial assessment of leaking and
improperly stored chemicals.
Region 8's Emergency Response Unit responds rapidly to releases of hazardous
substances and oil to protect human health and the environment. Emergencies range
from small-scale spills to large events requiring prompt action and evacuation
of nearby populations. EPA's On-Scene Coordinators work with local, state and
tribal responders to investigate and clean up environmental contamination.
Emergency Response Addresses Explosive Materials in
North-Central Utah
Region 8 responded to an emergency involving thousands of pounds of potentially
deadly rocket fuel stored at a residence and in two rented storage units. Experts
estimated that a fire in one of the storage units could have resulted in a mass
evacuation over a two-mile radius and disruption of all major transportation
routes in the area. EPA responders quickly began identifying the stored chemicals
and working with local officials to ensure their safe removal from the residence
and storage units.
Potential Drinking Water Emergencies in Colorado and Wyoming
Following reports of a solvent odor coming from the water intake at a water
treatment plant south of Denver, Colorado, Region 8's Emergency Response
Unit responded rapidly, taking samples for real-time field analysis and expedited
laboratory analysis. EPA facilitated cleanup of the primary treatment system and
provided follow-up investigation of potential contamination sources upstream.
In Wyoming, vandalism of a 200,000-gallon water storage tank prompted the
Emergency Response Unit to provide bottled water to the community and dispatch
a sampling team to provide for expedited laboratory analysis of potential drinking
water hazards.
12 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Enhancing Preparedness
As part of efforts to improve preparedness and the ability to respond to emergencies,
natural disasters and terrorist attacks, EPA has been called upon to play a strategic
role in homeland security. EPA's responsibilities include safeguarding the nation's
drinking water supplies and delivery systems and responding to chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear and explosives risks posed by potential terrorist attacks, natural
disasters and other emergencies.
In 2010, Region 8 continued to strengthen the communications network it has
established with federal, state and local response authorities; enhanced expertise
and readiness through training and coordinated exercises; and took additional steps
to secure infrastructure and hazardous materials. In the long term, these efforts will
minimize the likelihood of terrorist incidents and ensure time-critical and coordinated
responses to any incidents.
Operation Neptune Helps Region Prepare for Terrorism Scenario
Region 8 collaborated with local, state and federal partners in 2010 to develop and
stage a full-scale exercise testing emergency operation plans in Douglas County,
Colorado. Led by the county's Emergency Management Department, the exercise
scenario focused on the terrorist hijacking of a chlorine tanker truck. Conducted in real
time, the exercise tested local, state and federal response capabilities following a law
enforcement altercation, an explosion and the release of 20 tons of chlorine from the
tanker.
The development and staging of the exercise represented the culmination of years of
collaboration. Region 8, for example, has long partnered with Douglas County through
the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee. The exercise provided a valuable
opportunity for Region 8 to work with other local, state and federal agencies and
illustrate EPA's role in addressing hazardous materials and assisting local responders.
Region 8 was also able to test its own plans and procedures and identify opportunities
to enhance response processes and capabilities.
1994
EPA launches
the Brownfields
program.
Did You Know?
Region 8 is the "Lead EPA
Region for Homeland
Security" for 2011 and 2012.
In 2010, Region 8 also
continued to provide support
and training for the Response
Support Corps (RSC) program.
The program is staffed by
volunteers from all programs
who are willing to respond to
major regional and national
emergencies. Region 8
currently has 102 fully trained
RSC members and 154 total
volunteers.
Reg/on 8 emergency response
vehicle at the Operation Neptune
exercise, 2010.
FY2010 Annual Report
13
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Leadville, Colorado:
A Brief History
At an elevation of 10,152 feet,
Leadville (pop. 2,800) is the
highest incorporated city
in the country. In the 18605
and 18705, Leadville was the
place to go in the American
West. People were attracted
by one of the world's largest
concentrations of base and
precious metals.
Mining, mineral processing
and smelting activities in the
area produced gold, silver,
lead and zinc for more than
130 years. Wastes generated
during the mining and ore
processing activities contained
metals such as arsenic and
lead at levels posing a threat
to human health and the
environment.
Strengthening Engagement, Protecting
Vulnerable Communities
Authentic, meaningful community outreach and engagement are core components of
Region 8's commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection.
EPA works with communities across urban areas like Colorado's Front Range and
Utah's Wasatch Front, suburban areas, and some of the most rural counties in the
nation. Region 8 works closely with the diverse voices in each community to ensure
that they have the resources needed to participate early and meaningfully in the
Superfund process.
In 2010, Region 8's community outreach and engagement efforts were strengthened
by coordination with EPA's national Community Engagement Initiative. As part
of the initiative, Region 8 will continue to work closely with its partners to ensure
transparent and accessible decision-making processes, to deliver information that
communities can use to participate meaningfully, to strengthen EPA responsiveness
to community perspectives and to ensure timely cleanup decisions.
EPA Works Closely with Historic Colorado Mining Community,
Enabling Cleanup and Reuse
The California Gulch site is located in Leadville, Colorado. Region 8 has been
working with the local community for more than two decades. Extensive community
outreach and engagement has been a core component of EPA's approach. Activities
have included one-on-one meetings, public meetings, newspaper articles, fact sheets
and meetings with local officials.
In 2010, Region 8 worked closely with the community to change a controversial
remedy that addresses several historic mine waste piles. Given strong local
opposition to capping these piles in the past, the Region 8 site team recognized
the importance of early and meaningful community involvement. Through informal
input sessions and feedback from a "Virtual Community Advisory Group," EPA
learned that the community might support a capping option if the piles could retain
the look of mine waste piles. The team launched a pilot study demonstrating four
potential approaches. EPA sought community input through site tours (see image
above), the Virtual CAG and local meetings. The team also worked closely with a
group representing local historic preservation and recreation interests. EPA signed a
new Record of Decision for a capping-based remedy in September 2010.
14 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Enforcement: Driven by the Rule of Law
1996
Cumulative
Superfund
cost recovery
settlements
exceed $2 billion.
Region 8's Superfund Technical Enforcement program helps ensure that Superfund sites are
cleaned up by finding and compelling the parties responsible for contamination to clean it up
or pay for the cleanup done by another party (i.e., EPA, a state program or other responsible
parties).
If a responsible party does not agree to undertake a cleanup, EPA can issue an order to them
to do certain work. EPA can also work with the Department of Justice to pursue the party
through the federal court system. If a party is out of compliance with an order or settlement, the
Superfund enforcement program takes action to bring them into compliance. Such action may
include: referring the case to the Department of Justice for enforcement, assessing penalties or
taking over the work.
In 2010, Region 8 participated in one of the biggest national Superfund bankruptcy cash out
settlements in the history of the Agency with the ASARCO Company. Other accomplishments
are described below.
Multiple Consent Decrees for Cleanup of Former Gold Mine
The 1,229-acre Gilt Edge Mine site is a former open pit and cyanide heap-leach gold mine
located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In 2010, the United States District Court entered
five consent decrees involving seven site property owners. To satisfy liabilities associated with
contamination on their respective properties, each of these defendants agreed to transfer all of
their land within the site boundaries to the State of South Dakota and to assign all potential
rights to insurance proceeds to EPA. In addition, one of the parties will market and sell all other
real property to which it holds title and give EPA a portion of the proceeds. EPA is currently
negotiating a settlement with four major mining companies.
Settlement Agreement Reached for Eureka Mills Site Cleanup
Mueller Industries, Inc.'s predecessor purchased the assets and assumed the liabilities of a
major mining company that operated at the site from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Mining
activities distributed mine waste containing lead on residential properties in Eureka. EPA
settled with Mueller, obligating the company to reimburse EPA and the State of Utah $2.5
million for cleanup costs at the company's site in Juab County, Utah.
Did You Know?
In FY2010, EPA Region 8:
Entered into 12
settlements with
responsible parties at
Superfund sites, which
resulted in:
• More than $16
million in private
party commitments
for site study and
cleanup.
• More than $15 million
in private party
payments.
• Cleanup of over four
million cubic yards
of soil contaminated
with hazardous
waste and heavy
metals.
Referred seven cases
to the Department
of Justice for judicial
enforcement activities.
FY2010 Annual Report
15
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Strengthening Outcomes: Green Remediation and Renewable Energy
GREEN REMEDIATION is
the practice of considering
all environmental effects
of remedy implementation
and incorporating options to
maximize the environmental
benefits of cleanups.
By incorporating the use
of RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCES, EPA and its
partners are maintaining the
effectiveness of remediation
methods while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions
from conventional power
sources.
•
Installing hydroelectric equipment
at the Summitville Mine site in
Colorado.
16 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Cleaning up a hazardous waste site uses energy, water and other natural or
material resources. EPA recognizes that much can be done to conserve natural
resources, minimize waste generation and reduce energy consumption,
consequently improving environmental performance of Superfund activities
while fulfilling the Agency's mission to protect human health and the
environment.
Examples of environmentally friendly technologies/approaches include:
recovering landfill gas for energy production; using renewable energy systems
to power on-site treatment systems; purchasing construction materials with
recycled or rapidly renewable content; using non-potable water for dust
suppression; and promoting sustainable reuse of formerly contaminated lands.
Following its Green Remediation Policy (2009), Region 8 Superfund continues
to work collaboratively with its partners to implement green remediation best
practices, including the key actions outlined in EPA's 2010 Green Remediation
Strategy.
EPA-HUD-DOT Sustainable Communities Pilot Project
Following up on past brownfields assessment and cleanup work, Region 8
provided $150,000 in assistance to the Denver Housing Authority (DF£A) in
2010 for the South Lincoln Park project, which will transform a 17.5-acre
parcel in central Denver containing 254 aging public housing units into a
mixed-use, mixed-income, pedestrian-friendly transit-oriented development.
The project was selected as one of five sustainable community pilot projects
nationwide as part of a partnership between EPA, the Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT). Region 8 worked with DHA to conduct an energy design workshop
in August 2010 and funded the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to
perform detailed energy modeling for the project.
Wind Power Evaluation on Mine Lands
Region 8 expanded its efforts to evaluate wind resources on abandoned
mine lands by erecting a 5 5-meter meteorological tower to collect
wind speed data at the Gilt Edge Mine in South Dakota in 2010. The
data will be used to determine if a wind farm could be constructed at
the site. Regional wind maps indicate that the wind resource is very good
(class 6 or 7). EPA erected a similar tower at the Anaconda Smelter in Montana
in 2009 and will erect a third tower at a yet-to-be-determined location in 2011.
Hydroelectric Power Plant at Mine in Colorado
Innovative management of contaminated surface water at the Summitville
Mine site will include a 3 5-kilowatt hydroelectric facility that partially powers
the plant that treats acid mining-impacted waters at the site. Fabrication work
on the plant's turbine was completed in 2010. The turbine was delivered to
Summitville in early November and will be placed into operation in spring
2011.
South Lincoln Park project
Master Plan
The South Lincoln Park project
will be completed in phases
and will ultimately become
a mixed-use, mixed-income,
pedestrian-friendly transit-
oriented development. The
redevelopment will also help
connect the neighborhood's light
rail station with Denver's Santa Fe
Arts District.
FY 2010 Annual Report
17
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Photos: Completed and under-
construction commercial and
residential development at
Bingham Junction, Midvale City,
Utah, 2010.
As part of the cleanup program, Region 8 Superfund is committed to
helping communities turn Superfund sites into valued assets. Their
reuse returns land to productive use and restores blighted properties,
which in turn can benefit surrounding communities, providing job
opportunities, sustaining local economies, and offering recreational
and ecological amenities. Through Superfund site reuse, challenges
are turned into opportunities. By the end of FY 2010, 27 Superfund
sites in Region 8 were determined to be ready for anticipated use.
18 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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Cleanup and Mixed-Use Revitalization in Utah's Wasatch Front
By the late 1990s, Midvale City, Utah faced a significant challenge. The
community, located 12 miles south of Salt Lake City, was literally running
out of space. Rapid population growth and sustained economic expansion
meant that almost all available land had been developed. The exception: the
Midvale Slag Superfund site, which, together with the nearby Sharon Steel
site, comprised more than 600 acres adjacent to the city's downtown.
The potential redevelopment of the 446-acre Midvale Slag site presented a vital
opportunity for Midvale City. The site's upcoming cleanup also presented an
important opportunity for Region 8 and the Utah Department of Environmental
Quality to work with the community.
Beginning in 1999, these parties worked together on a coordinated approach
that linked cleanup and redevelopment, with a protective remedy and land
revitalization as overarching goals. Today, Bingham Junction has become the
thriving mixed-use development envisioned for the site by the community.
As of 2010, the outcomes include: 572 jobs, $1.4 million in annual property tax
revenues and a $105 million increase in the value of the site property. Families
have moved into new condominiums. Office buildings, stores and restaurants
are under construction. Crews have restored the banks of the Jordan River and
replaced an old, defunct dam. Sections of Bingham Junction's Riverwalk Park
have opened. Construction of a Utah Transit Authority commuter rail station
is underway, with completion anticipated in 2011.
Superfund Redevelopment in Action
California Gulch (Leadville, Colorado):
A $1.5 million public sports complex and soccer field
now sits atop a former zinc smelter. The U.S. Soccer
Foundation, one of EPA's national partners, awarded
a $10,000 grant to develop conceptual plans for the
facility.
Murray Smelter (Murray City, Utah):
Award-winning mixed-use development includes
a light-rail station, shopping areas, and the Inter-
mountain Medical Center, a 1.5 million-square-foot
hospital facility.
Ogden Rail Yard (Ogden, Utah):
Former 2gth Street Pond is now Goode Lake, used for
fishing and water ski sport events.
Anaconda Smelter (Anaconda, Montana):
Location of a former copper smelter is now an award-
winning golf course.
1997
EPA establishes
job readiness
programs that
provide training
and employment
opportunities
forunderserved
citizens living
in communities
affected by
Superfund sites.
2010 Reuse Highlights
• Return to Use
Demonstration Projects:
Milltown Reservoir
Sediments site (Montana)
and Rocky Mountain
Arsenal (Colorado)
• Sitewide Ready for
Anticipated Use:
International Smelting and
Refining site (Utah, image
above), Mystery Bridge
site (Wyoming) and Idaho
Pole site (Montana)
FY 2010 Annual Report
19
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What is Ecological
Revitalization?
Ecological revitalization
returns land from a
contaminated state to one
that supports functioning
and sustainable habitat.
Ecological revitalization:
• Improves soil health
and supports diverse
vegetation.
• Sequesters carbon.
• Protects surface and
groundwater.
• Provides wildlife habitat
and passive recreation
opportunities.
Through FY 2010, five sites
in Region 8 are in planned or
actual ecological reuse.
1999
EPA's Superfund
Redevelopment
Initiative
created to help
communities
turn cleaned up
Superfund sites
into productive
assets.
.„,,_-—-;«,"»
f
Innovative Approach to Cleanup, River Restoration and
Redevelopment in Montana
A new chapter is beginning in the storied history of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers
in western Montana. Home to the ancestors of the Bitterroot Salish, Pend d'Oreille
and Kootenai tribes, the region's remarkable fishery and other natural resources have
sustained communities for generations. From the 1860s until the late 20th century, the
area was also part of one of the richest mining regions in the world. These operations
generated mining and milling wastes that in turn have led to one of the largest hazardous
waste cleanups in the country.
Since the late 1990s, Missoula County and local communities have worked together to
plan the future of the Two Rivers Area. Coordinating closely with local, state, tribal and
federal partners, EPA and Missoula County recognized that redevelopment planning
could be integrated with the environmental remediation of the Milltown Reservoir
Sediments site and the ecological restoration of the Clark Fork River.
Beginning in 2002, Region 8 worked with Missoula County and federal, state and
tribal partners on a coordinated approach that linked remediation, restoration and
redevelopment, with a protective remedy and land revitalization as overarching goals.
Assisted by an EPA Superfund Redevelopment pilot grant and EPA funding, the
community developed a Conceptual Redevelopment Plan which outlined the creation
of a state park with trails, river access, wildlife habitat and interpretive areas celebrating
the region's history and heritage.
Today, the community's vision is becoming a reality. The confluence of the Clark Fork
and Blackfoot Rivers now flows freely for the first time in a century. More than three
20 EPA Region 8 Superfund
-------
'•'.:>'v;j'.y^":Px;' • -
Sediment control and restoration
work along the North Fork of
Clear Creek in Colorado.
million tons of contaminated sediment have been removed and the restoration of the
Clark Fork River's channel and floodplain will be completed by 2012. And in 2010,
450 acres at the site were transferred to the State of Montana for a new state park.
Interim redevelopment activities, including several trails and a new pedestrian bridge,
were completed. More than $3 million in grant funding has been allocated for the
park's development, on top of about $5 million already allocated for land acquisitions
and adjoining trails and the pedestrian bridge.
Watershed Cleanup and Ecological Revitalization in North-Central
Colorado
The Central City/Clear Creek Superfund site consists of a 400-square mile watershed
extending from the Continental Divide east to near Golden, Colorado. A popular
recreation area, the watershed also serves as a drinking water source for over 500,000
people in the northwest Denver metropolitan area. Region 8 has worked closely with
communities in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties to address contamination from historic
gold and silver mines and mine wastes left behind in the Clear Creek basin and restore
the health of the watershed.
Ecological revitalization is an integral part of the site's remedy. Activities include stream
stabilization, habitat development, revegetation and restoration of disturbed areas,
and enhanced water treatment to protect human health and restore the health of the
North Fork of Clear Creek. In 2010, EPA also signed a partnership agreement with the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department
of Transportation to coordinate cleanup activities with roadway improvements along
the State Highway 119 corridor.
2000s
Superfund plays
a substantial role
in responding
to the 9/11
attacks, the
Columbia space
shuttle disaster,
hurricanes
Katrina and
Rita, and the
Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
Did You Know?
The Milltown
Reservoir Sediments
site is part of the
nation's largest
river cleanup and
restoration effort.
FY 2010 Annual Report
21
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EPA Brownfields funds
enabled San Juan County to
clean up the former Martha/
Rose Walsh Smelter site in
Silverton, Colorado.
In 2011, the County will break
ground on the new Anvil
Mountain Neighborhood
(master plan above), which
will provide affordable homes
for the local workforce.
EPA's Brownfields program empowers states, communities and other
stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely cleanup and sustainably
reuse brownfields. Revitalizing brownfields creates benefits at each site and
throughout surrounding communities.
Accomplishments of the Region 8 Brownfields program in FY 2010:
Assessments Completed: 46
Cleanups Completed: 15
• Dollars Leveraged: $31,804,366
Jobs Leveraged: 118
• Acres Made Ready-for-Reuse: 1,260
In Region 8, the Brownfields program provides funds and technical assistance
to states, tribes, communities and other stakeholders to clean up and redevelop
potentially contaminated lands in the region, making it easier for such lands to
become vital, functioning parts of their communities.
22 EPA Region 8 Superfund
-------
Cleanup Makes Way for Community Soccer Field in Missoula,
Montana
In August 2010, the City of Missoula completed
the cleanup of 16.6 acres at the White Pine
Sash property. The City used a $200,000 EPA
Brownfields grant and local sources to clean
up dioxins and pentachlorophenol left behind
from lumber mill operations. The newly seeded
property will be ready for use as a community
soccer field next summer.
Jamestown, Colorado, Completes Cleanup of Elysian Park
In June 2010, the Town of Jamestown completed
the cleanup of Elysian Park, a five-acre
recreation area. The town used a $168,000 grant
from the State of Colorado's Revolving Loan
Fund and a $200,000 EPA Brownfields cleanup
grant to address mine tailings at the park. The
cleanup involved capping 32,000 cubic yards
of mine tailings and grading and seeding the park. Once vegetation is
established, the town will continue to use the property as a community
park.
Petroleum Cleanup of Service Station in Great Falls, Montana
The Great Falls Development Authority used
its Brownfields revolving loan fund to make a
$250,000 loan to Platinum, LLC to clean up a
former auto service station site in downtown
Great Falls.
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and
Cleanup Grants Awarded
In April 2010, $2.7 million was awarded to
support diverse local environmental assessment
and cleanup projects in Region 8. Crook
County, Wyoming, is using $200,000 to remove
contaminants prior to renovating a historic
school building in Sundance (see image) to be
used as a much-needed County Museum and
Cultural Center. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has received $400,000 to
clean up contamination at the Old Stockade Building and the Old Teachers
Quarters in Fort Yates, North Dakota. The Great Northern Development
Corporation received a $1.5 million grant to capitalize a Brownfields
revolving loan fund that will support cleanup activities across eastern
Montana.
2002
The Brownfields
law enacted to
expand EPA's
Brownfields
program,
increase funding
for assessment
and cleanup,
enhance roles
for state and
tribal response
programs, and
clarify Superfund
liability.
Did You Know?
Region 8's Brownfields
and Removal programs
collaborated to foster
community-based cleanups
in FY 2010. The programs
worked together at four sites,
including two tribal locations,
leveraging resources to assist
communities in redeveloping
contaminated and blighted
properties.
The sites included the
Cheyenne River Reservation
in South Dakota, the Fort
Berthold Indian Reservation
in North Dakota (see image
above), a former railroad
refueling facility in Deer Lodge,
Montana, and an abandoned
sugar beet processing facility
in Eaton, Colorado.
FY 2010 Annual Report
23
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2009
EPA announces
Public Health
Emergency at the
Libby Asbestos
site in Montana.
2009
The American
Revitalization
and Recovery Act
provides more
than $75 million
forSuperfund
site cleanup in
Region 8.
Communities and EPA's local, state, tribal and federal partners rely on Superfund
program information. EPA staff members also rely on access to reliable,
comprehensive information generated during the program's environmental
restoration efforts. Region 8 works hard to ensure that this information is accurate,
up-to-date, transparent, comprehensive and easily accessible, serving as a vital and
valued shared resource.
Updated Region 8 Superfund Website
In 2010, Region 8 began revising its Superfund website (http://epa.gov/region8/
superfund) to make the pages more useful and user-friendly. The website provides
general information about the Region 8 Superfund program, as well as summary
profile pages for each Superfund site. Website enhancements underway include the
addition of updated site photographs as well as information highlighting site reuse
and renewable energy. New descriptions are being added to inform readers about
any site-related institutional controls. Improved location maps with site boundaries
are also being added to the site summary profile pages.
New CIS Mapping Tool Enhances Site Discovery Efforts
Region 8 completed work on a new Geographic Information System (GIS) tool
that helps identify high-priority impaired waters that may benefit from Superfund
resources. Using data provided by the states in Region 8 under Section 303(d)
of the Clean Water Act, Region 8's Site Assessment program can create a visual
representation of impaired streams and water bodies to facilitate identifying
priorities for assessment. The tool was used in 2010 to identify an abandoned mine
site which will be assessed in 2011.
24 EPA Region 8 Superfund
-------
Region 8 works collaboratively with a diverse network of dedicated partners -
communities, states, tribes, local governments, public nonprofits, private sector
organizations and other federal agencies - to ensure the protection of human health
and the environment.
Tribal nations and states, for example, are vital partners in achieving EPA's
mission. A large percentage of Region 8's programs are delegated to the 27 tribal
nations and six states in Region 8, which carry out environmental work through
cooperative agreements, contracts and other arrangements. The region also places
a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own environmental programs.
From initial site assessments to cleanups, from planning to implementation
to long-term monitoring, the region's partnership network helps ensure that all
required Superfund cleanup work will be performed. In 2010, EPA awarded more
than $3.8 million of Superfund monies to Region 8 states. Through delegation of
these programs from EPA to our partners, we are able to dedicate significantly
more resources to the business of protecting the environment than Region 8 alone
could provide.
To maintain and improve the effectiveness of the Superfund program, Region 8
continues to build strong, collaborative relationships with its partners. Another
focus area in our partnership with states is improving the ability to focus limited
resources on priorities. In Region 8, EPA and states are collaborating on a priority-
driven resource allocation process that makes sure that resources are deployed to
the most critical environmental problems.
Region 8 Partners in Act/on
Under a cooperative
agreement grant from EPA,
the Utah Department of
Environmental Quality's Division
of Environmental Response
and Remediation conducted
innovative soil sampling using
x-ray fluorescence (XRF)
technology at the Jacobs Smelter
Superfund site in northern
Utah. The sampling identified
residential properties with lead
levels above risk-based action
levels, informing the site's
cleanup, which is addressing soil
contamination resulting from
historic smelter operations in the
area.
FY2010 Annual Report
25
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Looking Ahead: FY2011
Innovative Pilot Grants
In October 2010, three
communities in Colorado
and Montana were awarded
Brownfields Area-Wide
Planning pilot grants.
This first-of-its-kind program
is a key component of the
HUD-DOT-EPA Interagency
Partnership for Sustainable
Communities. The projects
will integrate brownfields
site cleanup and reuse to
address community needs
for economic development,
housing, recreation, education
and public health facilities.
Efforts in Denver, Colorado,
will focus on the South Platte
River Brownfields-lmpacted
Area. Aurora, Colorado will
target the Montview Corridor,
an area challenged by more
than 40 brownfields sites.
Efforts in Kalispell, Montana
(image below) will focus
on the downtown CORE
Revitalization Area.
For three decades, Region 8 Superfund has worked hard to
protect public health and restore the environment. Through
transparent, meaningful community engagement, sound
science, robust enforcement and innovation, we remain
dedicated to the pursuit of excellence.
In 2011 and beyond, Region 8 looks forward to new
opportunities to engage with citizens and our state and tribal
partners to continue to advance environmental protection
and strengthen healthy communities.
-•£•'-'. 'X-
I V» I
26 EPA Region 8 Superfund
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FY 2011 Goals
• Final cleanup construction at the Davenport and Flagstaff Smelter
site in northern Utah is scheduled for 2011. The site's cleanup is
addressing soil contamination that resulted from past smelter activities
in the area. Numerous properties have already been cleaned up.
• Atthe 1,200-acre Summitville Mine site in southern Colorado, Region
8 and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
anticipate starting the operation of the site's new water treatment plant
in summer 2011. This final long-term cleanup action will protect the
Alamosa River ecosystem from heavy metals.
• Region 8's 2011 cleanup goals for the Libby Asbestos site in
northwestern Montana include the completed remediation of over 100
properties. The completed cleanup of a former vermiculite processing
facility will enable the City of Libby to expand adjacent Riverside
Park. Region 8 also plans to issue a cleanup decision for the Kootenai
Industrial Park, which will allow for further redevelopment in the
area.
• The Captain Jack Mill site is part of a former gold and silver mining
area in Boulder County, Colorado. In summer 2011, work is scheduled
to begin on the consolidation of contaminated tailings and waste rock
piles into an on-site containment cell. Design of a treatment system to
address contaminated mine water is also scheduled to begin in 2011.
• Efforts to transform a former public housing complex in Denver,
Colorado, into a mixed-use, mixed-income, pedestrian-friendly
transit-oriented development are ongoing. Phase 1 of the South
Lincoln Park project broke ground in October 2010. Phase 2, which
will include over 500,000 square feet of residential and retail space, is
expected to begin in 2011. The development will use 50 percent less
energy than buildings built to code. Even greater energy efficiencies
are anticipated in subsequent phases. Transportation and stormwater
management workshops will also be conducted in FY 2011.
• Following removal actions and construction of site remedies, the
Midvale Slag site in Midvale City, Utah, and the International
Smelting and Refining site in Tooele County, Utah, are targeted to
be delisted from the National Priorities List in 2011. The first site is a
national example of successful mixed-use redevelopment. The second
site is now a 3,000-acre wildlife conservation area.
• In FY 2011, the Region 8 Brownfields program is committed to
completing environmental assessments and cleanups in rural, urban,
tribal and underserved environmental justice communities. In addition,
the Brownfields program will host a tribal brownfields workshop,
assist communities with planning efforts focused on sustainability and
smart growth principles, and continue to leverage funds and support
job creation through brownfields grants and technical assistance.
Hardrock Mining Updates
Region 8's Regional Mining
Team focuses on issues
relating to the regulation and
cleanup of active, proposed
and abandoned mines. FY 2011
priorities for the Team include:
• Facilitating internal cross-
program communication
and coordination of
mining-related issues.
• Participating in national
mining-related work
groups.
• Showcasing innovative
work in the remediation of
mine sites.
Long-term priorities for the
Team include:
• Assisting with the
development of financial
assurance regulations
for hardrock mines and
processing facilities.
• Facilitating the
development and
implementation of
innovative mine cleanup
technologies.
• Seeking opportunities for
partnerships and grants
to enhance the cleanup
of mines and processing
facilities.
FY 2010 Annual Report
27
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SUPERFUND
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
EPA 908/K-11/001 February 2011 | www.epa.gov/region8/superfund
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
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