Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
Asarco, Inc. Globe Plant
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
5/10/1993
Final Date
Not listed
|
Site Type: Proposed NPL City: Denver County: Adams Street Address: 495 E. 51st Avenue Zip Code: 80216 |
|
EPA ID#: COD007063530 Site ID#: 0800078 Site Aliases: American Smelting & Refining Co., Asarco Globe Congressional District(s): 01 |
|
Site Description
The ASARCO, Globe Plant site (the Site) is located in a mixed industrial, commercial and residential area, known as Globeville, near the South Platte River, in Denver and south Adams counties. Smelting operations that separated impurities from gold, silver, copper and lead on the site began in 1886. The American Smelting and Refining Company, later named ASARCO, bought the plant and converted it to a lead-only production facility in 1901.
In 1919, ASARCO changed from producing lead to producing arsenic trioxide for insecticides, medicines and glass. In 1926 ASARCO began cadmium production for protective coating of iron and steel. At the present time, the Globe Plant has been shut down.
In December 1983, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) sued ASARCO for damages to natural resources using EPA's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund). As a result of this suit, CDPHE and ASARCO entered into an agreement in 1987 to conduct joint studies to determine the extent and nature of the Site contamination. EPA proposed the Site for its National Priorities List (NPL) on May 10, 1993.
The state of Colorado and ASARCO reached a settlement in July 1993 to clean up the Site. ASARCO will pay for the Site's cleanup. CDPHE is in charge of administrative and technical oversight. The settlement includes measures to:
- Reduce toxic emissions from the plant
- Monitor emissions from the plant
- Reduce future contamination of groundwater
- Clean ditches on plant grounds
- Close a hazardous waste pile on the plant
- Sample community soils and clean up those soils that are a health concern due to metals
- Provide a medical monitoring program
- Provide long-term monitoring of the site
EPA receives Site studies and cleanup plans and will ensure that the work is protective of public health and the environment.
Site Risk
The smelting operations left elevated levels of cadmium, lead, arsenic and zinc in groundwater, surface water, sediments and soil at and near the plant. The contaminated groundwater extends as far as the South Platte River.
People can be exposed to contaminants by swallowing contaminated soil or by inhaling the dust. Exposure can potentially cause cancers, such as skin cancer. Possible non-carcinogenic effects from exposure over long periods of time include damage to the central nervous system, reproductive system, kidneys, and digestive tract.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| Ground water, sediment, surface water, soils | Cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc | Metals smelting and refining |
Cleanup Progress
Cleanup of community soils began in the summer of 1994. Residential cleanup was completed in the summer of 2002. Some 650 properties were cleaned up and 70 acres of commercial property have been remediated. Workers completed cleanup of the industrial drainage ditch in the fall of 1995. The terrace drain was completed early in 1999 and treats about 12,000 gallons of water per day.
The Site still has some industrial properties left to be remediated and is in the process of getting money from the national trust. Once the bankruptcy proceedings are complete in May of 2009, the State will work with the trustee to complete remediation of the Site.
Community Involvement
During the residential remediation, medical monitoring was provided to more than 1.500 participants. The medical monitoring program for Globeville area residents and workers ended in 2004. Biological testing for lead, cadmium and arsenic and indicators of renal damage was available for the duration of Site remediation. Community outreach and educational services are still available to area residents.
Site Documents
Note: the following documents are VERY LARGE PDF FILES (about PDF files)
Record of Decision, Asarco Globe Plant Site - February 18, 1993 (PDF, 325 pp, 16 MB)
Asarco Globe 5-Year Review (PDF, 97 pp, 3.1 MB)
Annual Update 5-Year Review December 2008 (PDF, 3 pp, 45 K)
Contacts
EPAKathie Atencio Patricia Courtney
|
ColoradoFonda Apostolopoulos Danny Lutz |
|
View Documents at:
EPA Superfund Records Center Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Globeville Information Center Denver Public Library, Central Branch |
|