Former Denver Water workers come forward about illegal asbestos dumping

Nov 23, 2009

Several former Denver Water workers have come forward to admit they were told to illegally dump asbestos and other toxic chemicals 20 years ago at a site that is to become the west corridor RTD FasTracks line and a new light rail station. One former employee, Joseph Pacheco, said that Denver Water forced him and his co-workers to keep quiet about it, but they can’t keep quiet anymore. They are sick because of the contamination, and they fear that work crews will be exposed to the hazardous waste when they begin working on the railroad line.

Denver Water issued a statement that it was one of many companies that may have disposed of waste in accordance with the regulations of the time in the past, but that they did not have any responsibility for the landfill. They also stated that they have always followed all Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) asbestos regulations.

While one environmental investigator said that Denver Water should be responsible for the cleanup of the site, an RTD spokesperson stated that, though they weren’t the ones who made the mess, they will clean it up with money allocated for FasTracks. FasTracks is funded by taxpayers.

For the full story, go to KDVR.

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