Region 8
Superfund Program
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
1/19/1999
Final Date
7/22/1999
Vasquez Boulevard & I-70
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Site Type: Final NPL City: Denver County: Denver Street Address: Vasquez Blvd. & I-70 boundary area ZIP Code: 80216 EPA ID: COD002259588 SSID: 089R Site Aliases: Argo Smelter, Omaha & Grant Smelter, Vasquez Blvd. & I-70 (North Residential Soils) Congressional District: 1 |
Site Status & Updates
EPA is currently offering a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to a community group for Operable Unit 2, the Omaha & Grant Smelter site. A TAG provides money for activities that help the community participate in decision making at eligible Superfund sites. Grant recipients can contract with independent technical advisors to interpret technical information about the site. For more information, contact Linda Armer (armer.linda@epa.gov), U.S. EPA, Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202, 303-312-6696, or Jennifer Chergo (chergo.jennifer@epa.gov) 303-312-6601.
EPA conducted a five-year review of the cleanup of arsenic and lead-contaminated soils in residential yards in the Vasquez Boulevard/Interstate 70 (VB/I-70) Superfund site. The review found that the remedy is not protective for some properties where EPA could not gain access to sample or clean up. EPA is developing options to address this. The five-year review report is available to the public. If you would like to provide input or get more information about this five-year review, please contact one of the representatives listed in the Contacts section below.
The investigation and cleanup of lead and arsenic in residential soils in the Vasquez Boulevard & I-70 (VB/I-70) Superfund Site was completed in August 2006. This was a vast residential soils cleanup project encompassing more than four square miles and approximately 4,500 properties in Cole, Clayton, Swansea, Elyria, Globeville and Curtis Park neighborhoods of Denver, Colorado.
During the investigation, EPA took 30 soil samples at each of the 4,315 residential yards sampled in the VB/I-70 boundaries. EPA then removed, replaced and re-landscaped yards at 800 properties because of lead and/or arsenic contamination. During the process, EPA removed more than 91,000 cubic yards of soil and planted more than 1.5 million square feet of sod.
This Superfund project also included innovative features such as a unique lead paint abatement program and a community-based Community Health Program.
The Community Health Program was intended to raise awareness in the community about lead and arsenic hazards. The Community Health Program is a unique program designed by local, federal and state government representatives and committed community leaders. The Community Health Program was completed in 2008.
In addition to the residential soils cleanup (OU1), EPA is continuing to investigate possible heavy metal contamination at the site of two historic smelters in northeast Denver: The Omaha and Grant smelter (OU2) and the Argo smelter (OU3).
Site Description
The VB/I-70 site is an area of approximately four square miles located in north-central Denver. Historically, this area was a major smelting center for the Rocky Mountain West. Three smelting plants: Omaha & Grant, Argo and Globe, operated in the area for varying lengths of time, beginning as early as 1870, refining gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc.
Map of the Vasquez Blvd. & I-70 Superfund Site boundaries (PDF, 1 pg, 262K, about PDF )
VB/I-70 was divided into three Operable Units (OUs) for the purposes of better managing the project. OU1 focuses on residential soils and included all or parts of the following north Denver neighborhoods: Cole, Clayton, Swansea, Elyria, Globeville and a small section of Curtis Park. EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) began investigating these residential yards in 1998 to determine if arsenic, lead, cadmium, or zinc residues from past smelting operations posed a potential threat to the health of residents. The investigation showed that lead and arsenic were the heavy metals of concern and sampling results showed elevated lead and arsenic concentrations in some yards. A large-scale residential soils investigation and cleanup ensued. This effort was completed in August 2006.
OU2 of the VB/I-70 site is the area where the Omaha Grant Smelter was located. EPA is concerned that wastes generated from the historic smelter operation may still exist and may impact the groundwater or be a health concern. EPA is investigating to evaluate these concerns.
OU3 of the VB/I-70 site is the area where the Argo Smelter operated. The historic smelter buildings have been demolished and the area has been redeveloped. EPA is investigating to evaluate if smelter generated wastes were buried on the site and whether they pose a health risk to future construction workers or groundwater.
Site Risk
The site risks for OU1 are summarized in the following table. Site risks for OU2 and OU3 are currently being studied.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| soils | lead and arsenic | smelting operations and/or application of lawn care products |
Cleanup Progress
On January 19, 1999, the Vasquez Boulevard & I-70 site was proposed for the EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), a roster of the most serious hazardous-waste sites in the country. Including the site on the NPL assures EPA immediate access to cleanup funding through the Superfund program if industries fail to clean up the site adequately. Listing also guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions.
In the summer of 2000, EPA began a large residential-soils Remedial Investigation (RI). In 2001, EPA finalized an Remedial Investigation Report and Feasibility Study (RI/FS).
In May 2002, EPA released a proposed plan outlining its preferred cleanup option. Due to extensive public comments requesting EPA to lower the soil concentration cleanup levels, EPA developed a new cleanup alternative. This alternative proposed to clean up soils that exceed lead concentrations of 400 ppm (parts per million) or arsenic concentrations of 70 ppm. A revised proposed plan, which included this alternative, was issued for public review in May 2003. A Record of Decision (ROD) and Responsiveness Summary detailing EPA's final cleanup decision was issued on September 25, 2003.
All of the soil remediation work for OU1 was completed in August 2006.
A Community Health Program was designed to complement the soil removals. The City of Denver administered the program which included door-to-door visits from community members trained to provide education to area residents on the hazards of lead, arsenic, and a range of other environmentally-related topics. The program provided opportunities for parents to have their children tested to lead or arsenic exposure. The Community Health Program concluded in 2008.
At OU2, the Omaha & Grant smelter site, EPA, CDPHE, and the City of Denver continue to work together to investigate potential heavy metal contamination on the soils, groundwater, surface water and sediments at and adjacent to the site. The site is located approximately where the Denver Coliseum stands today. An RI/FS is being developed. A proposed plan—detailing the proposed cleanup option and other alternatives, as well as a ROD—are planned for late 2010.
At OU3, the Argo Smelter site, EPA and CDPHE completed an RI/FS. In November 2007, EPA released a proposed plan outlining its preferred cleanup option. In December 2007, EPA held a public meeting to discuss the proposed cleanup option and other alternatives. A ROD and Responsiveness Summary detailing EPA's final cleanup decision will be issued in mid-2011.
Community Involvement
EPA recognizes that community involvement at VB/I-70 is important for achieving a successful environmental cleanup. The final cleanup plan at VB/I-70's OU1 was developed with extensive community and agency involvement. From 1999 to 2006, a group of committed community and agency stakeholders met together in a working group to gain information and provide input on the residential soils cleanup plan. EPA twice awarded a technical assistance grant to an area community group, CEASE, whose members came together specifically to participate in the cleanup process for VB/I-70. EPA produced and distributed numerous fact sheets, fliers, and postcards to advertise meetings and to update the community on the VB/I-70 residential yards cleanup. In addition, EPA participated in and presented at a number of neighborhood organization meetings, neighborhood fairs and picnics, parent-teacher meetings at schools, adult education classes, and other community gatherings. EPA also hosted a number of public meetings, availability sessions, and open houses.
Site Documents
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General
VB/I-70 Fact Sheet, February 2010 (PDF, 2 pp, 97K)
VB/I-70 Community Involvement Plan, January 2010 (PDF, 20 pp, 567K)
OU1 – Residential Soils
Annual Update to the Five-Year Review, November 2010 (PDF, 1 pg, 30K)
First Five-Year Review Report, September 30, 2009 (PDF, 25 pp, 614K)
Post Construction Fact Sheet, Fall 2006 (PDF, 2 pp, 116K)
External Lead-Based Paint Fact Sheet, Fall 2006 (PDF, 2 pp, 93K)
Site Update Fact Sheet, April 2006 (PDF, 1 pg, 235K)
Hoja de Hechos, April 2006 (PDF, 1 pg, 236K)
OU2 – former Omaha Grant Smelter location
Contacts
EPA
Paula Schmittdiel
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (EPR-SR)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6861
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6861 (toll free Region 8 only)
schmittdiel.paula@epa.gov
Jennifer Chergo (for OU1 and OU2)
Community Involvement Coordinator & Public Affairs Specialist
1595 Wynkoop Street (OC)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6601
800-227-8917, ext. 312-6601 (toll free Region 8 only)
chergo.jennifer@epa.gov
Pat Courtney (for OU3)
Community Involvement Coordinator
1595 Wynkoop Street (OC)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6631
800-227-8917, ext. 312-6631 (toll free Region 8 only)
courtney.patricia@epa.gov
Spanish Speaking Hotline
303-312-6384
Se habla español
CDPHE
Fonda Apostolopoulos
State Project Manager
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
fonda.apostolopoulos@state.co.us
Warren Smith
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
303-692-3373
warren.smith@state.co.us
Or visit our information centers at:
Cross Community Coalition
2501 East 48th Avenue
Denver, CO 80216
303-292-3203
Valdez-Perry Library
4690 Vine Street
Denver, CO 80216
720-865-0300
Ford Warren Library
2825 High Street
Denver, CO 80205
720-865-0920
EPA Superfunds Records Center
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6473
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6473 (toll free Region 8 only)