A trench dug to catch toxic chemicals before they can seep into Sand Creek is done, and the Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to hand off primary oversight of clean-up at Suncor Energy’s refinery site to the state health department.
As of today, between 2,730 and 2,814 gallons of a gasoline-like liquid oozing from creek banks had been collected in the trench, EPA emergency response manager Curtis Kimbel said. “It’s working well.”
Kimbel said the EPA will be involved as the clean-up continues under health department direction. “For as long as the remedial project continues, we’ll have people overseeing it.”
A fisherman reported the spill to state officials on Nov. 27 and remediation began on Nov. 28.
Samples drawn from water in creek and from the South Platte River showed significantly elevated levels of cancer-causing benzene and other chemicals.
Updated results were not available Monday, but Kimbell said “the benzene should drop off” with the trench in place.
Since the 1980s, state health officials have been working with Suncor and Conoco, a prior owner of the refinery, to clean up contaminated groundwater.
Before the spill, vapors from underground contamination spreading to the nearby Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant forced partial closure of the technical services building. Some workers asked to wear respirators and were told to do so. “The portions of the building remain closed,” plant spokesman Steve Frank said.
Suncor has begun installing air-monitoring equipment. “I think it will eventually get better,” Frank said. “We’re happy that the state and EPA are looking into this.”
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700 or bfinley@denverpost.com
