Region 8
Vasquez Boulevard & I-70
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
1/19/1999
Final Date
7/22/1999
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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 |
What's New?
Updated June 2012
Operable Unit 1 Residential Soils: This summer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a final opportunity for property owners to take part in the Vasquez Boulevard/Interstate 70 (VB/I-70) Superfund Site residential soils sampling and cleanup action. EPA will sample remaining properties at no cost to the homeowner. If the sample results show that lead and arsenic levels in the yard pose no health risk, no further action is needed. In the event that one or both of the metals is above EPA cleanup levels, EPA will contact the homeowner to begin planning the cleanup of the soils in that yard. Having your property cleaned up is voluntary. This involves removing and replacing the contaminated yard soils and re-landscaping at no cost to the homeowner. For more information, please see the fact sheet below or contact one of the representatives listed in the Contacts section.
Operable Unit 2 Omaha and Grant Smelter: EPA is currently offering a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to a community group for Operable Unit 2, the Omaha and 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 (8EPR-PS), Denver, CO 80202-1129, 303-312-6696 or Jennifer Chergo (chergo.jennifer@epa.gov) at 303-312-6601.
Operable Unit 3 Argo Smelter: EPA is continuing investigations to evaluate if smelter-generated wastes were buried on the site and whether they pose a health risk to future workers or groundwater.
Site Description
The VB/I-70 Superfund 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 and 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.
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 access to cleanup funding through the Superfund program if responsible parties fail to clean up the site adequately. Listing also guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions.
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 other sources |
Cleanup Progress
EPA is the lead agency for Superfund activities at the site and works cooperatively with the support agency, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). VB/I-70 was divided into three Operable Units (OUs) for the purposes of better managing the project. The OUs are:
- OU1 Residential Soils
- OU2 Omaha and Grant Smelter
- OU3 Argo Smelter
Map of operable units (PDF, 1 pg, 270K, about PDF)
OU1 focuses on residential soils and includes all or parts of the following north Denver neighborhoods: Cole, Clayton, Swansea, Elyria, Globeville and a small section of Curtis Park. EPA and the 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 ensued.
During the investigation, which began in the summer of 2000, EPA took 30 soil samples at each of the residential yards sampled within the VB/I-70 boundaries. 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), including a Responsiveness Summary detailing EPA's final cleanup decision, was issued on September 25, 2003.
This was a vast residential soils cleanup project encompassing more than four square miles and more than 4,000 properties in the Cole, Clayton, Swansea, Elyria and a portion of the Curtis Park neighborhoods of Denver, Colorado. EPA removed, replaced and re-landscaped yards at more than 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, as well as alternative landscaping materials. The soil remediation work for OU1 was completed in August 2006.
In 2009, EPA conducted a five-year review of the remedy at VB/I-70. Based on the results of its review, EPA determined that the remedy at OU1 is not protective of human health because there are still approximately 150 properties where EPA was never able to gain access from the property owner to either sample or perform cleanup. EPA is offering to sample those outstanding properties in the summer of 2012 and clean up those that require it in spring/summer 2013. See the fact sheet below for more information.
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 and was designed to complement the soil cleanups. The Community Health Program was a unique program designed by local, federal and state government representatives and committed community leaders. 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 for lead or arsenic exposure. The Community Health Program concluded in 2008.
OU2 is the area where the Omaha and Grant Smelter was located. EPA is concerned that wastes generated from the former smelter operation may still exist and may impact the groundwater or be a health concern. The EPA, CDPHE and City of Denver continue to work together to investigate potential heavy metal contamination in the soils, groundwater, surface water and sediments at and adjacent to the site. The site is located approximately where the Denver Coliseum stands today.
OU3 is the area where the Argo Smelter operated. The former 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. 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. Based on comments received, EPA and CDPHE determined that further investigation was warranted. Therefore, investigations are continuing in order to evaluate if smelter-generated wastes were buried on the site and whether they pose a health risk to future workers or groundwater. EPA and CDPHE will release a proposed plan and provide an opportunity for further public review and comment in the future.
Community Involvement
Community involvement plays an important role in the Superfund process. EPA uses a number of different tools and resources to promote effective, on-going, meaningful community involvement. The goals of the Superfund community involvement program are to:
- Keep communities affected by sites informed throughout the cleanup process.
- Provide opportunities for communities to comment and offer their input about site cleanup plans.
- Facilitate the resolution of community issues tied to a site.
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.
Reuse
EPA places a high priority on land reuse as part of its Superfund response program mission. The agency tries to select cleanup options that encourage and support future use of a site. EPA uses two fundamental methods to facilitate reuse of Superfund sites:
- Exploring future uses before the cleanup remedy is implemented, an approach that gives the Agency the best chance of designing cleanup remedies to support the likely future use of a site.
- Working with landowners and communities to remove barriers not considered necessary for the protection of human health or the environment at those sites where remedies are already in place.
One option for reuse is the siting of clean and renewable energy projects on contaminated (or formerly contaminated) lands. As part of this effort, EPA is evaluating the potential for energy projects on these properties and working with landowners and communities to identify ways to remove barriers to such projects.
OU1 is in continued use as residential neighborhoods.
Land Use Controls and Other Institutional Controls
Land use controls are the most common type of institutional control (IC). ICs are administrative or legal controls that help reduce the likelihood for human exposure to contamination. ICs can also help protect the integrity of the remedy. Examples of ICs are:
- Zoning ordinances.
- Environmental covenants.
- Deed notices.
- Well-drilling restrictions.
- Building permits.
- Informational advisories.
ICs are typically developed during the RI/FS process, as needed, as a part of the proposed alternatives.
Five-Year Reviews
EPA or the lead agency conducts five-year reviews following the start of a Superfund cleanup when contamination is left on the site. These reviews are repeated every five years. We use these reviews to determine:
- How the remedy is working.
- If the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.
The first five-year review was conducted in 2009 with a status update in 2010. The second five-year review will be conducted no later than 2014.
Site Documents
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Best way to open a very large file: right-click and save it to a folder.
Side-Wide
Map of operable units, January 2011 (PDF, 1 pg, 270K)
OU1: Residential Soils
Site Update Fact Sheet, June 2012 (PDF, 2 pp, 129K)
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
OU2 Fact Sheet, February 2010 (PDF, 2 pp, 97K)
OU2 Community Involvement Plan, January 2010 (PDF, 20 pp, 567K)
Remedial Investigation Report, VB/I-70 Superfund Site, Operable Unit 2, December 2009 (PDF, 180 pp, 18.8MB)
Contacts
EPA
General mailbox for soil sampling results:
303-312-6585 or 303-312-6384 (Se habla español)
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
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
Community Relations Manager
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
303-692-3373
888-569-1831 ext. 3373 (toll free)
warren.smith@state.co.us
Or visit our information centers at:
Valdez-Perry Library
4690 Vine Street
Denver, CO 80216
720-865-0300
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)
Photo/Video Gallery
Links
ATSDR Public Health Assessment for VB/I-70
City of Denver Site Assessment & Cleanup page for VB/I-70