On May 1, 2000, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The Ensign-Bickford Company reached an agreement to conduct an environmental investigation and cleanup activities at the Company's Louviers, Colorado facility. Contamination has been predominantly found in the soils and additional information is required to determine the extent of groundwater contamination. This fact sheet describes how EPA and The Ensign-Bickford Company are working together to make sure that any potential risks to human health and the environment are identified and addressed.
BACKGROUND
From 1966 and 1996, the facility produced commercial blasting products at its Louviers, Colorado, location. The facility is located approximately 30 miles south of Denver. The primary products were detonating cord and cast boosters that contained various explosives. Production activities ended in 1996.
The site encompasses about 300 acres southwest of Louviers. Core production and storage activities occurred on about 25 fenced acres.
During the years when the facility was operating, wastewater discharges, open burning, and other activities resulted in contamination of the top 2 feet of soil. Soil sampling performed at the facility showed the presence of trace levels of explosives used to make the blasting products. Much smaller amounts of metals and solvents have also been found in soils.
Ground water samples have been collected from a 70-foot deep monitoring well and a 860-foot deep facility water supply well. Although lead and PETN (an explosives constituent) were detected in initial samples, based upon the results of recent data, ground water quality does not indicate that a threat is posed to nearby residents or businesses. The Company will continue to work with EPA in an effort to verify groundwater conditions.
MEASURES TO ADDRESS CONTAMINATION
In 1996 the facility ceased manufacturing operations and began to assess the site for contamination and to implement and complete corrective action activities. Sampling activities began in 1996 and the results from sampling data showed explosive and metal contamination to be predominately located in the soils. Corrective action activities performed have included tank removal and treatment and off-site disposal of soils with hazardous levels. Other cleanup activities previously performed at the site include the removal of asbestos containing material, building decommissioning, the removal and thermal treatment of contaminated structures, and removal of environmentally hazardous materials and objects from the facility.
Low levels of PETN and lead have been evaluated in the facility well and the monitoring well, respectfully. Additional sampling will be performed to verify contamination in groundwater.
OTHER CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
The Ensign-Bickford Company has provided EPA a work plan to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at the facility and to determine if the contamination poses a risk to people and the environment. An addendum to the work plan is currently being developed which will contain additional information which will be collected at the facility. The addendum to the work plan will be submitted to the EPA by May 10, 2001. Interested parties can review this work plan and the addendum to the work plan after May 10, 2001 at the Louviers Library and provide written comments by June 10, 2001 to:
Diane Sanelli, Community Involvement Coordinator
US EPA Region 8
999-18th Street, Suite 300 (8OC)
Denver, CO 80202
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
Environmental Indicators ("EIs") are used by EPA to determine if contamination is being mitigated at or from facilities. There are two EPA Environmental Indicators: 1) "Human Health Exposures Under Control", and 2) "Migration of Contaminated Ground Water Under Control". EPA will be making determinations in the near future pertaining to the status of these two EIs at EBCo.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
EPA encourages citizens and other interested parties to review work plans and participate in activities at this facility. If you would like to learn more about the environmental activities at The Ensign-Bickford Company, please call or e-mail us or visit the Information Repository in the Louviers Library at 7885 Louviers Boulevard, Louviers, Colorado, 80131.
EPA will continue to work with The Ensign-Bickford Company to ensure the public is informed and the health of area residents and the environment is protected.
CONTACTS:
Linda Bowling, EPA Project Manager
303-312-6400
E-mail: bowling.linda@epa.gov
Diane Sanelli, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
303-312-7822
E-mail: sanelli.diane@epa.gov
Or contact The Ensign-Bickford Company's hotline and/or e-mail address at:
Phone: 303-791-2553
E-mail: louviers-info@charteroak.net