Region 8
Denver Radium Site
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
12/30/1982
Final Date
9/8/1983
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Site Type: Final NPL
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Site Description
Radioactive soils and debris were abandoned in Denver, Colorado after the city's radium industry collapsed in the 1920s. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), EPA and responsible parties worked together on the cleanup.
The Denver Radium site consists of more than 65 properties combined into 11 operable units (OUs). Radium was used for commercial purposes in the early 1900s when Denver ore processing facilities provided a domestic source to meet that demand. After the radium industry's collapse, numerous locations were left with radioactive residues. These residues were often used as fill, for paving materials or left in place.
The Denver Radium site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983.
Cleanup is now complete. Most of the Denver radium properties continue to be used for business or open space. Redevelopment has occurred at several of the cleaned-up properties. The last step of the remediation process was the removal of all radioactive materials from the site of the former Shattuck Chemical Company site, OU8, which was completed in July 2006.
Since waste is left in place, EPA will continue to conduct five-year reviews to ensure that the remedy remains protective. The most recent review was completed in September, 2008. Because remedial actions at all OUs are protective, the site is protective of human health and the environment. The next five-year review will be completed by September 2013.
View map of Denver Radium site boundaries (PDF, 430K, about PDF)
Site Risk
Contaminants at the site included radium, thorium, uranium, arsenic, lead and radon gas. Radium is of most concern. Radon gas emitted from decaying radium causes lung cancer. However, radon is only a health risk if the gas is concentrated in buildings where people can be exposed for long periods of time.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| air, soils, groundwater | radium, thorium, uranium, arsenic, lead, radon gas |
ore processing for radium |
Cleanup Progress
Cleanup approaches included: removal of contaminated soil to a permanent offsite disposal site; installation of ventilation systems for radon gas; and stabilization. At some properties waste was left in place. Institutional controls have been placed on these properties to ensure long-term protectiveness. The City and County of Denver is removing contamination underlying streets as part of routine street maintenance.
The Final Close Out Report for the site was completed September 25, 2006. The site is ready for reuse. The Shattuck site was sold in 2007 and current plans are for a mixed residential/commercial development.
Community Involvement
A notice that the third five-year review was underway was placed in Denver newspapers in September 2008. The public review process included contact with each property owner and with each affected neighborhood organization. Mailings were sent to interested stakeholders with a description of the Denver Radium site and ongoing actions. Comment cards were included in this mailing that could be returned with comments regarding the five-year review.
Site Documents
Best way to open a very large file: right-click and save it to a folder.
Update to the Five-Year Review, January 2013 (PDF, 1 pg, 33K, about PDF )
Maps of Operable Units and Institutional Controls, March 9, 2012 (PDF, 6 pp, 6MB, about PDF)
Third Five-Year Review Report, September 2008 (PDF, 104 pp, 13.7MB, about PDF )
Final Close Out Report, September 25, 2006 (PDF, 101 pp, 2.7MB, about PDF )
Contacts
EPA
Kerri Fiedler
Environmental Engineer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (EPR-SR)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6493
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6493 (toll free Region 8 only)
fiedler.kerri@epa.gov
John Dalton
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (8OC)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6633
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6633 (toll free Region 8 only)
dalton.john@epa.gov
CDPHE
Mark Rudolph
State Project Manager for Denver Radium Sites
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3311
888-569-1831 ext. 3311 (toll-free)
mark.rudolph@state.co.us
Fonda Apostolopoulos
State Project Manager for Shattuck
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3411
888-569-1831 ext. 3411 (toll-free)
faaposto@cdphe.state.co.us
Jeannine Natterman
State Community Involvement Coordinator
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
303-692-3303
888-569-1831 ext. 3303 (toll-free)
jeannine.natterman@state.co.us
Links
Denver Radium Streets Program (City and County of Denver)
