The City of Alamosa and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requested the EPA’s assistance to address a dilapidated, fire-damaged structure at the former Walsh Hotel Site in Alamosa, Alamosa County, Colorado. This time-critical removal action involves the cleanup and proper disposal of debris from the structurally compromised former business office space and apartment buildings that are known to contain friable asbestos.  The Site was identified by the City of Alamosa as a safety concern, posing a potential asbestos exposure threat to businesses, pedestrians and community members. 

The removal action will include the cleanup and proper disposal of the ACM-contaminated debris.  The EPA On-Scene Coordinator and EPA's hazmat contractor will mobilize to the site the week of October 9th and anticipate it to take four weeks to complete.  

Safety message

• EPA will use best practices and engineering techniques for asbestos removal for all on site activities.  ACM debris will be kept wet to prevent any asbestos fibers from migrating.  Trucking containers will be lined with 6 mil poly plastic (double lined).  ACM debris will be loaded, wrapped and delivered to proper landfill for disposal.  Traffic control and spotter assistance provided by the City.  
• Additional safety considerations and notifications will be made for falling debris during demolition and electrical lines located on site.  

• East Bound State Highway 160, will close one lane for truckers to access the site for ACM container load-out and transport to landfill.

Site mobilization, site set up and demolition of Walsh building was completed on 10/23/2023.  For this operational period objectives are the following;

• Consolidate ACM material.
• Load-out of ACM material onto trucking containers. 
• Transport ACM debris to San Luis Landfill for disposal.
• Ensure harmful levels of particulates and/or suspect ACM do not migrate offsite.
• Maintain public safety.

For this operational period Site response operations will consist of the following tasks;

• Rearrange fencing around site so that it maintains safety from public access.
• Add two extra truckers to the already three truckers to speed up transport of ACM.
• Maintain wetting operations throughout to ensure mitigation of potential emissions.
• Line trucks with poly-material to wrap ACM debris.
• Load-out of ACM material to local landfill.
• Transport ACM debris to landfill.  As of 10/20/23 total amount of ACM moved off site is 164 tons. 

Planned activities for operational period include the following;

• Continue personnel and perimeter air monitoring.
• Trucking load-out of ACM debris.
• Transport of ACM debris to landfill.
• Continued consolidation of existing ACM debris.

• Rearrange fencing around site so that it maintains safety from public access.
• Maintain wetting operations throughout to ensure mitigation of potential emissions.
• Line trucks with poly-material to wrap ACM debris.
• Load-out of ACM material to local landfill.
• Transport ACM debris to landfill.  As of 10/28/23 total amount of ACM moved off site is approx. 700 tons. 
• Consolidate ACM as load-out continues to initiate prepping of ground surface for backfill.
• Begin backfill operation later in the week.

Planned activities for operational period include the following;

• Continue personnel and perimeter air monitoring.
• Trucking load-out of ACM debris.
• Transport of ACM debris to landfill.
• Continued consolidation of existing ACM debris.
• Prep site for backfill later in the week.

Current operations from Nov. 5 thru Nov. 8, 2023

• Transport of ACM to the landfill was completed on Friday Nov. 3, and backfilling operations continue. Backfill operations are expected to be completed by Tuesday Nov. 7.
• After backfill operations are complete, traffic control and road closures will end by Nov. 8 and normal traffic patters will resume on East Bound State Highway 160.
• Following backfill operations, EPA personnel and contractors will demobilize from the Site. This will also include  removing equipment the on-site office. Any additional  equipment on site will remain on site until vendors can pick it up.