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Rocky Mountain Arsenal Medical Monitoring ProgramThe 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 ResultsResults 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. The contaminated soil remediation ended in 2008; the air monitoring surveillance continued until the end of July 2009. 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 Medical Monitoring Program Surveillance for Birth Defects Compendium May 2010 Public Involvement
A Citizen Advisory Board
was convened to solicit public input on the Medical
Monitoring Program. The Citizen Advisory Board was responsible for
reviewing program implementation and making recommendations to improve the
program. The group, which met for updates on Arsenal activities and to
provide input to the program from 1997 to May 2010, held its last scheduled
meeting May 4, 2010. The Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment will serve as a clearinghouse for health information related to the
Rocky Mountain Arsenal in the future. About the Rocky Mountain ArsenalThe 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 to prevent exposure in surrounding communities during the cleanup.
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 (JARDF) 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. The Joint Administrative Records Document Facility
is located at 5650 Havana St., Building 129, Commerce City, CO
80022; (303) 289-0983; open Monday through Friday 12 - 4p.m. or by
appointment. The Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Records Center is located at the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO
80246-1530. The center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to
Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. An appointment is necessary, and can be
arranged by calling (303) 692-3331.
Colorado Open Records
Act Program ComponentsA 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:
PublicationsHealth Matters Newsletter December 2006 (English)
or (Spanish) The following newsletters are Available on CD:
August 2004 (English) or (Spanish) Health Care Provider Resource Notebook Emergency Preparedness - Final To learn more about the Medical Monitoring Program, health-related questions or the cleanup:
Warren Smith, Community Involvement Coordinator Questions about odors:
Tri-County Health Department Information and Odor Response Line Questions about EPA's role at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal:Jennifer Chergo, EPA Community Involvement
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