The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday agreed to clean up 13 radioactive “hot spots” found near a site where plutonium-tainted oil was once stored at Rocky Flats.
Energy officials initially balked at cleaning up the contamination, which was discovered by an independent company evaluating the $7 billion cleanup in Jefferson County.
Cleanup managers said the small areas – ranging from the size of kitchen tabletop to a living room – did not pose an immediate health risk.
“We have decided to clean it up now,” said Bob Darr, a DOE spokesman.
The area, known as the 903 pad, was considered one of the most contaminated at the former nuclear weapons factory and was cleaned up several years ago by a DOE contractor.
Some local officials questioned how the contractor missed the contamination and were angry that DOE initially wouldn’t address the hot spots.
“This is really good news,” said David Abelson, director of the Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments.
The site is to become a wildlife refuge after the cleanup, expected to wrap up next month.
Staff writer Kim McGuire can be reached at 303-820-1240 or kmcguire@denverpost.com.
