Peeling paint and asbestos removal at the Cortez Municipal Airport buildings will begin soon using funds from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant as the city starts a long‑term effort to prepare the airport for potential future expansion.
Separately, acquiring the funding to address on‑site fuel contamination remains on the city’s to‑do list.
Cortez officials are moving forward with the grant‑funded asbestos and lead‑paint cleanup project at the airport, totaling $221,540. The grant covers the full cost and requires no local match. However, it does not fund a second environmental issue that was discovered, said Economic Development Specialist Helen West. She said the fuel leakage will need to be addressed later through other funding sources.
Officials said the contamination levels pose no risk to people, animals or drinking water.
“I just want to iterate all of the contamination levels were found to be very small and not risk to human health,” West said. “We just want to be responsible and clean it up. So, when and if the airport is ever renovated, we're ready to go.”
The asbestos cleanup applies to parts of the airport terminal, the former and unoccupied Hertz rental car facility, and the airport’s Fixed‑Base Operator/Maintenance Hangar building. Each facility was built in 1951. The vacated Hertz facility has peeling orange paint where lead was found and will need abatement. The 5,200‑square‑foot building, which once had a booth for repainting vehicles, is now used for storage.
Fuel used for refueling and cleaning planes at the airport’s FBO building leaked into the ground over time, causing minor soil and groundwater contamination.
The city applied for EPA funding to clean this up as well but was denied because the agency determined the contamination occurred while the city owned the airport, making it a “responsible party” under federal guidelines.
“In the FBO building, we contract out that service or lease it out. So, the city does not feel we are a responsible party, but with EPA, and a lot of federal agencies, they have very high requirements,” West said.
West emphasized that contamination levels are low and said officials are working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to identify additional funding sources.
“People get very worried about leakage into soil. But there's no connection to our drinking water or any runoff luckily. So, it looks pretty contained,” West said.
City Council must approve several federal grant appropriations, including the asbestos cleanup. A vote is expected at the end of the month or in March. West said the abatement contract will go out for bid, with construction likely in summer or fall.
She said the city does not anticipate the cleanup affecting airport customers or flight service, though timelines could depend on contractor proposals.
West said the city is seeking public input at ClearGov.com on the full Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives, a required step for federal grant-funded projects.
“We’re required to put the ABCA out for public comment because this is a federal grant,” West said. “It has to be posted for 30 days, so people can tell us what they think.”
awatson@the-journal.com
