On January 7, 2025 the EPA Region 8 Emergency Response Program began a sampling operation in the Grand Junction area to investigate two locations with abandoned containers filled with hazardous substances. The containers, left behind by a hemp oil production company, included various chemicals such as acetic acid, heptane, and ethanol. Approximately 25 drums and 30 totes were left at a property next to Appleton Elementary School. EPA found an additional estimated 50 drums and 150 totes at the second location in Loma.
After further investigation, on January 10, 2025, EPA determined that several containers posed immediate danger to the public and worked with local fire authorities to conduct controlled burns to mitigate the hazards. EPA coordinated closely with local authorities during this routine procedure to ensure the protection of the surrounding area. The controlled burn posed no danger to the public.
The containers not involved with the controlled burn were disposed of by waste facilities off-site. EPA sampled, classified materials, and staged waste for disposal pickup prior to demobilizing on January 15.
On October 19th, the EPA Response Team mobilized to the site where they managed the disposal of waste. All waste was removed from the site by October 24th. The team then demobilized, this concludes all on site activities for this project.
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EPA extends our sincere thanks to the Grand Junction Fire and Police Departments for their outstanding support during this cleanup effort. Their collaboration, including properly handling unstable chemical containers and providing critical resources to site personnel, was invaluable in ensuring the success and safety of this operation.
The Administrative Record for this action is available in the Documents Section of this website.
For updates on site operations, please refer to the "notices" section of this webpage.
