Denver International Airport was honored on Monday as the first airport in the nation to win U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognition for environmental actions “that consistently exceed regulatory requirements.”
At an airport ceremony, Steve Tuber, EPA assistant regional administrator, noted DIA’s system for recycling aircraft deicing fluids and the airport’s use of alternative-fuel vehicles.
DIA has the “best collection rate in the country” among U.S. airports for capturing aircraft deicing fluids after they are sprayed on planes, said Janell Barrilleaux, the Denver airport’s top environmental official.
DIA used about 840,000 gallons of deicing fluid in the 2005-06 snow season and about 70 percent was collected for recycling or wastewater treatment, Barrilleaux said.
The airport was fined by state health department officials for releasing deicing fluid-contaminated water from a DIA detention pond in 2001. The contaminated water flowed into nearby Third Creek, which leads to Barr Lake and downstream reservoirs.
Following the 2001 incident, DIA added three more detention ponds to hold storm-water runoff, including anti-ice fluids, Barrilleaux said. Water in the ponds is sent for wastewater treatment. DIA is the 10th facility in Colorado to win special EPA designation for environmental excellence, Tuber said.
Others include Eastman Kodak Co.’s division in Windsor, an Intel Corp. facility in Colorado Springs, Aspen Skiing Co., Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Jefferson County and Majestic Metals Inc. in Denver.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
