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7. Contamination Issues with the Gilsonite Refinery Lands The Gilsonite refinery property, located immediately west of 15 Road, is an industrial site that has been used for various refining activities since the 1950's. From considerable testing performed by the landowner and the Colorado Department of Health, Hazardous Waste Division, a number of contam- inants are present on the Fruita Marketing and Management property. Soil tests have shown that petroleum hydrocarbons, benzene, arsenic are present in the soil above desirable levels in a few areas within the Fruita Marketing property. Other metals and petroleum compounds are present but are not above levels of SRO (Soil Remediation Objectives). These SRO levels were determined by the CDOH Hazardous Waste Division. A plume of free product petroleum hydrocarbons exists south of the refinery buildings at the top of the water table, but since the normal flow gradient in the alluvium is to the southwest [o the River, it is extremely unlikely [hat this plume or any other contaminants could be drawn toward the United permit area located approximately 2 thousand feet to the west during pit pumping. For this reason, no additional well testing is proposed for this permit. Elam Construction, Inc. is permitting a grave] mine site directly downgradient from the plumes and in areas that have known contamination (south of the refinery buildings). The CDPHE has allowed the Elam pit to occur, and a strict Waste Management Contingency Plan was developed to address any waste (solid or liquid) or contaminated water encountered during the extraction process. If any is found, the procedures outlined in the Waste Management Contingency Plan will be in effect. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has worked for years with the landowner, Fruita Marketing and Management, in analyzing the contamination on the site and developing the plan to allow gravel mining based on the levels of risk found, knowing that the gravel mining will require pumping of water from the pit. A discharge permit has also been issued for the Elam mining operation. Given the fact that the CDPHE has approved gravel mining (Elam) in an area which is known to have some contaminated soil and groundwater, as well as directly downgradient from known hydro- carbon plumes, it is certain that gravel mining should be allowed to occur 2000 feet to the east, which is upgradient from the contamination and should not draw it to the east as a result of pumping. 15 Road Pit 10/02 20