(full article) http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/09/16/r ... l-lawsuit/Colorado Sues Government Over Rocky Mountain Arsenal Site
CBS/Denver, September 16, 2017
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4)– The State of Colorado is suing the U.S. government over who should control the contaminated areas that remain at the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal.
The arsenal stopped production of (nerve agents) and pesticides in the early 80s. Cleanup was (halted) seven years ago and now much of the area has been turned into a wildlife refuge but many toxic compounds remain. Colorado says the potential for trouble is still there unless the property has proper control.
“It was referred to as one of the most contaminated pieces of property on the planet,” said Colorado Department of Health and Environment spokesman Doug Knappe. Knappe manages the hazardous waste program for the state health department. Now, the agency he works for is suing the U.S. Army, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Shell Oil. The lawsuit claims that an area called “Basin F” still poses a potential threat, “all of these constitute threats to human health and environment.”
He says the state needs proper management of the site. “We don’t have control of that and we therefore can’t ensure for the protection of humans, health and environment,” said Knappe.
I can hear you thinking from afar: "Basin F? What's that? Nobody's heard of that!"
(full article) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basin_FBasin F was constructed by the United States Army in 1956 at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, to provide for the disposal of contaminated liquid wastes from the (nerve agent) manufacturing operations of the Army and its lessee Shell Chemical Company.
As originally constructed, Basin F was equipped with a catalytically blown asphalt liner (approximately 3/8-inch (10 mm) thick) covered with a 12-inch (300 mm) protective soil blanket. Basin F had a maximum capacity of 243 million US gallons (920,000 m3) and covered approximately 93 acres (380,000 m2). Throughout the operation of Basin F, the saline concentration increased as water evaporated. The liquid formerly stored in Basin F is very salty water that contains some metals(???), hydrazine, wastewater(???), and toxic organics, which are about 1 percent of the liquid.
Remediation of Basin F
The basin floor was capped with 12 inches (300 mm) of compact clay and 6 inches (150 mm) of topsoil and revegetated with native grass. This portion of the Basin F Interim Response Action was completed in August 1989.
Once the liquid was drained from Basin F, the drying of the soils, sediments, and liner began. This project caused an odor resulting in discomfort to members of the surrounding community. Because of the Army's concern for the comfort of the local community during the soil drying, air purifiers were distributed to affected homes in the community to help alleviate the odors.
A lovely view of the Denver front ranges circa 1973, foreground brought to you completely- and objectively- by your psychotic Uncle Sam in lieu of wisdom, morality, and civic development.
We still had enough civic strength and moral fiber to stop this forty-five years ago. Were it today, would we still find that spiritual strength within us to deplore psychopathy?
