Project Name: Valmont Butte Property, Boulder, Colorado
Date Project Began: December 2008
Date Project Completed: Ongoing
Project Description: Casey Resources Inc. (CRI) was contracted by the City of Boulder (the "City") to perform soil investigation on a 101 acre site to determine the areas and extent of environmentally impacted soil at the Valmont Butte Property. The Valmont Butte Property (the "Property") is located in Boulder County approximately four miles east of the City's central business district. The Property's past use included fluorspar and precious metals processing and containment of milling wastes in two tailings impoundments. Past environmental investigations completed at the Property had identified potential metals and radiation impacts in soils at the Property. Based on these previous investigations, CRI prepared a detailed Work Plan that included an extensive sampling and analysis plan to confirm environmentally impacted areas. The Work Plan was approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the work initiated during the summer of 2009. CRI personnel completed a structured soil quality investigation using field-portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) equipment and laboratory analysis for quality control checks. The XRF sampling program was the most comprehensive soil investigation completed at the Property to date. Approximately 1,000 XRF measurements were taken during the metals screening program. During the site screening investigation, approximately 679,600 square feet (15.6 acres) of the Property were identified as containing lead concentrations that exceed the screening value of 800 milligrams per kilogram (mg/Kg) for lead. As part of the Work Plan, a radiation survey of the Property was also conducted using state-of-the-art portable gamma radiation sodium iodide (NaI) detection meters with real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment. Over 115,000 data points were collected during the survey. These data were correlated to specific onsite radiation source measurements collected using a High Pressure Ion Chamber. The results of the site investigations were used to develop specific remediation strategies and closure planning for the Property. These plans were subsequently presented in a Voluntary Cleanup Plan (VCUP) Application for the Property that was provided to the CDPHE in June 2010. At the present time (August 2010), CDPHE has indicated that the VCUP Application will be approved. CRI is proceeding with development of construction documents for the VCUP implementation as well as obtaining proper County and State permits as required. In addition, CRI is assisting the City with notifications and negotiations with Native American representatives and other parties who have cultural interests at the Property.
Type of Contamination: Heavy metal and low level radiation impacted soils.
