56th Avenue

Construction Realigns

Arsenal Fence

Neighborhood News

Fall Scene at RMA

RMA Schedules

Construction Of

Enhanced Hazardous

Waste Landfill

Million Gallon 

Reservoir Scheduled

For Demolition

RMA Plans Well

Closures Through 2005

Section 36 BOA Soils

Remediation Underway

Mark Your Calendars 

For Refuge Week

INSIDE

o preserve Rocky Mountain Arsenal’s

(RMA) rich history, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service) has sought

interviews with homesteaders and RMA

workers to build an oral history collection of

the site. More than 25 oral histories have been

collected that detail the changing life on the

land.

“We’ve conducted interviews with people

who lived as homesteaders, worked here 

during WW II and the Cold War, or played a

role in the cleanup decisions and the 

legislation creating the future Refuge,” said

Laurie Shannon, refuge planner. At this point,

the Service is most interested in interviewing

people who worked at RMA during WW II and

the Cold War eras. “We’re looking for 

information to enhance what we already have,

particularly from people who worked on RMA,

such as the manufacturing line,” she

explained. 

A video-tape of interviews already 

collected plays at the Visitor Center and

includes stories from men and women who

grew up on RMA land and others who left all

they owned to make way for the RMA’s 

construction. Stories such as Robert Moffitt’s,

an early homesteader, make barn dances,

grasshoppers, Pearl Harbor and security jobs

on RMA come alive.

“My family came to the Arsenal property in

1919...Everything was different in the dust bowl

days. It seemed like everything you did was

T

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Did you know that 

pelicans work together

to herd fish for easier

eating?

Oral Histories Bring 

Copyright 1993 Shattil/ Rozinski

DID YOU

KNOW?

futile...we had the weather practically destroying the

western part of the U.S.” - Robert Moffitt

“Long-term, we’re interested in making a 

documentary about the history of RMA and feel

the oral history interviews can really enrich that,”

Shannon said. “The personal part of people’s 

stories makes the history interesting. It’s not just

about the nuts and bolts of making chemical

munitions; it’s hearing what it was like to work

on the manufacturing line or how RMA workers

were influenced by bigger cultural/social changes

in the Denver area.” 

If you have a unique experience to share

about the RMA, particularly during the WW II and

Cold War eras, please contact Laurie Shannon at

303-289-0151.

“My family came to the

Arsenal property in

1919...Everything was 

different in the dust bowl

days. It seemed like 

everything you did was

futile...we had the weather

practically destroying the

western part of the U.S.”

- Robert Moffitt

RMA’s Past To Life

Visit our website:

www.rma.army.mil
2

56th Avenue Construction 

MA’s fence line is being adjusted as part of

the 56th Avenue construction project

along the southeast boundary of RMA. The

section between Pena Boulevard and Chambers

Road was widened as a part of future 

construction to provide a six-lane roadway. The

widening project started in June to improve the

existing two-lane road and was completed in

August. The planning and design process for

widening 56th Avenue to six lanes between Pena

Boulevard and Quebec Street will take 

approximately two years with construction 

anticipated to begin in 2006 or 2007.

“This is the last section of the 1940s road to

be upgraded,” said Tom Jackson, remedy 

coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The project will improve traffic flow and safety,

and enhance access for Refuge visitors. 

RMA worked with the Northeast Metro 

Win-Win Coalition (group of local business 

leaders) to coordinate utility and government

groups’ final needs along 56th Avenue. “We’re

R

Realigns Arsenal Fence

working with our neighbors to identify future

urban expansion and associated infrastructure

needs. We hope to identify a final alignment of our

boundary fence and move it only once,” said Ryan

Noel, deputy refuge manager for the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. 

NOTICE TO PUBLIC

Beginning May 31, 2003, Buckley Road

from 80th Avenue to 56th Avenue will be

permanently closed to vehicular 

traffic. Deteriorated road conditions and

illegal activities such as dumping, wildlife

poaching, and vandalism have made this

action necessary. For more information,

contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

at (303) 289-0232.

Construction to widen 56th Avenue along the southeast boundary of RMA.

Photo by DPRA, Inc./Josh Barchers
communities near RMA plus our volunteers’ time,” said

Joyce Waldroop, human resources/community 

investment manager for FWEC. “At least 50 percent of

employees have volunteered for activities during

events on- and off-site.”

The PMC’s outreach efforts include volunteering for

the Adams County School District 14’s Help One

Student To Succeed (HOSTS) program. PMC 

volunteers commit to weekly mentoring sessions with

a child to help increase reading skills. Not only do 

students experience positive reinforcement but 

volunteers enjoy their time with second and third grade

students and the opportunity to make a 

difference in the lives of these children. 

Other programs include funding assistance for a

homeless youth summer camp program that provides

mentoring and opportunities to participate in 

interactive activities with other area youths as well as

sponsoring the Commerce City Community Health

Services’ “Keep Me Safe” child car seat program. With

PMC assistance, the “Keep Me Safe” program has grown

from simply assisting with purchasing child car seats for

needy families to providing free educational programs

to families about car seat safety and how to correctly

install a car seat to keep children safe.

“These programs are personally very rewarding to

all of us within the PMC and we look forward to 

working with our RMA community neighbors for years

to come,” said Waldroop. 

neighborhoodNEWS

ince RMA’s Program Management Contract was

awarded to Foster Wheeler Environmental

Corporation (FWEC) more than five years ago,

the company has teamed with the surrounding 

communities to make significant contributions both

financially and through volunteering in areas such as

education, community health, the environment and

youth organizations. The Program Management

Contractor (PMC) consists of partners FWEC, 

Kellogg Brown and Root, Enscison, Golder, and 

Hellmund Associates.

“We are pleased to have contributed more than

$200,000 to Montbello, Commerce City and other

3

fall at RMA

scene

Joyce Waldroop mentors Martin Villa of Kemp Elementary. 

S

Photo by DPRA, Inc./Josh Barchers

Photo by DPRA, Inc./Josh Barchers
During 2003, RMA will close roughly 200 groundwater wells in various areas

on- and off-site, beginning with 56 wells in sections adjacent to Highway 2,along RMA’s northwest boundary. Another 400 wells are slated for closurein 2004 and 2005.“We’re closing these wells because they’re no longer needed for RMA’s monitoring networks,” said Neville Gaggiani, hydrologist with the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) who is working with the Remediation VentureOffice (RVO) water team. Groundwater contamination levels have been significantly reduced from years of active cleanup, therefore many wells areno longer necessary. “Over the next several years, we’ll be checking andreverifying our monitoring needs as the remedy progresses. Any excesswells will be candidates for closure as funding becomes available.” Since the 1980s, RMA has drilled more than 3,000 wells to test and monitor chemical compounds in the groundwater in various areas of RMAas well as areas north and west of RMA, extending to the South Platte River.The RVO water team used the wells to determine the condition of theground water, both on-post and off-post. “We have a good idea of what’sgoing on now and that’s why we don’t need as many wells,” Gaggianiexplained.The well closures are phased over the next several years because of funding limitations. This year’s projected closures are located near thesite’s north and northwestern boundary, as well as some additional wells off-site located north and west of RMA. “While we havereduced the numbers in our well networks, RMA will still monitor more than800 groundwater wells,” added Gaggiani. “We’re starting with wells in thearea along Quebec Street because this area has been removed from theEnvironmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List and is availablefor transfer later this year. Wells for possible closure in the monitoring networks are reviewed every year. So, as the remediation continues, evenmore wells may be closed in the future.”

July marked the start of Phase I for soil remediation work in Section 36 Balance of Areas (BOA) project. This remediation work consists of shallow soil removal;removal of the chemical sewer and surrounding soils; demolition of two buildings and associated facilities including a parking lot, decontamination pad andtanks; and, revegetating areas once the work is complete. Phase I will be completed in March 2004. Phase II will start immediately after Phase I is completed and involves minor reshaping and re-contouring of remediation areas and final revegetation. Thiswork will be completed by September 2004.The soil removed during Phase I will be placed in either the Basin A Consolidation Area or the double-lined hazardous waste landfill, depending on the contamination levels. The Section 36 BOA’s project design was made available to the public at the 30 and 95 percent design phases. The public was also informed about significantchanges to this project due to new information that resulted in a change of the excavation volume. There was a 30-day public comment period for each designphase as well as the change in volume.

s waste landfill, pending funding availability. Consisting of

in F Waste Pile and the Lime Basins projects.

use at RMA, as required for all hazardous waste landfills,

m,” said Leo Chen, technical representative for the RMA

fice. “Having a triple liner makes the landfill even more 

hat the new landfill will hold approximately 1 million cubic

ough to fill Denver’s Pepsi Center stadium by 40 percent.

fill, located just south of the existing double-lined landfill

of RMA, is scheduled for completion in 2006. The landfill

waste that same year. 

s will provide final approval before the landfill receives

 “The process for designing the landfill and receiving 

milar to the process for the double-lined hazardous waste

 an additional lining as part of its construction.” 

dfill constructed at RMA, the enhanced hazardous waste

solate waste from groundwater and other environmental

er lining represents the safest, most cost-effective and 

lable for disposing of contaminants located on RMA. The

d for disposing of waste originating from RMA and is 

uction of its final cover starting sometime in 2008.

 project design was made available to the public at the 

 phases. A 30-day public comment period was available at

ate October. The reservoir was built in 1942 as part of the

was distributed for use throughout RMA. The reservoir has

ion,” said Lou Greer, RVO engineer. The celebration will

 to four weeks. It involves demolishing the structure,

ng the site with native vegetation,” said Greer. Because

ESTONES

Hazardous Waste Landfill

Section 36 BOA Soils Remediation Underway

RMA Plans Well Closures Through 2005

molition

Wells are dismantled along RMA’s western perimeter.

servoir, which sits behind the Visitor Center, will be demolished in
E C R W S S

POSTAL PATRON

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

DENVER, CO 

PERMIT NO. 4292

Remediation Venture Office

Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Building 111

Commerce City, CO 80022-1748

This is a joint publication produced by:

4

Colorado Department 

of Public Health

and Environment

MILESTONES

Comments are always welcome.

Please forward to: 

Public Relations Department

Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Bldg.

111 Commerce City, CO 80022

(303) 289-0136 

Visit our website:

www.rma.army.mil

Chief Public Relations

Ruth Mecham

Editor

Susan Ulrich 

DPRA, Inc.,

Media Design Group

Writer

Carla Johnson

Art Director/Graphic Designer

Kathy Fisher

Photographers

Rich Keen • Josh Barchers

he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is gearing up for its annual Refuge Week

Celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Visitor

Center. This free one-day event wraps up a year of celebrating the Service’s

National Wildlife Refuge System’s Centennial and includes a day of activities in

honor of the National Wildlife Refuge Week.

“We’ll have booths, interactive educational games and wildlife viewing tours. The

trails will be open plus all of the usual fun activities will be available at the Visitor

Center,” said Sherry James, supervisory park ranger. “The wildlife learning lab will be

open and we’ll have live birds on display. There will be much more to see and do than is

offered during the normal weekend drop-in programs. We’re hoping to have close to

1,000 visitors.” Parking will be available at the west gate and shuttles will run non-stop 

throughout the day.

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Society will host the Blue Stem Banquet to kick

off Refuge Week on October 10. The banquet will include a silent auction fundraiser for

the Refuge and its environmental education programs. John Steinle will give a portrayal

of the first Refuge Manager, Paul Kroegel, who managed Pelican Island, Florida, the first

National Wildlife Refuge. Community members interested in attending the event or

donating items for the silent auction should call the Wildlife Society at 303-289-0820. 

If you are interested in attending the Refuge Week Celebration and would like more

information, please call the Visitor Center at 303-289-0930. You also can contact the

Visitor Center if you would like to be on the Refuge’s mailing list to receive information

about upcoming programs and events. 

T

Mark Your Calendars 

for Refuge Week!

Saturday, October 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.