Background:
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDHE) reports that some form of natural attenuation is being employed or considered seriously at in excess of 17 facilities in Colorado. These include federal facilities, major private facilities, superfund sites, and voluntary cleanup sites. The contaminants involved are quite varied with the most common being chlorinated solvents, however, some involve heavy metals, radionuclides, explosive compounds, and petroleum compounds.

Value of ITRC Natural Attenuation Training to Colorado:
Gary Baughman reports the following:
"We were able to send 5 staff to the natural attenuation training in Salt Lake City, and just sent 2 more to New Orleans this week [January 1999]. We have at least 13 staff that are involved with sites using or considering natural attenuation. It is clear that the ITRC training has been very helpful to our staff in evaluating these sites. While it is difficult to quantify the time savings that we have realized, with that many sites and people involved, it is apparent that the training is saving us from spending a great deal of staff time trying to figure out how to evaluate these issues.

"We have also had some staff attend the EPA course on natural attenuation. While both the EPA course and the ITRC course are helpful, our staff has found the ITRC course to be more "hands on" than the EPA course. Also, there is a great deal of credibility from the fact that our peers from other states are heavily involved in the ITRC course."

Who to Contact for Additional Information:
Gary Baughman
Compliance Program Manager
CO Dept. Public Health & Environment
MC HMWMD-HWC-B2
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
Phone: 303-692-3338
Fax: 303-759-5355
e-mail: Gary.Baughman@state.co.us

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