EPA Region 8 Superfund and Land Revitalization
Annual Report FY 2011
Partnership and Innovation in the
Rocky Mountains and Plains Region:
The Year in Review
I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
I Region 8 Superfund
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CONTENTS
i
•
Welcome I
Safeguarding Healthy Communities, Advancing Environmental Protection 2
FY 201 I: Measuring Outcomes 4
Site Assessment: Evaluating Contamination, Prioritizing Next Steps 5
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: 20II Updates 6
Protecting Human Health and the Environment: Superfund Cleanup 8
Taking Action, Addressing Emergencies 10
Taking a Closer Look:The Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program 12
Safeguard ing America's Future 14
Ensuring Meaningful Engagement, Protecting Public Health 15
Enforcement: Driven by the Rule of Law 16
Green Remediation and Renewable Energy: Spurring New Opportunities 17
Advancing Sustainable Redevelopment 18
Focusing on Environmental Health: Ecological Revitalization 20
The Region 8 Brownfields Program 22
Expanding Information Access, Ensuring Accuracy and Transparency 24
Partnering, Consultation and Collaboration 25
Looking Ahead: FY20I2 26
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* 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.
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WELCOME
Welcome to the Region 8 Superfund program. For more than three decades, the program has served the people and
communities of the Rocky Mountains and Plains Region. Nationally, the program has played a vital role in protecting
human health and the environment since 1980. 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.
Region 8 Superfund's activities are built on a foundation of meaningful community engagement, scientific excellence,
a network of dedicated partners and innovative approaches like our "enforcement first" policy to comprehensively
and cost-effectively achieve the program's mission. We work closely with citizens, businesses and partners in other
agencies and organizations across our six states and 27 tribal nations to support safe, healthy communities and protect
the environment.
This report highlights Region 8 Superfund's activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011.
We responded to emergencies of national significance, including the Yellowstone River Oil Spill in Montana and
the historic flooding of the Souris River in North Dakota.
We continued the long-term cleanup of some of the most complex, challenging sites in the nation, such as the
Libby Asbestos site in Montana.
• We implemented innovative approaches enabling green remediation, ecological revitalization and renewable
energy opportunities.
• Through EPA's Integrated Cleanup Initiative, we accelerated cleanups and supported the efforts of sustainable,
resilient and livable communities to revitalize formerly contaminated, stigmatized areas.
We enabled new opportunities for vulnerable communities through EPA's Community Engagement Initiative and
related efforts.
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. In 2012, we look forward to new opportunities to
strengthen healthy communities and advance environmental protection. Through collaboration with our partners, fiscal
responsibility, and the dedication and integrity of our staff, we will continue to make a powerful difference.
Martin Hestmark
Acting Assistant Regional Administrator
Office of Ecosystems Protection
and Remediation
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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.
Safeguarding Healthy Communities,
Advancing Environmental Protection
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, businesses,
non-governmental organizations, 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.
Finally, Region 8 focuses on ensuring that, following cleanup, Superfund
sites are ready for communities to return them to beneficial
use. Region 8 works across EPA
programs and with diverse partners
to assess the extent of environmental
problems more comprehensively and
ensure the integration of future use
considerations in cleanup decisions.
This also leverages a wider range of
resources and solutions to achieve
cleanup and restoration goals.
In the long term, our goal is that
all environmental cleanup and
restoration activities focus on the
productive reuse and sustained protection
of land and water resources.
NPL Sites
Tribal Lands
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Green Building in Act/on
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-certified for energy
conservation.
Region 8's offices in Denver, Colorado, are gold-
level certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
program. The facility's sustainable design includes a
20,ooo-square-foot green roof. It is also Energy Star-
certified for energy conservation.
In 2011, Region 8 completed an updated Environmental
Report Card for the building. Our offices met or
exceeded six of the seven criteria.
Sustainable
Location /
Alternative
Commuting
Fleet Vehicles -30
percent reduction in
vehicle petroleum
use by FY 2020
Water Use -reduce
consumption by 2
percent annually,
or 26 percent by FY
2020
Stormwater
Management
Electronics
Stewardship
Solid Waste
Generation /
Diversion - recycle
or divert 50 percent
ofwastebyFY2015
Green house Gas
Emissions -
reduction of 28
percent by FY 2020
Location is close to light rail, a bus
terminal and bike paths.
Since FY 2009, the fuel economy of
Region 8's 24 vehicles has increased
by 3.9 miles per gallon. Fuel
purchasing has decreased by 12,093
gallons, or 13 percent.
Region 8 has reduced the building's
water usage by 25 percent since
2008.
Green roof reduces runoff from small
storms by 85 percent and runoff
from large storms by approximately
50 percent.
Region 8 donated 3,540 pounds
of electronic equipment for reuse
and recycled 6,818 pounds of office
electronics. One hundred percent of
Region 8's new electronic equipment
purchases meet the highest
environmental standards.
Following implementation of
compostable material collection
program, Region 8's landfill diversion
rate was 85 percent by the end of
2010.
The building's carbon emissions
have increased 9 percent annually.
Region 8 is developing and
implementing a greenhouse gas
reduction plan.
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass +
Did Not Meet
20 11 Goal
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•ft
FY 2011: Measuring Outcomes
This report illustrates the Region 8 Superfund program in action, innovating and working collaboratively to protect healthy
communities and the environment in the Rocky Mountains and Plains Region. Our annual performance measure goals and
program targets, presented below, measure the program's overall achievements and outcomes in FY 2011.
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
Performance Accomplishments
Remedial Site Assessment Completions
Superfund-Lead Removal Actions Completed
Voluntary Removal Actions, Overseen by EPA,
Completed
Remedial Action Completions
Construction Completions
Site-Wide Ready for Anticipated Use
Contaminated Groundwater Migration Under
Control
56
18
6
14
2
1
1
1
Superfund Program Remedial Measure Accomplishments
Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
Starts
Records of Decision (RODs) Completed 2
ROD Amendments Completed 1
Explanations of Significant Difference Completed 1
Final Remedy Selected 2
Remedial Design Starts 6
Remedial Design Completions 6
Remedial Action Starts 7
Five-Year Reviews Completed 10
Partial NPL Deletions 2
Superfund Program Removal Measure Accomplishments
Removal Starts
PRP Removal Starts without an Enforceable
Instrument
PRP-Lead Removal Action Completions
Action Memos
Removal Assessment Starts
Removal Assessment Completions
Superfund Program Federal Facility
Measure Accomplishments
Decision Documents
Remedial Design or RCRA Corrective Measure
Design (CMD) Start
Remedial Design or RCRA CMD Completion
Remedial Action or RCRA Corrective Measure
Construction (CMC) Start
Remedial Action or RCRA CMC Completion
Removal Action, Emergency Removal Action, or
RCRA Interim/Stabilization Measure Start
Five-Year Reviews
18
4
1
18
26
23
4
1
1
2
6
1
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ssessment: Evaluating Contamination,
Prioritizing Next Steps
The Region 8 Superfund 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, consulting with states and affected tribes as part of the process.
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.
Site Assessment at Rocket Testing Facility in Northern Utah
In 2010 and 2011, Region 8 responded to a citizen petition for a site
assessment at a NASA contractor's rocket testing facility in Box Elder
County, Utah. The petition's concerns included static rocket testing debris
as well as open burning and open detonation activities at the facility. Region
8 and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) conducted
a site investigation that collected groundwater and soil samples to identify
any residual impacts from static rocket testing. Potential contaminants of
concern include metals, perchlorate and other anions, which are rocket fuel
components.
To assess whether the facility's rocket tests could generate potentially
dangerous debris, the agencies also conducted soil debris and air monitoring
at a September 2011 test event. While the September 2011 rocket test was
the facility's final test for NASA's ARES Constellation spaceflight program,
the facility will continue to test smaller rockets and explosion devices for
the U.S. Department of Defense. Once sampling and modeling results from
the site assessment and the test event are available, EPA and UDEQ will
share the findings with the community.
Colorado Smelter slagheap,
looking southwest from
Santa Fe Avenue in Pueblo,
Colorado.
Region 8 and the Colorado
Department of Public Health &
Environment are performing
a site assessment at a 25-acre
former smelter site in Pueblo,
Colorado. The assessment
is focused on determining
potential lead and arsenic
threats to the surrounding
community. Built to smelt
extracted silver-lead ore, the
Colorado Smelter operated
from 1883 to 1908, generating
large quantities of slag
material that persist to this
day.
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.
«%
Trenching at the Arsenic Trioxide site.
The Ameri
Tery and Reinvestment Act: 2011 Updates
Through 2011, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created and sustained jobs and fostered economic
growth as well as accountability and transparency in government spending. Nationwide, 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.
In Region 8, the Superfund program has provided more than $75 million in Recovery Act funding for cleanup at 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
In 2011, Region 8 completed construction of the Recovery Act-funded groundwater treatment system to eliminate human
exposure to tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene at the 400-acre Bountiful/Woods Cross 5th South Perchloroethylene
Plume site in the cities of Bountiful and Woods Cross, Utah. In operation since February 2011, the system had treated
23.2 million gallons of contaminated groundwater through September 2011.
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 in western South Dakota. In 2011, using Recovery Act funding, Region 8
completed 3,200 feet of drainage ditch grouting and geocomposite liner repair to minimize leakage of acid mine drainage
and accelerate the site's long-term cleanup, thereby addressing community concerns and protecting human health.
Recovery Act funding has expedited cleanup of heavy metals contamination at the Upper Tenmile Creek site in western
Montana. Through 2011, Region 8 has removed waste from residential yards and the Lee Mountain Mine and placed
them in a repository, excavated and replaced contaminated material underneath the main road in the community of
Rimini, and moved 133,000 cubic yards of material into the Luttrell Repository Highwall Layback project. These efforts
are also preventing future erosion and the distribution of wastes via Tenmile Creek, protecting the City of Helena's water
supply.
At the Central City/Clear Creek site, 30 miles west of Denver, Colorado, Recovery Act funding has accelerated cleanup
activities and restored aquatic health. The site's remedy includes the capping of mine waste, restoration of disturbed
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areas, and enhanced water treatment to protect human health and restore the North Fork of Clear Creek. Construction
of a pipeline to carry mine-contaminated water from the National Tunnel, Gregory Incline and Gregory Gulch was
completed in 2011.
At the 1,200-acre Summitville Mine site in southern Colorado, construction of a new water treatment plant supported
by Recovery Act funding enabled the early completion of the site's remedy. In August 2011, more than 100 people
attended a public open house celebrating the site's decade-long cleanup.
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. The remedial action cleaned up 722
residential properties.
Region 8 used Recovery Act funds to expand the rural water system at the Arsenic Trioxide site in southeastern
North Dakota to provide safe drinking water to rural residents with arsenic-contaminated groundwater. More than 160
households now connect to new water distribution lines with improved water treatment and distribution infrastructure.
The project's completion in 2011 was on time and under budget.
The Recovery Act and Region 8 Brownfields
The Recovery Act has enabled communities across Region 8 to assess, clean up and redevelop brownfield properties
in a tough economy. To date, funding has helped complete seven cleanups and 21 assessments, created 181 jobs, and
leveraged over $76,000,000.
Missoula, Montana
The City of Missoula used Brownfields Recovery Act funding to advance cleanups at two
important properties, the historic Sawmill site and Burns Street Square. The community
has slated the 46-acre Sawmill property for mixed-use redevelopment following cleanup,
including a 14-acre municipal park. The city allocated $800,000 of its Recovery Act
Brownfields funds to continue the cleanup.
Loveland, Colorado
The City of Loveland, Colorado, is using $313,561 in Brownfields Recovery Act funding
to clean up the downtown Leslie Dry Cleaner property. The State of Colorado and its
coalition partners are subgranting the money from their Brownfield Revolving Loan
Fund (RLF) to clean elevated levels of groundwater contaminants. The redevelopment
of the property and adjacent parcels are part of a major downtown revitalization effort
that includes new retail areas, office space, neighborhoods and parking.
Denver, Colorado
Once a 40-acre contaminated eyesore, the former General Chemical property is
now home to an animal shelter and public works facility, both of which are models
for sustainable and efficient design. In 2010, the City and County of Denver used a
$200,000 Recovery Act subgrant from the State of Colorado's Brownfields Revolving
Loan Fund to complete the site's cleanup. The City and County then moved quickly on
the construction of a 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art animal shelter. Next door, the
City's new LEED gold-certified Public Works campus provides space for offices, vehicle
maintenance and storage. The project created more than 155 jobs and leveraged over
$68,000,000 in investment.
Silver Park's opening at the historic
Sawmill site.
Redevelopment plan for the Leslie
Dry Cleaner property.
New animal shelter in Denver.
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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.
The mine near Libby was
the source of more than 70
percent of all vermiculite
sold in the United States
from 1919 to 1990. A toxic
form of naturally occurring
amphibole asbestos fibers is
contained in the vermiculite
from the Libby mine. The
majority of vermiculite
insulation in the United
States used vermiculite from
Libby.
Protecting Human Health and the Environment:
Superfund Cleanup
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, for the first time in the history of the Agency, EPA
declared a Public Health Emergency at a Superfund site to provide federal health
care assistance for victims of asbestos-related disease in Libby.
First-ever Toxicity Values Released, Contaminated Materials
Removed in Northwest Montana
EPA's work in Libby, Montana, began when Region 8 sent an Emergency Response
Team to investigate local concerns about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. Since
then, EPA has been working closely with the community to clean up contamination
and reduce risks to human health.
In May 2011, Region 8 shared the Agency's first-ever draft toxicity values for cancer
and non-cancer risks posed by Libby Amphibole asbestos, or "LA." The values
support EPA's earlier assessment of ways to reduce exposures in Libby effectively.
Once final, EPA will use the toxicity values to develop final risk assessment and
cleanup decisions for the site.
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Other major site milestones include:
In 2010, EPA selected remedies for two site areas,
signing Records of Decision. One led to the removal
of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite at the former
Screening Plant in 2010. The other led to cleanup
at the former Export Plant; cleanup activities began
in 2011, with completion anticipated in 2012.
Following cleanup, the area will become Riverfront
Park. Remedial actions have paved the way for the
return of these properties to productive use.
• In 2011, in response to community concerns,
EPA updated its removal strategy to decrease the
potential for recontamination.
As of November 2011, EPA and the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have
remediated nearly 1,602 commercial and residential
properties, significantly reducing risks to area families.
The agencies have removed about 947,043 cubic yards
of contaminated soil, 25,323 cubic yards of asbestos-
contaminated vermiculite attic insulation and 43,164
cubic yards of asbestos-containing debris. EPA and
MDEQ are removing asbestos from approximately 150
properties per year.
Cleanup Progress and New Wildlife Refuge Visitor
Center at Rocky Mountain Arsenal
The soil and structure cleanup of this former military
and pesticides manufacturing facility near Denver,
Colorado, is almost finished. All required soil and
structure activities will be completed in 2012. In 2012
and beyond, site activities will include the evaluation
of unique evapotranspirative covers designed
to prevent precipitation from migrating through
consolidated waste left in place into groundwater.
The site's water treatment plants continue to extract
contaminated groundwater and treat approximately
750 million gallons of water per year.
EPA has deleted approximately 16,000 acres (94
percent) of the site from the N PL The deletion has
allowed the U. S. Army to transfer this acreage 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.
In 2011, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened
and dedicated the new Visitors Center located at the
Refuge's Prairie Gateway entrance.
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Taking
sine Emereenc
•J,V . _.•
The Region 8 Superfund cleanup program not only provides long-term solutions to protect human health and
the environment; Region 8 Superfund'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.
Region 8 Responds to North Dakota Floods, Completes Mission Assignment
In late June 2011, historic and unprecedented flooding of the Souris River in North Dakota engulfed the City of Minot
and surrounding communities, forcing more than 11,000 people to evacuate their homes. During the flooding, Region 8
mobilized to Minot in July 2011 at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the City of Minot
and the State of North Dakota.
In response to the extensive flood damage and the potential for environmental impacts, FEMA issued a Mission Assignment
to EPA to accomplish four objectives: remove household hazardous wastes from the impacted area; decontaminate and
prepare white goods and electronic waste for recycling; collect and process orphaned containers; and conduct environmental
monitoring and sampling in impacted and work areas. In total, EPA removed:
• Nearly 6,000 units of white goods - air conditioners, refrigerators and other household appliances. EPA removed Freon,
mercury and other hazardous materials; the local government recycled the scrap.
• More than 90,000 small containers, including paint, household cleaners and small gas cans containing in total more than
15,000 gallons of gas. EPA sent the gas to a fuel processor.
• Several large containers, including propane tanks. EPA returned the containers to their owners or sent them to a local
company for reuse.
• A total of 215 lead-acid batteries. EPA turned the batteries over to the local government.
• Over 550 cubic yards of electronic waste, such as household electronics, computers and television sets. EPA sent the
waste to a contractor for recycling.
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In addition, EPA collected asbestos-contaminated insulation from over 220 households,
conducted air sampling during cleanup activities and conducted soil sampling in city parks
once flooding subsided. Final shipments of removed waste and demobilization of EPA
staff were completed in September 2011. "For over two months, we've worked hard to
help make Minot a safer place to live," said EPA On-Scene Coordinator Paul Peronard.
"Our collaborative relationships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast
Guard and other agencies really helped us execute our mission under FEMA's leadership."
Looking to the future, Region 8 is committed to working with FEMA and City of Minot in
support of long-term community recovery efforts. To date, EPA has participated in three
FEMA-sponsored Community Recovery Open House Planning Meetings. At the request
of FEMA and the community, EPA will continue to partner with FEMA and other agencies
to assist with restoration activities in Minot in 2012.
The Yellowstone River Oil Spill:
Timely Response to the Silvertip Pipeline Incident
On July 1, 2011, a break occurred in a 12-inch pipeline under the Yellowstone River 20
miles upstream from Billings, Montana. The ExxonMobil Pipeline Company owns the
ruptured Silvertip Pipeline. According to the company, an estimated 1,000 barrels of oil
entered the river before the closure of the pipeline. While EPA confirmed oil on land and
vegetation approximately 72 miles downstream, no one reported significant oil beyond
Pompey's Pillar (approximately 45 miles from the spill site). Most of the impacted areas
were in a 20-mile area between Laurel and Billings, Montana.
Region 8 responded rapidly to the spill and led the response in close coordination with the
State of Montana and other federal agencies. Over 1,000 personnel engaged in cleanup and
shoreline assessment efforts and Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) teams
assessed more than 6,500 acres. Cleanup teams recovered more than 1,000 barrels of oily
liquids and oil and 1,740 cubic yards of oily solids. Sampling results for air quality and
area sediment, soil and water showed no levels of concern in the water and no elevated
levels above instrument detection for volatile organic compounds.
EPA's primary concerns were protecting people's health and cleaning up and restoring the
Yellowstone River. Community involvement activities included regular public meetings,
briefings for local officials and the media, fact sheets, daily updates, and sampling and
monitoring data posted on EPA's website atwww.epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill. Region 8
also sent site-specific soil sampling result letters to 40 landowners affected by the oil spill.
Reg/on 8 worked with the Spirit
Lake Tribe in North Dakota to
help the tribe develop a plan to
guide the tribal community's
long-term recovery following
several years offloading in
Devil's Lake.
Tribal Assistance
In 2011 and 2012, Region 8
is meeting with all 27 tribal
governments to better
understand tribal emergency
planning and preparedness
capabilities and to provide
assistance and training to the
tribes.
Meetings in 2011 have led to
tribal requests for assistance
with hazard mitigation plans,
hazardous materials handling
trainings, grant writing and
joint exercises.
EPA's oil spill prevention
and removal programs also
worked closely with Region
8 tribes in 2011, providing
trainings, presentations and
materials on Spill Prevention,
Control and Countermeasure
Plans and other priority
topics.
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Taking a Closer Look:
The Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program
In March 2011, EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) published a report documenting
how the Superfund program has benefited communities and the environment since its inception in 1980. These pages present
excerpts from OSRTFs "Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program" report.
The Superfund program has permanently destroyed or isolated millions of tons of contaminated material, investigated about
40,000 sites to determine the extent of contamination, developed and shared site investigation and cleanup technologies,
worked to foster compliance with other hazardous waste management laws, and assisted other federal cleanup programs
and states in developing and implementing their own cleanup programs. These actions have halted the potential exposure of
millions of people to hazardous substances, enabled thousands of acres of vacant land to be available for beneficial use, and
encouraged industrial practices that prevent future releases of hazardous substances.
Direct Effects
1. Improved Human Health. The reduction of potential hazardous
substance exposure of people near Superfund sites is likely to translate
into diminished rates of acute and chronic adverse health conditions.
Many of these conditions are quite onerous, including cancer,
congenital abnormalities, reduced cognitive abilities in children and
cardiovascular disease.
2. Reduction or Reversal of Damages to Natural Resources. Damage
to valuable natural resources near Superfund sites has been mitigated
and reversed. Many of these resources provide valuable services
necessary to sustain humans, including food and water, recreational
opportunities, ground water replenishment, water filtration and nutrient
recycling. Superfund cleanups have also contributed to the maintenance
of habitats and ecological diversity.
3. Improved National Security. In thousands of emergency response
efforts, Superfund has reduced the risk of harm when emergencies
strike. EPA is using the experience in this work to improve emergency
response capabilities at all levels of government.
4. Improved Community Economics and Quality of Life. The
evaluation, cleanup and revitalization of Superfund sites have increased
the usability of land and led to substantial improvements in the economy
and quality of life in many communities.
Region 8
Superfund Site Universe, 2011
• 66 total N PL sites
• 35 construction complete N PL
sites
• 6 proposed N PL sites
These 66 total N PL sites include:
10 Federal Facilities
5 construction complete Federal
Facilities
1 deleted Federal Facility
Region 8 NPL Sites,
by State, 2011
Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming
21
16
2
4
20
3
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Superfund actions have made hundreds of vacant or underutilized
NPL sites and thousands of non-NPL properties available for all
kinds of productive reuses, contributing to economic and community
development, improved quality of life and reduced energy use in many
communities.
Through the Superfund program, the status of about 40,000 sites
suspected of containing hazardous substances has been determined,
resolving uncertainty regarding potential risks and removing a major
obstacle to the reuse of these sites.
Secondary Effects
1. Contributions to Other Cleanup Programs. Superfund has
contributed substantially to the development and operation of
cleanup programs managed by states, tribes and other federal
programs through funding, research, technical assistance and
partnerships.
2. Improved Environmental Practices by Industry. The
liability provisions in the Superfund law, combined with EPA
compliance, outreach and enforcement efforts, have provided
impetus for industry to participate in state voluntary and other
cleanup programs and modify industrial processes and waste
management practices.
3. Contributions to Environmental and Health Sciences
and Technology Innovation. The Superfund program has
advanced site investigation and cleanup methods, knowledge
of toxicology and environmental processes associated with
hazardous substances in the environment, and knowledge of the
health impacts of hazardous substances.
4. Reduced Unidentified Potential Future Threats. Superfund
actions reduce or eliminate threats that are not fully denned at
this time, primarily because we do not have the capability to
fully predict the movement of hazardous substances through
ground water, soil and other media, the chemical transformation
they undergo in these media, and the ultimate environmental
and human health impacts.
Community Impact Highlights
• There are more than 500 Superfund
sites nationwide in various types of
planned and actual reuse as well as
continued use. These sites support
thousands of jobs with a multi-
billion dollar payroll.
• Cleanup and development of these
properties make land available for
economic development, provide
a catalyst for other development,
and increase efficiency in the use of
public and private infrastructure.
• These properties have improved
the quality of life in many
communities, eliminating blight and
providing valuable amenities, such
as new commercial and industrial
areas, residences, sports fields,
parks and public facilities.
• EPA has documented cases where
the values of properties that
contain Superfund sites have
grown substantially after cleanup.
There are also cases where the
values have not improved.
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Reg/on 8 emergency response
vehicle.
Did You Know?
In 2011, Region 8 continued to
provide support and training for
the Response Support Corps (RSC)
program. The RSC has volunteers
from all Region 8 programs who
are willing to respond to major
regional and national emergencies.
Region 8 currently has over 100
RSC members ready to assist the
Emergency Response program in a
large incident.
Region 8 is the "Lead EPA Region for Homeland Security" in 2011 and 2012.
Region 8 continues to serve as a national leader in sharing the Agency's preparedness
efforts and expertise with our partners and seeking new opportunities for enhanced
communication, inter-governmental coordination and shared research with our
partnership network, as illustrated below.
In 2011, 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
ensure time-critical and coordinated responses to any incidents.
Operation Mountain Guardian Tests Region's Terrorism Response
Capabilities
Region 8 collaborated with local, state and federal partners in 2011 to develop and
stage a full-scale exercise testing emergency operation plans in Denver, Colorado.
Led by the Denver Police Department, the Colorado North Central All-Hazards
Emergency Management Region, the Denver Urban Area Security Initiative and the
Denver Metropolitan Medical Response System, the scenario focused on a major
terrorist attack at four different venues in the Denver area. Over 1,900 people from
more than 100 local, state and federal agencies participated.
Region 8 was involved primarily in the decontamination portion of the exercise,
illustrating EPA's role in addressing hazardous materials. The exercise also provided
a valuable opportunity for EPA staff to learn more about the roles and responsibilities
of other responders, including law enforcement and explosives and ordnance
personnel. Region 8 is working with its partners to build on exercise outcomes and
lessons learned. Region 8, for example, has long partnered with neighboring Douglas
County through the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee.
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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 2011, Region 8 strengthened its community outreach and engagement efforts through
continued coordination with EPA's national Community Engagement Initiative. As
part of the initiative, Region 8 is working 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.
Cleanup of Residential Areas in Historic Colorado Mining
Community Completed
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 2011, EPA deleted remaining portions of the site's residential areas from the NPL.
EPA and the State of Colorado have determined that all appropriate response actions,
other than operation and maintenance activities and Five-Year Reviews, are complete.
EPA would like to thank the Lake County Public Health Agency, elected officials and
citizens of Leadville who developed the Lake County Community Health Program.
The program serves as the institutional control and operation and maintenance
implementor for the site's residential areas. EPA will continue to monitor the program
to ensure the remedy is protective of human health and the environment.
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.
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Sludge pond at the Gilt Edge Mine site.
Aerial view of the US
Magnesium facility, 2011.
Did You Know?
In FY 2011, EPA Region 8:
Entered into 12
settlements with
responsible parties at
Superfund sites, which
resulted in:
• More than $60
million in private
party commitments
for site study and
cleanup.
• More than $3.9
million in private
party payments.
• Cleanup of over
eight million
cubic yards of
contaminated soil.
Referred nine cases
to the Department
of Justice for judicial
enforcement activities.
Enforcement: Driven by the Rule of Law
Region 8's Superfund Technical Enforcement program helps ensure the cleanup of Superfund
sites 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 2011, Region 8 participated in major settlements for Superfund sites in Utah and South
Dakota.
Settlement Agreement Reached for Cleanup Investigation in North-central Utah
The US Magnesium facility and areas of waste disposal span 4,525 acres on the southwest
edge of the Great Salt Lake, 40 miles west of Salt Lake City. The facility has used brine from
the lake to produce magnesium at the site since 1972, a process that has resulted in a variety
of toxic wastes that threaten both workers and the environment. In August 2011, Region 8
issued an administrative order on consent to site owner and operator US Magnesium LLC for
the performance of the site's remedial investigation/feasibility study, which will inform EPA's
selection of an effective remedy for the site.
Multiple Agreements Transfer Properties, Provide Cleanup Funding
at 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. From 2009 through 2011, EPA entered into
settlements with seven responsible parties that own the property comprising the site. In total,
the parties will pay $12.78 million to satisfy liabilities associated with contamination on their
respective properties. The property owners also agreed to transfer all 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.
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Artist's rendition of the Village at Westerly Creek redevelopment project in Colorado.
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, 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.
Geothermal Heating and Cooling System in
North Dakota
Construction of the remedy for the Arsenic Trioxide site was
completed in September 2011. The site includes a large area
in southeastern North Dakota contaminated with arsenic
from the historical use of arsenic-based grasshopper bait and
other sources. Cleanup activities included the installation of
a geothermal heating and cooling system to lessen cleanup
systems' dependency on non-renewable energy sources.
Geothermal systems use heat pumps to transfer the ground's
natural heat to a building's heating and cooling system.
Geothermal power is cost-effective, reliable, sustainable and
environmentally friendly. While geothermal wells release
greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, the emissions
are much lower per energy unit than the emissions of fossil
fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the potential to
help mitigate global warming if used in place of fossil fuels.
Geothermal systems also provide the benefit of relatively low
electrical operating costs.
Hydroelectric Power Plant is First in the Nation
Located at a Superfund Site
At the 1,200-acre Summitville Mine site in southern
Colorado, Region 8 and the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment seized an opportunity to install a
micro-hydroelectric turbine at the site, supplementing power
needs. The 35-kilowatt facility partially powers the plant that
treats acid mining-impacted waters at the site. Completed in
September 2011, the turbine will generate an estimated 15 to
20 percent of the electricity needed to operate the new mine
water treatment plant at Summitville, reducing the greenhouse
gas emissions associated with operation of the plant by a
similar amount. Construction of the turbine and the treatment
plant also supported more than 100 jobs in the area.
Brownfields Funding Supports Sustainable
Redevelopment, Affordable Housing in Colorado
The City of Aurora is in the process of subgranting $250,000
to the Aurora Housing Authority from its EPA-capitalized
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund for asbestos abatement
prior to redeveloping outdated public housing at the site with
new housing and community amenities. The development
project will include 55 units of public housing for seniors
and people with disabilities. The Village at Westerly Creek
will include open space, walking paths, heated sidewalks,
community garden plots, energy star appliances and
photovoltaic panels lighting hallways and common areas.
EPA Region 8 also conducted a Targeted Brownfields
Assessment to help the Housing Authority determine the
extent of asbestos-containing materials in the project area and
estimate abatement and disposal costs.
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As part of the Superfund program, Region 8 is committed to helping communities restore Superfund s
as valued assets and views the revitalization of communities affected by contaminated properties as a key
component of our mission to protect human health and the environment.
Superfund site 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 turn into opportunities. By the end of FY
2011, 28 Superfund sites in Region 8 were determined to be ready for anticipated use.
Integrated Reuse and Cleanup Planning at East Helena Asarco Smelter
Contamination at this RCRA and Superfund site in western Montana affects hundreds of acres of undeveloped land that
are held in trust and were recently annexed by the City of East Helena. The site's federal trustees and local stakeholders
had a vision: to restore the original plant manager's house, outbuildings and adjacent creek for historical interpretation and
ecological reuse. Stakeholders include the site's trust, multiple state and federal agencies, the local government, business
interests and community organizations.
In May 2011, Region 8 hosted a workshop (pictured above) funded by EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative to inform
a focused reuse plan for the annexed land, the Prickly Pear Creek Corridor and the plant manager's house. The we 11-attended
workshop led to a site reuse plan and final report that will inform the site's cleanup and identified opportunities to transition
the site's ownership and phase in site reuses overtime.
Reuse Video and Case Study Highlight Site Cleanup and Mixed-Use Revitalization
In 2011, EPA published an in-depth video and case study documenting the innovative cleanup and reuse of the Midvale Slag
site in Midvale City, Utah. The case study explores this complex project, sharing key lessons learned with parties interested in
learning more about mixed-use redevelopment and revitalization opportunities at contaminated lands. The companion video
provides compelling footage and interviews with key stakeholders involved in the project.
To date, project outcomes include approximately 600 jobs, $1.5 million in annual property tax revenues and a $131 million
increase in the value of the site property. Families have moved into new condominiums. Office buildings, stores and restaurants
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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. A new
Utah Transit Authority commuter rail station opened in August 2011.
The video and case study are both available at
www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/ut/midvale.
Case Study Highlights River Restoration and Reuse Outcomes in Montana
In April 2011, EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative published a case study
documenting the reuse of the Milltown Reservoir Sediments site in Milltown, Montana.
One of the largest river cleanup and restoration efforts in the nation has led to multiple
benefits. With the removal of the Milltown Dam and the restoration of the Clark Fork
River, the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers now flow freely for the first time in a century.
More than 400 acres at the site have been transferred to the State of Montana for a new
state park. Interim redevelopment activities, including several trails and a new pedestrian
bridge, are planned and underway. More than $8 million in grant and state funding has
been allocated for land acquisition and the park's development.
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.
2011 Reuse Highlights
All Superfund sites in Region 8 eligible for deletion from the N PL meet EPA's Sitewide
Ready for Anticipated Use (SWRAU) measure. Region 8 is one of two EPA regional
offices to have achieved this distinction.
2011 Phoenix Award for
Innovative Site Reuse in Utah
For almost 150 years, the
Ogden Rail Yard Superfund
site in northern Utah has
been the location of railway
operations. Today, the Utah
Transit Authority (UTA)'s
FrontRunner commuter
rail line extends across the
site, providing service from
Pleasant View to Salt Lake
City. UTA coordinated the
line's development with
the site's cleanup, working
closely with EPA. Ultimately,
UTA also located a flyover
bridge and passenger station
at the site.
EPA has also worked with
the community to integrate
local reuse priorities with the
site's remedy. For example,
the former 21st Street Pond
property has been renamed
Goode Ski Lake, and is being
returned to use as a fishing
area and a water skiing park.
The City of Ogden is also
developing plans for new
commercial development at
the site. The site received a
prestigious Phoenix Award
in 2011 for achievement of
excellence in Superfund site
reuse.
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Focusing on Environmental Health: Ecological Revitalization
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 2011, five sites in
Region 8 are in planned or
actual ecological reuse.
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Innovative Evaluation of Ecosystem Impairments in Colorado
EPA evaluated impairments at
the California Gulch site using
the Stressor Identification (SI)
methodology. The site is located
in a highly mineralized area of
Colorado's Rocky Mountains, and
includes the 500-year floodplain
and adjacent irrigated lands of
the Upper Arkansas River from
the confluence of California
Gulch to approximately 11 miles
downstream. The evaluation
looked at several impairments,
including barren areas in the
floodplain (reduced vegetation)
and reduced plant growth and
plant species richness in meadows
irrigated with water from the
Upper Arkansas River.
Following analysis of several
candidate causes, the evaluation
found that interaction of elevated levels of metals with decreased pH is the likely cause
of the barren areas in the floodplain. Similar evaluation of the irrigated meadows leads
to the conclusion that elevated levels of metals are the cause of reduced plant growth
and plant species richness in these areas. Aspects of the assessment process that may
differ between aquatic and terrestrial systems include the critical variables measured, the
degree of development of bioassessment criteria, the spatial heterogeneity and linearity of
physico-chemical factors, and management practices. The project at the California Gulch
site demonstrates the usefulness of the SI methodology for terrestrial systems.
River Restoration Project Completed in Northern Utah
The Jordan River Riparian Improvement Project is now complete. From
2008 through 2011, EPA, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt
Lake County, Midvale City and others have been working this final element of the
Midvale Slag site cleanup. The goal of the project was to stabilize the riverbank of the
Jordan River as it passes through the Superfund site. This work ensures that the river does
not erode its banks and release contaminants buried at the site into the river.
This newly constructed dam at
the Midvale Slag site is a steel-
reinforced boulder structure
that replaces a damaged sheet
pile dam. The structure's low
flow channels direct the water
toward the center of the river
to avoid riverbank erosion.
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The Region 8 Brownfields Program
Photos from top to bottom:
Dahlia Square during cleanup and
groundbreaking, the completed
Park Hill Family Medical Clinic, and
Dahlia Square Senior Apartments.
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.
The Region 8 Brownfields program's accomplishments in FY 2011 include:
• Assessments Completed: 65
• Cleanups Completed: 15
• Dollars Leveraged: $8,414,985
• Jobs Leveraged: 239
• Acres Made Ready-for-Reuse: 801
• Properties Made Ready-for-Reuse: 23
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, making it easier for such lands to become
vital, functioning parts of their communities.
EPA Cleanup Grant Helps Leverage Funding for Cleanup and
Redevelopment
Built in the early 1950s on the site of a former brickyard, Dahlia Square
was once the largest African American-owned shopping center in the United
States. By the 1990s, however, as economic conditions changed, the vibrant
neighborhood had begun to deteriorate. The Denver Urban Renewal Authority
and the City of Denver created the Northeast Park Hill Urban Renewal Area
to help restore the area.
Before redevelopment could move forward, contamination from the former
brickyard had to be addressed. The community received a $200,000 Brownfields
grant from EPA in 2005 for the cleanup of Dahlia Square. The grant was part
of an array of federal, state and local cleanup resources totaling more than $7
million. The site's cleanup, completed in June 2006, included the excavation
of 40,000 cubic yards of brickyard landfill materials and the removal of four
underground storage tanks.
Following cleanup, the community has achieved several redevelopment
milestones. In 2009, Denver Health opened its new 12,000-square-foot Park
Hill Family Medical Clinic. In October 2011, the first phase of a 128-unit
affordable housing complex for seniors was completed. The facility will meet
the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority's Enterprise Green Community
Standards for sustainable development. In total, the community has leveraged
more than $19 million for the area's cleanup and redevelopment.
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Tribe Cleans Up Brownfields,
Receives Green Jobs Training Grant
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe used
EPA Brownfields funds to clean up two
abandoned properties, the Old Warrior Motel
and the Old Teachers Quarters, in 2011.
Located in downtown Fort Yates, North
Dakota, the properties posed significant
health, safety and environmental risks to nearby residents and the Missouri
River. The tribe plans to reuse the former motel for new affordable housing;
the Old Teachers Quarters will be reused as park space and for teacher
housing. EPA also provided Sitting Bull College with a $300,000 Workforce
Development and Job Training Grant to support green jobs on the Standing
Rock Sioux Reservation. The funds will be used to develop an environmental
cleanup training program and assist with job placement.
Brownfield Properties in Colorado
Reclaimed with EPA Support
The Urban Land Conservancy (ULC) used
EPA Brownfields funding to assess and
clean up three properties in the Denver area
in 2011. ULC used $500,000 in EPA funds
(through a loan and subgrants from the
State) to clean up petroleum contamination
at the former Avondale Festival Plaza, now called Mile High Vista. The
cleanup will allow ULC and the City and County of Denver to move forward
with construction of the Denver West Public Library, affordable housing, and
commercial and non-profit development. ULC also used EPA Brownfields
support to assess the Curtis Park Community Center and the Temple Emanuel
property near downtown Denver. ULC plans to redevelop the community
center into a preschool and the other property into a mixed-use project.
Brownfield Assessment and
Cleanup Grants Unearth Major Oil
Release
Once a railroad maintenance facility, the
Milwaukee Roundhouse in Powell County,
Montana, has become one of the state's
top-priority sites. EPA awarded the county
a Brownfields cleanup grant and additional
site assessment funds. During a site visit,
Region 8 staff observed significant amounts of a tar-like substance in the
immediate area of nearby Tin Cup Joe Creek. Further investigation revealed a
large buried vault containing Bunker Diesel fuel, which greatly increased the
magnitude of the cleanup. EPA authorized $2.4 million under the Oil Pollution
Act to recover an estimated 10,000 gallons of fuel and remove 14,000 tons
of contaminated soil. Following cleanup, the property is slated to become a
community park with regional trail connections.
Did You Know?
The City of Lakewood,
Colorado, has been working
with interested residents,
students, businesses and
community members on an
innovative area-wide planning
project linking economic
development, job creation and
community reinvestment in
northeast Lakewood.
Funded partly by an EPA
Brownfields grant, the
project has resulted in plans
to create the 40 West Arts
District, link light rail with
adjacent businesses and
neighborhoods, improve
pedestrian and bicycle
connectivity, and revitalize
some of the city's oldest and
most historic areas.
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Updated Reg/on 8 maps for
the ASARCO Globe Plant site in
Colorado (top) and the Mystery
Bridge site in Wyoming (bottom).
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.
NPL Site Data Improvement Effort
In 2011, the Superfund program continued updating Region 8 NPL site data and associated
maps. This effort has improved how site boundaries, operable units, remediated areas,
deleted portions of sites, institutional controls and other site features are depicted. This
updated data assists EPA project managers throughout the Superfund decision-making
process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. In addition, maps aimed at helping the public
gain a better spatial understanding of the sites are available on EPA Region 8's Superfund
Web page.
New CIS Tools Support and Enhance Site Cleanups
Region 8 continues to integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies into
the Superfund cleanup process. At the Libby Asbestos site in Montana, for example,
Region 8 deployed a browser-based mapping application in 2011 that shows the current
investigation and removal status of each property within the site's boundaries. Region 8
project managers and management use the application to track site progress; field staff can
also plan investigations and removals on a block-by-block or individual parcel level. When
parcel status information changes, updated information is available via the map browser
within 24 hours.
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To fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment, Region 8
actively collaborates with an extensive network of partners, including communities,
states, tribes, local governments, public nonprofits, private sector organizations and
other federal agencies. Region 8 relies on its government, nonprofit and private sector
partners to help fulfill EPA's mission of responding to emergencies and cleaning up
hazardous sites.
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 the performance of
all required Superfund cleanup work. In 2011, EPA awarded more than $3 million of
Superfund monies to Region 8 states and political subdivisions. Through cooperative
agreements, we are able to dedicate significantly more resources to the mission 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 resources are deployed to the most critical
environmental problems.
Region 8 Partners in Action
The South Lincoln Park project
in central Denver brings EPA
together with federal and
community partners under the
Partnership for Sustainable
Communities.
As part of the project, the
Denver Housing Authority is
transforming a 15-acre parcel
containing 270 aging public
housing units into a mixed-use,
mixed-income, pedestrian-
friendly transit-oriented
development.
In 2011, EPA staff provided
technical assistance for three
design charrettes focused on
opportunities to incorporate
energy, transportation and
stormwater/green infrastructure
innovations as part of the
project.
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Looking Ahead: FY 2012
-
2011 Montv/ew Corridor workshop in Colorado.
Innovative Brownfields Planning Pilot
Projects Underway
The Region 8 communities of Aurora, Kalispell
and Denver have completed their first year of
piloting new Brownfields Area-Wide Planning
grants. The localities will use the information
gathered in 2011 to develop area-wide plans
guiding the assessment, cleanup and reuse of
brownfields in the planning areas.
Aurora held a series of public meetings
focused on the community's redevelopment
vision for the Montview Corridor, an area
challenged by more than 40 brownfield
sites. The city is now updating Aurora's
comprehensive plan based on the
community's feedback. The project's next
phase is conducting an in-depth conditions
and environmental survey of the Montview
Corridor.
Kalispell has held public forums and meetings
with property owners in the downtown CORE
Revitalization Area to discuss the relocation
of railroad tracks to encourage business
expansion, redevelopment, infill development
and connectivity. Kalispell identified 19
specific sites affected or potentially affected
by brownfields issues and is working directly
with three of these property owners.
Denver is focusing its efforts on the South
Platte River Brownfields-lmpacted Area,
which includes properties along an 11-mile
section of the river. The project's initial phase
includes a corridor-wide analysis to identify
high-potential sites for further consideration.
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 2012 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. .
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FY 2012 Goals
Region 8's Superfund Program continues to move sites toward final
cleanups and deletion from the NPL, while also responding to newly
identified sites and threats.
• Region 8 anticipates starting and completing eight remedial designs
in FY 2012.
• It is anticipated that three new remedial actions will be started while
work continues on other remedial actions already underway.
• Region 8 expects to complete 11 remedial actions, with site-wide
construction completions being achieved at two sites.
• Seventeen Five-Year Reviews will be conducted at sites to ensure
ongoing protection at sites where waste remains above levels that
allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.
• Ongoing work continues to identify and address risks at sites in the
site assessment and removal programs, where Region 8 anticipates
that 80 site assessments and 22 removal actions will be completed.
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Goals
Remedial Site Assessment Completions 80
Superfund-Lead Removal Actions Completed 15
PRP-Removal Actions Completed 7
Remedial Action Completions 11
Construction Completions 2
Human Exposure Under Control 2
Contaminated Groundwater Migration Under Control 2
Superfund Program Remedial Measure Goals
Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Starts 3
Records of Decision (RODs) 1
ROD Amendments 3
Explanations of Significant Difference 3
Remedial Design Starts 6
Remedial Design Completions 8
Remedial Action Starts 2
Five-Year Reviews 13
Superfund Program Federal Facility Measure Goals
Decision Documents 3
Final Remedy Selected 1
RA or RCRA CMC Start 1
Five-Year Reviews 4
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
2012 priorities for the Team include:
• Assisting with the review
of Environmental Impact
Statements for proposed
hardrock mines and in- situ
recovery projects.
• Hosting EPA's National Hard
Rock Mining Conference and
Rare Earth Workshop in Denver,
Colorado.
• Assisting with the development
of financial assurance
regulations for hardrock mines
and processing facilities.
• Showcasing innovative cleanup
work at abandoned mines in
Region 8.
Long-term priorities for the Team
include:
• Facilitating the development
and implementation of
innovative mine cleanup
technologies.
• Facilitating internal cross-
program communication and
coordination of mining-related
issues.
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Region 8 SuperfuncTs activities are
built on a foundation of meaningful
community engagement, scientific
excellence, a network of dedicated
partners and innovative approaches.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
EPA 908/R-l 1/006 February 2012 www.epa.gov/region8/superfund
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
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