Rocky Mountain Arsenal Medical Monitoring Program Home Page

Colorado.gov

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Rocky Mountain Arsenal Medical Monitoring Program

The Medical Monitoring Program was developed to monitor the success of exposure prevention efforts during the environmental cleanup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The program was designed to address potential Arsenal-related health concerns of those living in communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, including the southernmost portion of Brighton, Commerce City, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, and Montbello.

Monitoring Results

Results of the air monitoring show the cleanup has been protective of public health since it began in October 1997. Additionally, rates of birth defects in the communities surrounding the Arsenal were found to be stable and similar to rates for all of Colorado for the eight-year period prior to the beginning of Arsenal soil remediation (1989-1996). Continued monitoring since the beginning of the remediation has shown community rates are unchanged. Monitoring will continue through the end of the soil remediation. Cancer surveillance is another community health activity. Cancer incidence in the communities near the Arsenal is being compared to the remainder of the Denver metropolitan area to monitor for unexpected differences and trends.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal Air Monitoring Data Mapping Application

Public Involvement Opportunity

A Citizen Advisory Board was convened to solicit public input on the Medical Monitoring Program. The Citizen Advisory Board is responsible for reviewing program implementation and making recommendations to improve the program. Interested community members are needed to participate on the Citizen Advisory Board.

Meetings

Citizen Advisory Board (CAB)
Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting Summaries

About the Rocky Mountain Arsenal

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, located approximately 10 miles northeast of downtown Denver, and covering 27 square miles in southern Adams County, was established by the US Army in 1942 to manufacture chemical and explosive weapons. From the late 1940s to early 1980s, some of the Arsenal was leased to private companies, most notably Shell Oil Company. These companies made insecticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals. All production at the Arsenal ceased in 1982, and the U.S. Army and Shell Oil are now cleaning up contamination left over from those earlier years. In 1996, the Army, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the US Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement about how the cleanup at the arsenal would take place. A priority of the agreement was to develop a safe process for the 14-year long cleanup to prevent exposure in surrounding communities. If you would like to learn more about the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, you may review public records at either the Joint Administrative Records Document Facility in Commerce City or the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Records Center at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment located in southeast Denver.

Program Components

A Medical Monitoring Advisory Group (1996 - 1998) was formed to make recommendations about designing the program. The group included representatives from surrounding communities, government agencies, other parties involved in the cleanup, and outside experts. The Medical Monitoring Program has implemented the Advisory Group’s recommendations by:

Keeping the public informed about potential health risks associated with the Arsenal cleanup and exposure prevention measures being applied to minimize these risks.
Providing health professionals with information and resources that will allow them to respond effectively to patients’ Arsenal-related questions and concerns.
Monitoring air quality and odor data both on and off the Arsenal.
Evaluating citizen health concerns and complaints, illnesses reported by health care providers and the rates of cancer and birth defects in the communities around the Arsenal.
Providing a 24-hour toll free hotline at the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center for citizens to speak to someone about their Arsenal-related health concerns. The hotline also provides referral numbers for odor and other Arsenal-related questions. Se habla español. Rocky Mountain Arsenal Health Line 1-888-671-7848.
Convening a Citizen Advisory Board to allow continued public input on the Medical Monitoring Program.

Publications

Health Matters Newsletter

December 2006 (English) or (Spanish)
October 2005 (English) or (Spanish)

The following newsletters are Available on CD:

August 2004 (English) or (Spanish)
June 2003 (English) or (Spanish)
November 2002 (English) or (Spanish)
June 2002 (English) or (Spanish)
November 2001 English or (Spanish)
June 2001 (English) or (Spanish)
February 2001 (English only)
August 1999 (English or Spanish)

Online Publications

Health Care Provider Resource Notebook

Emergency Preparedness - Final

To learn more about the Medical Monitoring Program:

Warren Smith, Community Involvement Coordinator
Hazardous Materials & Waste Management Division
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
(303) 692-3373
(888) 569-1831 ext. 3373
(fax) (303) 759-5355