Another strong shock rumbled through the Denver area on November 14, 1966, causing some damage at Commerce City and Eastlake. Last Conditions Report for Rocky Mountain Arsenal: 11.15.21. The program consisted of four tests between September 3 and October 26. The history of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge stretches back more than 60 years. 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. At that time, liquid waste disposal methods were employed in an attempt to prevent the chemical contamination from spreading further including lining one of the basins with asphalt, and injection of the waste chemicals into a deep well, but these techniques were ultimately unsuccessful. Statistically significant findings (p<0.01) of this study included demographic differences in the mothers as follows: median age 24, compared to 27 years of age in Colorado as a whole, higher percent of mothers who were white/Hispanic and black, mean education level of 11.8 years compared to 13.1 years in Colorado as a whole, fewer mothers who were married, and fewer prenatal visits on average. The shock shuffled furniture around in homes, and left electrical wall outlets hanging by their wires at Irondale. Just watch where you step. In 1982, all production at the site stopped, and the Arsenals mission changed to environmental cleanup and restoration. Two sites were retained by the Army: the South Plants location due to historical use[clarification needed], and the North Plant location, which is now a landfill containing the remains of various buildings used in the plants. Further, in 1961, the Army constructed a 12,000-foot deep injection well for the disposal of wastes. PDF Jun 1, 2022 Laws, rules, and regulations General Fishing Laws 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. In summary, there is no current evidence of health effects. 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. The U.S government acquired the Arsenal land in 1942 to manufacture chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas and incendiary munitions, for use in World War II. August 24, 2011 Brighton is 6 miles north, and Barr Lake State Park is about 5 miles northeast. The U.S. Army has begun removing Building 130, which is located northeast of the Refuge Visitors Center. 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246, Colorado Health Information Data Set (CoHID), Office of Public Health Practice, Planning, and Local Partnerships (OPHP), Air Quality - Monitoring, Modeling and Data. An official website of the United States government. Fish and Wildlife Service that at least 20,000 ducks died in a 10-year span during the 1970s. Soon after, Congress enacted legislation designating the RMA as a future national wildlife refuge. 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. Baseline rates of congenital anomalies in the study area compared to Colorado as a whole did not show significant differences between populations. There is no appropriate standard by the EPA, but the state of Colorado has a standard treatment protocol for this chemical. 2010All surface environmental cleanup work concludes. Photo source: Dave Showalter In 1992, Congress designated the sites as a wildlife refuge. Slighter rumblings (below magnitude 3.0) occurred throughout the remainder of 1966, and through the first week of April 1967. That said, it would be better if they were cleaned up more thoroughly.. Photos source: US Fish and Wildlife Service An official website of the United States government, Rocky Mountain Arsenal has recently published its annual community report. 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. Boulder sustained minor damage to walls and acoustical tile ceilings on April 27, 1967, as result of a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. 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. The Army was dumping dangerous chemicals into a deep injection well out at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Take the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Self-Guided Wildlife Drive This was the highlight of the park for us. This soil is contained in hazardous waste landfills. Groundwater treatment will continue until all water leaving the site meets state and federal standards. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in July 1987. Also, they noted that if all groundwater were to be cleared for human consumption, the cost would be $500 million annually. The Surveillance for Birth Defects utilized passive observational data from an existing birth defects registry March 1989 March 2009. 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. Between 1946 and 1987, the Army also leased portions of the arsenal to Shell Oil Company to manufacture pesticides. Exchanging animals among smaller herds. One of the lessees, Julius Hyman and Company, manufactures agricultural chemicals at the site. 1942The U.S. Army establishes the Rocky Mountain Arsenal to produce chemical weapons as a war-time deterrent. "They have a very distinctive emerald green eye shine. The U.S. Army will permanently retain and manage about 1,000 acres of Arsenal land that contain the landfills, waste consolidation areas and groundwater treatment facilities to ensure they remain protective of human health and the environment. He began working at the newspaper in 1998, after writing for newspapers in Mesa, Ariz., and Twin Falls, Idaho, and The Associated Press in Salt Lake City. Additionally, ordnance (including incendiary munitions) was manufactured and tested, and asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used at RMA. Today, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, once some of the most contaminated land in the country, is a cleaned-up nature center. 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. And the biggest bills have yet to be paid. Several were felt, but none caused damage until the window breaker that surprised Dupont and Irondale on the night of December 4. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? The purpose of this Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan is to document the State Trustees' basis for conducting the damage assessment that provided the basis of the lawsuit and to set forth the proposed approaches for quantifying harm to natural resources and calculating the damages associated with those injuries. In addition, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal had a POW camp for German soldiers, called Rose Hill. During removal of contaminated soil and construction of the remedy containment structures, air monitoring was conducted at multiple sites in the Arsenals interior and fence line, and several sites in the surrounding communities. This public availability will be implemented while simultaneously supporting the remediation effort and the USFWS activities. local news and culture, Patricia Calhoun Manufacturing and waste disposal practices used during these years resulted in extensive soil, surface water, sediment, groundwater and structures contamination, damage to trees and vegetation, and death to wildlife. (6 of 9), TOURISM - Nearly 500,000 people annually visit the 15,000-acre Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge where they can see more than 330 species of animals including bison, deer, bald eagles and black-footed ferrets. Now a majority are voluntarily adopting them. Any detected voids behind the casing were cemented to prevent possible contamination of other formations. The site was placed in 1987 on the EPAs National Priorities List, which is also known as the Superfund list. Roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) from downtown Denver, the arsenal was once an environmental nightmare where chemical weapons and commercial pesticides were made. Fish and Wildlife Service to create and later expand the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The cleanup was completed in 2010 and five large parcels of land have been deleted from the NPL, creating opportunities for reuse development and expansion of the Refuge. Further testing revealed that the containment issue is an ongoing problem, the lawsuit says. Last week, on December 8, 2015, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal rounded up the bison herd to gather animals that had been selected for donation to the Crane Trust--a bison conservation . However, when the Basin F liquids were actually introduced, the process required more time than anticipated to complete because of the impermeability of the rock. Rocky Mountain National Park Tour from Denver 49 Recommended Full-day Tours from $195.00 per adult Private Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver and Boulder 49 Recommended Full-day Tours from $849.00 per group (up to 5) Hiking Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver 265 Recommended Full-day Tours from $139.00 per adult Restrictions on well water use, residential development, consumption of fish and game from the arsenal, and agricultural use of the arsenal will exist in perpetuity until further scientific research is completed at the site. At Commerce City merchandise fell in several supermarkets and walls cracked in larger buildings. 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). Provisions for a permanent water supply for off-post residents affected by arsenal groundwater contamination. In September of that year, the Army began removing fluid from the Arsenal well at a very slow rate, in hope that earthquake activity would lessen. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was placed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in July 1987. When the Cold War ended in the 1980s, more surplus military lands were earmarked for refuges. biological agent at Rocky Mountain Arsenal was begun in August 1971 and was completed in mid-February 1973. After the war, it became a bustling center of industrial. To learn more and view artifacts from each period, visit the Refuge Visitor Center. During 1968, ten slight shocks were felt in Colorado. If you have additional questions, please call 303.289.0300. This new publication offers highlights from the past year, along with news about upcoming projects scheduled for 2022. In 1975, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ordered the Army and Shell to stop the non-permitted discharge of contaminants, to control the contaminated groundwater leaving the site, and to implement a monitoring plan. Rocket fuel was blended on-site for the Titan and Delta missile operations. In the early 1960s, the U.S. Army began to lease out its facilities to private companies to manufacture pesticides. Only one, on July 15, caused minor damage at Commerce City. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was a United States chemical weapons manufacturing center located in the Denver Metropolitan Area in Commerce City, Colorado. Cancer incidence in the communities near the arsenal was also monitored and found to be varied across location, gender, race and time, and have been determined to not be related to past Arsenal exposure or cleanup activities. Early 1980sAll production at the RMA ceases, and the mission shifts to environmental remediation and restoration. A similar shock, magnitude 4.1, centered in the Denver area November 15. 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.. [11], The NRDA found several injuries to wildlife. (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. Rocky Flats historical public exposure studies, Final Consent Decree between the United States and the State of Colorado, Final Consent Decree between Shell Oil Company and the State of Colorado, Colorado Attorney General's Colorado Natural Resources Trustees website, Colorado environmental health site assessment. 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. Researchers have not examined the health risks to wildlife at the cleaned-up refuges as extensively as the potential danger to humans, but few problems have been reported. The magnitude 5.2 event caused widespread minor damage in the suburban areas of northeast Denver. 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. By the end of December 1962, 190 earthquakes had occurred. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. EPA and the State concurred with the approach. The animals were transferred from the National Bison Range in Montana. An official website of the United States government, Archives: Project Descriptions / Fact Sheets, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. A volume of approximately 52,500 acre-feet (65 million cubic metres) of the alluvial aquifer is not usable for human consumption. For questions about Refuge programs and conservation efforts, please contact the U.S. Three criteria were es Theoretically, if the Earth still exists in the year 3000, theyll still be monitoring groundwater at the arsenal, he said. (9 of 9). 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. It was an inexpensive way to expand the national refuge system, especially in urban areas with scarce open space, said Mark Madison, the Fish and Wildlife Services historian. Beginning in October 2012, testing has revealed that pollutants have escaped the Shell trenches and groundwater is likely coming into contact with the waste and migrating out of the trenches, the lawsuit says. 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? The site was completed December 1942,[1] operated by the United States Army throughout the later 20th century and was controversial among local residents until its closure in 1992. These monitors tested the air for several decades during the cleanup and showed the cleanup was protective of public health. The primary contaminants include organochloride pesticides, organophosphate pesticides, carbamate insecticides, organic solvents and feedstock chemicals used as raw products or intermediates in the manufacturing process (e.g., chlorinated benzenes), heavy metals, chemical warfare material and their related breakdown products and biological warfare agent such as TX. This new publication offers highlights from the past year, along with news about upcoming projects scheduled for 2022. The final step was adding Bentonite, a heavy clay mud that later solidified, to close the rest of the hole up to the ground surface. During November 1967, the Denver region was shaken by five moderate earthquakes. [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. A local shock awakened a few persons in Commerce City November 25. But the cost of the conversions is staggering, and some critics say the sites have not been scrubbed well enough of pollutants to make them safe for humans. 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. By year end, the United States has out-produced the Axis Powers by 150 percent. Next, the injection zone at the bottom 70 feet of the well was closed by plugging with cement. Lake Skipper (s): Additionally, studies performed at Colorado State University found no increased risk of Arsenic, Mercury, or neurotoxicity in communities within 15 miles of the RMA.[16][17]. This was further exacerbated when the U.S. Army discovered an endangered species, the bald eagle. Some parts of the refuge have been deemed safe but visitors must watch a safety video and sign a waiver promising not to sue if theyre injured by an exploding shell. Most of the land areas now belong to the U.S. Today, only the foundation of a watch post from Rose Hill is visible, and then only when pointed. The Army needs to find a way to clean up the depleted uranium safely.. There are many studies that try to estimate the total costs due to contamination of pesticides in U.S. as well as in other countries; however, indirect costs are difficult to estimate, but likely several times than total direct environmental and social costs. Houses creaked and objects rattled during this magnitude 2.1 earthquake. In 1986, it was discovered that the absence of human activity had made the area an involuntary park when a winter communal roost of bald eagles, then an endangered species, was discovered on site. The building was known as the Environmental Analytical Laboratory, and was used to analyze soil, water, and air samples collected during the environmental clean-up of RMA. Included in the RMANWR Act, areas within RMA that were still contaminated were still owned by the U.S. Army, however, the vast majority of the land that was deemed clean would be managed by the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Another group asked the courts to release documents from a 27-year-old criminal investigation into the weapons plant, hoping they will show whether the government tracked down and cleaned up all the contamination. State officials say they want long-term and legally binding assurances. In the early 1960s, the U.S. Army began to lease out its facilities to private companies to manufacture pesticides. Waste further down than 10 is left in place in the former areas where the basins, chemical sewers, manufacturing plants, disposal trenches once were. The U.S. 2007The EPA honors the RMA with its national Land Revitalization Award. Photo source: Denver Post These potential confounders are not clearly addressed in this report and may complicate the analysis as well as raise concern for disparities in exposure risk that is dependent upon demographic factors. 1989The U.S. Army, EPA and Shell sign the Federal Facilities Agreement, which provides a framework for decision-making and for completing 14 Interim Response Actions (IRAs) while final cleanup plans are developed. The Off-Post Record of Decision was finalized in December 1995 and its requirements consist of actions for off-site groundwater and soil. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. First, the well casing was tested to evaluate its integrity. 2003The EPA removes 917 acres of RMA land from the National Priorities List. Longstanding agricultural and health concerns related to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal have resulted in a complex history of political and legal battles. 1986Workers discover a communal roost of bald eagles at the RMA. 1999The RMA becomes the first environmental cleanup site in the nation to receive the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) highest workplace safety award. The U.S. The well was cased and sealed to a depth of 11,975 feet, with the remaining 70 feet left as an open hole for the injection of Basin F liquids. The refuge was created on the buffer zone surrounding the production area. [4], The Arsenal's location was selected due to its relative distance from the coasts (and presumably not likely to be attacked), a sufficient labor force to work at the site, weather that was conducive to outdoor work, and the appropriate soil needed for the project. How? [citation needed] The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is 15,000 acres and features three lakes that are home to over 300 species of wildlife. The Army and Shell took remedial actions to prevent the contamination that includes the installation of the groundwater barrier system which treated approximately 1 billion gallons of water every year. Rocky Mountain Arsenal continues to leak contaminants into groundwater, Colorado health department lawsuit says Contaminants include organochlorine pesticides, heavy metals and solvents. A civic center, high school, soccer complexand public open space are also located here. Fish and Wildlife Service at 303.289.0930, or visit the Refuge online. However, the Army estimates that the waste was a more dilute version of the Basin F liquid which is now being incinerated. 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. 1943From 1943 to 1946, the Rose Hill Prisoners of War Camp houses captured German soldiers at the RMA. As provided by CERCLA, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was conducted to determine the extent of contamination. In the early 1980s the site was selected as a Superfund site and the cleanup process began. Marshall fire victims protested green building codes as too expensive. Rocket fuel to support Air Force operations was also manufactured and stored at RMA. [6][7] 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. Rocky Mountain Arsenal, which was once a U.S. Army chemical weapons manufacturing facility, became a wildlife refuge in 1992. While the framework for the comprehensive environmental cleanup was being developed, work crews discovered a pair of roosting bald eagles at the site, which prompted the U.S. Additional cement barriers were placed inside the casing across zones that could access water-bearing formations (aquifers). Since its establishment in 1942, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) has played a unique role in the service of our nation. [8] It was drilled to a depth of 12,045 feet (3671 m). Catch . Office of Public Health Practice, Planning, and Local Partnerships, Chemicals from firefighting foam & other sources, Colorado Legacy Land/Lincoln Park Superfund site, Test & Fix Water for Kids at Family Child Care Homes, Toxicology and environmental epidemiology, Engage with the Water Quality Control Division, Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, Bonanza Mining District Restoration Project, Colorado Smelter Community Advisory Group, Colorado Smelter Pamphlets, Charts, Forms and Reports. RMA contained a deep injection well that was constructed in 1961. Damage on a lesser scale occurred throughout the area. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2004, in part, to protect our national symbol, the bald eagle. 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. 1950North Korea invades South Korea, and the U.S. Army reactivates the RMA to produce chemical weapons and incendiary munitions for the Korean War and Vietnam Conflict. 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. Thousands of ducks died after coming in contact with its wastewater ponds in the 1950s. The following data were derived from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The manufacturing of these weapons continued until 1969. Further, there have been damages to the rural areas due to contamination resulting in livestock losses, and crop losses. It was estimated by the U.S. This is unprecedented: Avian flu has killed 12,000 birds in Colorado, Smart sensors on I-25 promise really significant traffic improvements, pilot study shows, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, Multiple Colorado schools temporarily placed under secure status due to threats, Denver East High student dies more than two weeks after being shot outside school, Letters: Proposed age limit for gun ownership in Colorado doesn't make sense. A monitoring program was developed to monitor the success of exposure prevention efforts during the environmental cleanup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Known today as an urban national wildlife refuge, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is one of the most studied environmental cleanup sites in the country. CERCLA was a tax imposed on chemical and petroleum industries. In addition, there were actions completed by Future Farmers of America (FFA) between 1991 and 1993 that cost approximately $151.2 million. In the mid-1980s, wildlife, including endangered species, moved into the space and the land became a protected park. The second largest earthquake in the Denver series occurred on November 26, 1967. An official website of the United States government. Share Them by March 3. At the borders of the RMA and at some places in the sites interior, contaminated groundwater is pumped from the below the surface and cleaned before reinjection. 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 U.S. Army later reactivated Arsenal facilities for Cold-War weapons production and demilitarization. This legacy, they say, requires restrictions on where visitors can go and obligates the government to monitor the sites for perhaps centuries. By year end, the United States has out-produced the Axis . (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." Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (credit: CBS) Nick Kaczor and his team were also out -- trying to find the black footed ferrets. Through events, communications, advocacy and fundraising, we support the refuges in. For more information please visit U.S. As production declined at wars end, the U.S. Army leased some of the facilities to private companies, one of which Shell Oil Co. purchased, for the production of agricultural chemicals. the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Disposal Well By D. B. Hoover and J. EPA and the State concurred with the approach. 1992Congress passes the 1992 Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Act, which designates the site as a future national wildlife refuge. The facility was built in 1942, in response to the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Many projects have attempted to clean contaminated groundwater at the Arsenal. 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