Hazardous Waste Analysis and Disposal

Federal and state regulations have been enacted to regulate facilities that generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste.  The County produces hazardous waste such as waste oil, paint, and used batteries during its day-to-day operations.  The Environmental Division ensures that County-generated hazardous wastes are properly classified, stored, transported, and disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. 

Fuel Storage and Regulatory Compliance

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Colorado have promulgated regulations governing petroleum storage tanks in order to reduce the damage to the environment and the risk to the public resulting from leaking storage tanks.  The Environmental Division provides state and federal regulatory compliance support for the County's regulated petroleum bulk storage facilities.  These activities include assistance with installation, registration, construction, maintenance, removal, and closure of the County's petroleum bulk storage tanks. 

Pre-Acquisition Site Assessments

The Environmental Division follows the standards set forth in the American Society of Testing and Material (ASTM) E1527-05 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Process, to satisfy the statuary requirements for conducting all appropriate inquiries.  Phase I ESA's are conducted only on properties that will be acquired by the County in order to evaluate each property's historic and current environmental condition, ownership, and use, as well as to assess the potential liability for any contamination.  All appropriate inquiries must be conducted in compliance with these standards to obtain protection from potential liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act as an innocent landowner, a contiguous property owner, or a bona fide prospective purchaser.

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans

To satisfy the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation, the Environmental Division assists with the production and implementation of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) plans at all applicable County-owned facilities.  The main purpose of SPCC regulation is to prevent oil spills from reaching the navigable waters of the United States.  The SPCC plan details each facility's oil storage capabilities as well as a description of measures that have been implemented to prevent, control, and respond to oil spills.  The Environmental Division also conducts annual employee training for spill prevention, spill response, control, and cleanup procedures.