RAMP INDUSTRIES IS A PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS WHICH ACCEPTS RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MIXED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOR TREATMENT AND TEMPORARY STORAGE.
ON 8/31/94, RAMP'S ONLY LOCAL EMPLOYEE RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AS GENERAL MANAGER AND LEFT THE FACILITY. AT THAT POINT, THE FACILITY WAS ABANDONED AND UNSECURED AND CONTAINED BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 DRUMS OF RADIOACTIVE AND MIXED WASTES. THE DRUMS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND ARE RUSTING. SAMPLES TAKEN FROM SOIL AND SEWERS ON THE SITE REVEAL A PRESENCE OF RADIONUCLIDES AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS. PASSERSBY WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF GAMMA RADIA-TION. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 96,500 PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A 4 MILE RADIUS OF THE SITE. SHOULD A FIRE BREAKOUT AMONG THE 6000 DRUMS OF THESE WASTES, AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL WOULD BE SPREAD OVER A LARGE AREA OF METRO DENVER.