Author(s)

J. V. Accashian, R. L. Olsen & D. C. Mosteller

Abstract

A former rubber manufacturing site occupies 80 acres approximately 5 km south of the Denver, Colorado, USA downtown business area. The facility manufactured tires, belts, and hoses for automotive and industrial businesses and ceased operations in 1995. Despite abandoned buildings and contaminated soil and groundwater, the site was an attractive location for redevelopment because of its proximity to major transportation thoroughfares (including highways and light rail) and to downtown Denver (major entertainment facilities and workplaces). After manufacturing operations ceased, several developers specializing in brownfield properties expressed interest in transforming the site into a major transit-oriented development (TOD) with residential units, office space, and retail facilities and subsequently purchased portions of the site. A 5- acre part of the site was the first area to be remediated and redeveloped. The main areas of the 5-acre property requiring remediation had soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE). The contaminated soils were excavated and properly disposed off site. The contaminated groundwater was remediated using in situ chemical oxidation techniques by injecting a solution of potassium permanganate into the soils and groundwater. The remediation activities were performed under the provisions of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCUP). The remediation approach and VCUP resulted in rapidly achieving a regulatory no further action determination. The 5-acre property was sold to a commercial developer which has developed a residential and commercial complex consisting of apartments and retail space. Other parts of the site have also been redeveloped or are undergoing remedial activities.

Keywords

contaminated sites, cleanup, remediation, redevelopment, brownfield, TOD