Hazardous Waste and Environmental Management
Purpose
Assist statewide with identification and management of potential contaminants. This includes at CDOT facilities (release management, fuel storage, water concerns - drinking/waste/stormwater), Regional support (bridge and building inspections, environmental investigations), and statewide highway spill tracking and cleanup.
Overview
This unit provides a variety of environmental services including: lead-based paint and asbestos
inspection and abatement; building demolition; environmental investigation and cleanup of
regulated wastes; hazardous waste spill response; floor drain treatment systems; and provides
additional water, wastewater, stormwater, and chemical management support.
Program Areas
We inspect for and, when needed, abate (remove) asbestos and lead-based paint. An inspection by a certified professional is required prior to renovation or demolition of structures, including buildings and bridges. These materials may also be found on other structures such as retaining walls and light/sign poles. Proper identification and management, as regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is essential to protecting worker safety, the general public, and the environment. Inspection and management services also include mold and methamphetamine concerns.
We provide demolition services for CDOT-owned buildings. Our process typically includes permitting, utility disconnects, structure demolition, removal of accessory improvements, waste management, and site stabilization.
We complete environmental investigations equivalent to Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs). We manage sites with recognized environmental impacts (petroleum, chlorinated solvents, etc.), coordinating with the appropriate regulatory agencies [i.e. CDPHE and Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS)]. We complete site characterization, remediation, long-term monitoring, and/or seek closure where applicable.
We install, operate, and maintain floor drain treatment systems at CDOT facilities without a publicly owned treatment works (POTW)/city sewer connection. Such systems are required to collect, retain, and treat the wash water used in maintenance operations. Wash water accumulates contamination such as particulates, petroleum, and chlorides. That water is treated to allow for reuse in the wash bay or for safe disposal.
We house and distribute CDPHE and National Response Center (NRC) spill notifications for any reported highway incidents. We manage contracts for 24-7 on-call spill cleanup Statewide. We ensure all CDOT facilities comply with the EPA’s Clean Water Act by providing a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan and training maintenance staff on the plan requirements at facilities that store a significant amount of petroleum products.
We provide support for an array of issues including water supplies, wastewater management, and permanent water quality features. We provide stormwater engineering services for CDOT construction projects. We provide proper containment for chemical storage at CDOT facilities.
