The Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), located 10 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado, is one of the biggest Superfund environmental clean-up sites in the United States. Covering 27 square miles. RMA was a former manufacturing facility for incendiary munitions and chemical agents. Skanska’s first RMA contract was to remove contaminated soil at the RMA’s Corrective Area Management Unit (CAMU) site, preparing the way for full-scale clean up to begin.
After Skanska completed the CAMU project, RMA’s Program Management Contractor, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (now Tetra Tech E & C, Inc.), awarded a new subcontract for construction of the geotechnical liner for the landfill itself. The project called for Skanska to construct Phase 1 of several lined cells for storage of contaminated soils and debris from the demolition of chemical processing facilities.
Skanska’s third major contract at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal project was completing the final RCRA closure cap cover on the Hazardous Waste Landfill.
Constructing the project
Skanska used GPS controlled equipment for the closure cap earthwork. This put real time grade information at the fingertip of each equipment operator. Productivity increased, rework was minimal and the hazards of having survey personnel in close proximity to mobile equipment were eliminated.
Once the clean up is completed, the 27 acre Rocky Mountain Arsenal will be operated as a wildlife refuge. It will be open to the public and home to a varied species of animals including Bison, deer, antelope, coyote, and prairie dogs.