In addition, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal had a POW camp for German soldiers, called Rose Hill. Depleted uranium fragments are scattered on the firing range among 1.5 million rounds of unexploded shells, which makes cleanup dangerous and expensive. Most badgers at Rocky Mountain Arsenal appear to be unaffected by dieldrin, one of the main chemical contaminants remaining in the soil at the military base. [8] It was drilled to a depth of 12,045 feet (3671 m). Beginning in 1942, the Army used the 27-square-mile arsenal at 5650 Gateway Road in Commerce City for the manufacture and disposal of chemical warfare agents, and chemical and incendiary munitions. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, a manufacturing center of United States chemical weapons, is located in Commerce City, Colorado. A. Dietrich f. h,_ During the 1968 pumping tests at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal disposal well, the U.S. Geological Survey was responsible for moni wring earthquakes occurring in the area of the arsenal ami making chemical analysis of the fluids removed. The Army and Shell operated Basin F, a hazardous waste surface impoundment for the storage and treatment of liquid and solid hazardous wastes, but the facility leaked wastes into the environment after waste disposal ended in 1981, the lawsuit says. 1966Following reports of localized earthquake tremors, the U.S. Army concludes the deep well injection program. Groundwater is also pumped and treated at the site. The military reserved the right to oust these companies and restart chemical weapon production in the event of a national emergency. Many residents reported it was the strongest earthquake they had ever experienced. biological agent at Rocky Mountain Arsenal was begun in August 1971 and was completed in mid-February 1973. Also, they noted that if all groundwater were to be cleared for human consumption, the cost would be $500 million annually. Contaminated ground water was first discovered to have migrated off of the Arsenal in the mid-1950s when crop damage and affected livestock was noted on farms north of the Arsenal. More than 600 chemicals have been used or manufactured at the arsenal, including: Diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), a chemical unique to the Army's manufacture of nerve gas. A $7 billion cleanup concentrated on 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) where workers assembled plutonium triggers for nuclear warheads, and that area is fenced and closed to the public. An official website of the United States government, Rocky Mountain Arsenal has recently published its annual community report. The location was ideal, not only because of the proximity to the airport, but because of the geographic features of the site, it was less likely to be attacked. Further, there have been damages to the rural areas due to contamination resulting in livestock losses, and crop losses. By year end, the United States has out-produced the Axis . Then, on April 10, the largest since the series began in 1962 occurred; 118 windowpanes were broken in buildings at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, a crack in an asphalt parking lot was noted in the Derby area, and schools were dismissed in Boulder, where walls sustained cracks. The animals were transferred from the National Bison Range in Montana. These monitors tested the air for several decades during the cleanup and showed the cleanup was protective of public health. Please click here to see any active alerts. Share Them by March 3. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? Many projects have attempted to clean contaminated groundwater at the Arsenal. Beginning in 1942, the arsenal was the main site at which the Chemical Corps manufactured chemical weapons such as mustard gas, nerve gas, and phosgene.The Army eventually leased part of the 27 mi 2 (70 km 2) plot of . The second largest earthquake in the Denver series occurred on November 26, 1967. A lateral was built off the High Line Canal to supply water to the Arsenal. The magnitude 5.2 event caused widespread minor damage in the suburban areas of northeast Denver. Its radiation isnt strong enough to be dangerous outside the body, but its dust is a serious health risk if inhaled or swallowed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. The Army needs to find a way to clean up the depleted uranium safely.. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. After a $2.1 billion cleanup, the site was reborn as Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, with 24 square miles of idyllic prairie where visitors can take scenic drives or hikes. Several reported basement floors separated from walls. The deep injection well was closed in 1985 and Basin F was closed in 1988 [10] A more recent article in 2004 by Pimentel,[19] estimated the cost of removal pesticides from the groundwater and soil at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal by approximately $2 billion. EPA and the State concurred with the approach. In 1982, all production at the site stopped, and the Arsenals mission changed to environmental cleanup and restoration. The perfect trail for those who like to enjoy nature from the comfort of their air-conditioned vehicle with a latte in hand. 24,590 were here. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge has been transformed from a 17,000+ acre facility used for weapons and chemical manufacturing into a beautiful nature sanctuary. Washington state officials are worried that the Trump administration wants to reclassify millions of gallons of wastewater at Hanford from high-level radioactive to low-level, which could reduce cleanup standards and cut costs. In 1942, the US Army acquired 19,915 acres (80.59km2) of land on which to manufacture weapons in support of World War II military activities at a cost of $62,415,000. After 42 years of chemical manufacturing, in 1984, the United States Army began to inspect the level of contamination at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA). The site was placed in 1987 on the EPAs National Priorities List, which is also known as the Superfund list. Reunion is located on the north border of RMA. As provided by CERCLA, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was conducted to determine the extent of contamination. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Shell Oil for failure to obtain a proper-post closure permit for Basin F, a section of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. In the early 1980s the site was selected as a Superfund site and the cleanup process began. Most handled conventional weapons, not nuclear or chemical. Recent tests have confirmed that the contamination continues to this day, it says. The site was operated by the United States Army throughout the later 20th century and was controversial among local residents until its closure in 1992. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has sued the U.S. Army claiming that dangerous chemicals including pesticides continue to leach into groundwater at Rocky Mountain Arsenal . But CERCLA empowers Colorado to enforce federal standards, the lawsuit claims. Today, it is considered a hazardous waste site according to the Colorado Department of Public and Environmental Health. The new venue hosts the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. 1999The RMA becomes the first environmental cleanup site in the nation to receive the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) highest workplace safety award. Montbello is located to the south of the RMA, and Commerce City to the west. Theoretically, if the Earth still exists in the year 3000, theyll still be monitoring groundwater at the arsenal, he said. 1947The U.S. Army places the RMA on standby status and leases some facilities to private industry. Fish and Wildlife's Rocky Mountain Arsenal website. Several persons scurried into the streets when buildings started shaking back and forth. [13], As part of the clean up of the RMA, much of the soil, up to 10 feet below the surface was removed from the site. In 1992, Congress designated the sites as a wildlife refuge. The Army replied by indicating federal authorities should regulate the arsenal superfund site through the CERCLA, and not state environmental authorities. [11], The NRDA found several injuries to wildlife. Hanford where the cleanup has already cost at least $48 billion and hundreds of billions more are projected may be the most troubled refuge of all. Jefferson County Finds Itself Up a Tree Over Controversial Forest-Thinning Practices, Dominion Has the Cure for Foxitis: $1.6 Billion Defamation Lawsuit, Celebrate the 303: From Crocs to Cannabis, Colorado Has Your Number, No Liberal Tears: We Build the Wall's Colorado Conspirator Sentencing PostponedAgain, Have Thoughts About the Denver Moves Everyone Plan? Legislators quickly moved from beneath chandeliers in the Denver Capitol Building, fearing they might fall. Finally, the Act provides for the transfer of some Arsenal land for road expansion around the perimeter of the Arsenal and 915 acres (3.70km2) to be sold for development and annexation by Commerce City. Due to the early completion of this program, the Army realized a savings of 300,000 dollars. CERCLA also gave the Federal government the authority to respond to the release of life-threatening hazardous materials.[2]. Additional cement barriers were placed inside the casing across zones that could access water-bearing formations (aquifers). Marshall fire victims protested green building codes as too expensive. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in July 1987. 1996The U.S. Army, Shell and U.S. The organic content of the solution was high but is largely unknown. PDF Jun 1, 2022 Laws, rules, and regulations General Fishing Laws It stipulates that the majority of the site will become a National Wildlife Refuge under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service when the environmental restoration is completed. The injected fluids had very little potential for reaching the surface or usable groundwater supply since the injection point had 11,900 feet (3630 m) of rock above it and was sealed at the opening. Is there a risk of cancer related to Rocky Flats contamination? Vote in our annual food bracket challenge. 1943RMA employees work around the clock to manufacture mustard gas, Lewisite, chlorine gas and incendiary weapons. The waste fluid chemistry is not known precisely. Known today as an urban national wildlife refuge, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal traces its beginnings to the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought the United States into World War II.. (5 of 9), Mayor Pro Tem Ren Bullock, who also sits on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Front Range Wildlife Refuges, stated "As a decades-long participant in transitioning this site from munitions manufacturing to wildlife sanctuary, I can honestly say the Refuge is an shining example of promises made, promises kept and should serve as the gold standard for how to make former Superfund sites benefit the communities in which they are located." Other demographics of the mother were gathered as well. Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, a former nuclear weapons plant northwest of Denver, opened to hikers and cyclists last September, but some activists question whether its safe. In 1992, Congress Passed the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Act (RMANWR Act). CDPHE is asking the federal court to compel the Army to install or modify the existing treatment system to effectively prevent pollutants from contaminating groundwater, the lawsuit says. As portions of the cleanup are completed, this property becomes part of the National Wildlife Refuge system and is transferred to the U.S. Department of Interior. From a tiny Pacific island to a leafy Indiana forest, a handful of sites where the United States manufactured and tested some of the most lethal weapons known to humankind are now peaceful havens for wildlife. Another strong shock rumbled through the Denver area on November 14, 1966, causing some damage at Commerce City and Eastlake. These restrictions must remain in place unless future sampling and scientific investigation determine they can be safely removed. In 1984, the Army began a systematic investigation of site contamination in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly referred to as Superfund. However, the Army estimates that the waste was a more dilute version of the Basin F liquid which is now being incinerated. This public availability will be implemented while simultaneously supporting the remediation effort and the USFWS activities. In the early 1980s the site was selected as a Superfund site and the cleanup process began. The well was cased and sealed to a depth of 11,975 feet (3650 m), with the remaining 70 feet (21 m) left as an open hole for the injection of Basin F liquids. In September 2017, the state of Colorado filed a lawsuit to sue the United States government for the right to control the contaminated areas of the RMA. 2004After the EPA certifies that cleanup actions are complete, the U.S. Department of Defense transfers 5,000 acres of RMA land to the U.S. Department of the Interior to officially establish the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Some were among the most dangerously polluted sites in the nation but held swaths of hard-to-find habitat. Fish and Wildlife Service, bringing the total to 15,000 acres (61km2). In an effort to foster economic growth in the area and maintain the facilities for national security, private companies were encouraged to lease facilities beginning in the mid-1940s. Many of the conversions came after the first and second world wars. And the biggest bills have yet to be paid. There are multiple paved, boardwalk, or gravel trail options with a variety of lengths and difficulty levels available. Although the U.S. Army and Shell used accepted disposal practices of the time, decades of chemical and agricultural production led to contamination of some of the soil, structures and groundwater. (7 of 9), BENEFIT - Cleanup of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal has bolstered the economy of the greater Denver metro area and provides its neighbors with jobs, recreation, and a peaceful escape to nature. Replacement water for South Adams County Water and Sanitation District. For questions about Refuge programs and conservation efforts, please contact the U.S. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in July 1987. One monitoring project has demonstrated incremental improvements over time, and specifically measured 640 parts per billion (ppb) in 1987 and 55 ppb in 1989, while a different off-post monitoring well measured 138 ppb in 1985, 105 ppb in 1987, 14 ppb in 1988, and 6.7 ppb in 1989. OVERVIEW - Just 10 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado lies one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country, an area that only 30 years ago was listed on the Superfund National Priorities List due to being contaminated by over 600 chemicals. That said, it would be better if they were cleaned up more thoroughly.. [8][9] The well remained unused until 1985 when the Army permanently sealed the disposal well. One of the major lessees, Shell Oil Company, along with Julius Hyman and Company and Colorado Fuel and Iron, had manufacturing and processing capabilities on RMA between 1952 and 1982. The contaminated groundwater that still exists in and around RMA continues to be actively monitored. Madison, the Fish and Wildlife Service historian, said the refuges are salvaging something valuable from ecological devastation. The 17,000-acre site is 10 miles northeast of Denver. Last Conditions Report for Rocky Mountain Arsenal: 11.15.21. To read the report, click here. A separate study of cancer incidence by the Colorado Department of Health did not find convincing evidence of increased cancer risk in people living in residential areas surrounding the arsenal,[15] although the study was made more difficult by the large demographic changes in the area and was also confounded by smoking and obesity rates. When the Cold War ended in the 1980s, more surplus military lands were earmarked for refuges. The documents provide the framework, purpose and overall rationale for remediation of the site. Join the Westword community and help support The magnitude 5.3 tremor caused the most serious damage at Northglenn, where concrete pillar supports to a church roof were weakened, and 20 windows were broken. The Army discontinued use of the well in February 1966 because the fluid injection triggered a series of earthquakes in the area. Fish and Wildlife Service, Walter Derr, The Associated Press. (2 of 9), CLEANUP - The remedy selected for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal included the removal of contaminated soil down to 10 over much of the contaminated area, which is contained in two hazardous waste landfills that remain on the site. Provisions for a permanent water supply for off-post residents affected by arsenal groundwater contamination. As cleanup actions were successfully completed, the U.S. Army transferred land to the U.S. Organochlorine pesticides, heavy metals, agent degradation products and manufacturing by-products, and chlorinated and aromatic solvents are getting into groundwater in unsafe levels, it says. Three criteria were es Secure .gov websites use HTTPS But forty years ago, a series of quakes rocked the Denver area -- quakes caused not by Mother Nature, but by Uncle Sam. Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail Open: Year-round to hiking, bicycles, and Class 1 e-Bikes Length: 4.8 miles This regional trail corridor will link Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge with Two Ponds and Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuges, along with many other protected open space and park lands throughout the Denver metro-area. Feds light fires at Rocky Mountain Arsenal to restore prairie for multiplying bison and the visitors who flock there Prescribed fire is meant to invigorate about 875 acres of short-grass . The timeline below highlights important milestones from each decade. In addition, there were actions completed by Future Farmers of America (FFA) between 1991 and 1993 that cost approximately $151.2 million. Between 1946 and 1987, the Army also leased portions of the arsenal to Shell Oil Company to manufacture pesticides. Much of the site is now protected as the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. 1992Congress passes the 1992 Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Act, which designates the site as a future national wildlife refuge. Weapons manufactured at RMA included both conventional and chemical munitions, including white phosphorus (M34 grenade), napalm, mustard gas, lewisite, and chlorine gas. The Energy Department estimates it will cost between $323 billion and $677 billion more to finish the costliest cleanup, at the Hanford Site in Washington state where the government produced plutonium for bombs and missiles. According to National Resource Damage Assessment, although the contamination has been reduced by the treatment efforts, the water in and around the arsenal may never be fully clean. 1942The U.S. Army establishes the Rocky Mountain Arsenal to produce chemical weapons as a war-time deterrent. The government converted them into refuges under U.S. RMA contained a deep injection well that was constructed in 1961. In 2009, the state of Colorado, Shell Oil Co., and the United States Army settled a lawsuit pertaining to damages to the states natural resources from past activities at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal that caused extensive contamination of soil and water at the site. In 2006, 7,126 additional acres were transferred. 1995-1996Following extensive community input, the Off-Post and On-Post Records of Decision (ROD) are signed. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2004, in part, to protect our national symbol, the bald eagle. independent local journalism in Denver. 1952Shell Chemical Co. purchases Julius Hyman and Company and continues to manufacture agricultural chemicals at the RMA until 1982. This soil is contained in hazardous waste landfills. In addition to the containment structures, the agreed-upon remedy directs that the entire area is subject to restrictions on land use in perpetuity, including residential development, agricultural use, any potable use of the groundwater, and any consumption of fish or game from the Arsenal. The U.S. Treatment plants remove contaminants from groundwater to keep them out of domestic wells. That rankles Tim Maloney, a senior policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council. Minor damage, in the form of broken windows and dishes and cracked walls and plaster, occurred at Aguilar, Segundo, Trinchera, and Trinidad. Rocky Mountain Arsenal on FishExplorer has 222 historic conditions reports, 90 historic water temperature updates, 120 historic status updates, 138 historic water level updates, available to subscribers. Some waste disposal pits presented short-term hazards sufficient to preclude their excavation. text only version of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Site Spotlight, Emerging Contaminants and Contaminants of Concern, Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket, Military Munitions and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). In this study, baseline birth defects were estimated from the time period 19891997, which was the point at which the clean-up began, and inclusion criteria included mother's address at the time of birth being within the geographical study area. Maloney, a manufacturing center of United States chemical weapons, is located on the National Priorities List Superfund. Trail for those who like to enjoy nature from the National Priorities List of Superfund sites July... 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