Environmental Solutions Across Colorado
Ensuring Environmental Integrity and the Safety of the Communities We Serve
Explore Schafer’s Featured Projects performed in Denver and throughout Colorado
Schafer Environmental has a proven history of managing complex environmental challenges across Colorado. From large-scale municipal redevelopments and sensitive educational facilities to industrial brownfields, our portfolio demonstrates our commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and clear communication. Explore our featured projects below to see how we apply rigorous scientific methods to real-world remediation and abatement.
Heron Pond Open Space Park Project
Schafer developed a Materials Management Plan (MMP) for the project located within the boundaries of the ASARCO Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) site. Environmental consulting services included; on-site two-hour asbestos awareness training, provided Certified Asbestos Building Inspectors (CABI), adhering to City and County of Denver (CCD) Regulated Asbestos Contaminated Soil Standard Operating Procedure, maintain daily documentation for CCD standards, identify Historical Urban Fill (HUF) to implement stop work authority, conduct soil and groundwater sampling, oversee Regulated Asbestos Contaminated Soils (RACS) response/removal actions, collection of air samples during RACS removal, collection of soil and groundwater samples for VOCs, SVOCs, RCRA 8 Metals, PCBs, TPH, Pesticides, Herbicides, inspect decontamination procedures of heavy equipment, and ensure Iron Woman Construction provided a Health and Safety Program (HASP) sufficient for site activities.
Material Management Plan
Schafer developed a Materials Management Plan (MMP) for the project located within the boundaries of the ASARCO Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) site. Environmental consulting services included; on-site two-hour asbestos awareness training, provided Certified Asbestos Building Inspectors (CABI), adhering to City and County of Denver (CCD) Regulated Asbestos Contaminated Soil Standard Operating Procedure, maintain daily documentation for CCD standards, identify Historical Urban Fill (HUF) to implement stop work authority, conduct soil and groundwater sampling, oversee Regulated Asbestos Contaminated Soils (RACS) response/removal actions, collection of air samples during RACS removal, collection of soil and groundwater samples for VOCs, SVOCs, RCRA 8 Metals, PCBs, TPH, Pesticides, Herbicides, inspect decontamination procedures of heavy equipment, and ensure Iron Woman Construction provided a Health and Safety Program (HASP) sufficient for site activities.
Asbestos Abatement of RACS
Denver Public Schools
Schafer has provided Denver Public Schools with ongoing environmental consulting services for over 12 years, including: asbestos inspections and database re-inspections, ACM condition assessments, asbestos abatement project designs, abatement oversight, and air monitoring services. Schafer has worked extensively with DPS following the implementation of the database system and has become proficient in its utilization for building inspections and condition assessments. Schafer has worked at numerous schools undergoing continuous abatement for emergencies and renovation. Schafer employees complete thorough building inspections of entire schools during database inspections and provide project designs, air monitoring and project oversight during abatement. Beyond asbestos work, Schafer has also performed water quality testing, mercury flooring removal oversight, and radon testing at various schools within the district.
Rapid Response and Cost-Cutting
In the past 5 years, Schafer has been contracted to provide services to over 40 DPS schools. In this time, Schafer has been available to DPS in multiple situations that have required prompt service, with the needs of the district being of the utmost concern. Previous reports are used extensively as guidance during inspections to provide cost-cutting measures. In many cases, Schafer has been required to complete inspections while the facilities are still occupied, requiring coordination with facility managers, afterhours scheduling and adherence to school policies and expectations.
George Washington High School Attic
City and County of Denver Fire
A series of fires led to compromised structural integrity and uncontrolled asbestos contamination at a downtown Denver property. Schafer was requested to become the emergency asbestos project manager and help the abatement contractor hired to perform the cleanup of this site on behalf of the City and County of Denver. Schafer was immediately requested by CDPHE to contain the asbestos contamination to the site. Schafer’s quickly completed a project design and implemented it to satisfy the CDPHE request and stabilize the site. After site stabilization was completed Schafer’s project design allowed the abatement contractor to perform open air abatement of the structures on this property, a major variance of what is typically required. In the following weeks, under Schafer’s project management the abatement project was completed successfully.
Clean Worksite Delivery
In approximately four weeks Schafer and the project team were able to deliver the site from an uncontrolled major asbestos spill to a clean worksite. Several aspects of this project had to be adjusted during the project, such as open-air abatement variances, partial structural demo, and over-excavation of the soil. Through all these changes Schafer was able to maintain the originally set schedule and deliver the site with no remaining environmental concerns. For the duration of this project Schafer worked closely with the CDPHE to maintain regulatory compliance while still performing the work in a timely fashion. Air sampling collected during the project documented the effectiveness of the administrative and engineering controls.
After completion of the cleanup, the site is opened for occupancy and left with no environmental hazards.
Rocky Mountain Communities - Affordable Housing
Schafer performs all aspects of environmental consulting for Rocky Mountain Communities that provides affordable housing at several locations, including:
• Garden Court Apartments at 1150 Syracuse in Denver
• Gateway Village Apartments at 4141 Southridge Road in Fort Morgan
• Grand Manor Apartments at 2828 Orchard Avenue in Grand Junction
• Meeker Commons at 509 9th Avenue in Greely
• Mountain Terrace Apartments at 3650 West 84th in Westminster
• Townview Apartments at 1699 Hooker Street in Denver
• Willow Grove Apartments at 3206 Mesa Avenue in Clifton
• Arroyo Village at 1299 Knox Court in Denver
Environmental Consulting
Schafer provides environmental consulting services to support affordable housing challenges, including Asbestos Building Inspections, Project Design, Air Monitoring Oversight and Clearances, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, NEPA Studies, Hazardous Materials Response, and lead paint and mold consulting. Currently, we are assisting Rocky Mountain Communities in obtaining a grant for renovations at Garden Court and working with CDPHE to obtain a variance for cost effective asbestos abatement to facilitate renovation activities. Schafer provides OSHA training and materials management for environmental concerns associated with building maintenance and construction activities.
Arroyo Village Demolition Project
Former Farm Redevelopment Site
Schafer performed ongoing asbestos and Regulated Building Material (RBM) project management services for the redevelopment of a former farm site. The site contained 20 structures including two Single Family Residential Dwellings SFRD. Schafer has conducted building inspections and RBM surveys for each of the structures. After inspection reports were finalized, Schafer was tasked with creating a Scope of Work (SOW) specification document that includes detailed CAD diagrams for abatement and the removal of RBM’s. Schafer performed project management for the client while abatement takes place. After all ACM was removed Schafer conducted final visual inspections and PCM air clearance sampling. Following the removal of all Regulated ACM, Schafer signed off on the demolition permit applications.
Demolition Regulation Compliance
Schafer monitored the abatement and demolition contractor for full compliance before demolition. This task includes management or removal of asbestos, regulated building materials, CFCs, and clean demolition waste. This project included a SFRD with trace asbestos vermiculite insulation. Schafer and their client addressed this health hazard and implement control greater than current regulatory requirements to protect human health and safety before demolition and to prevent any asbestos from entering the soil.
Vermiculite Insulation from the Attic of House A – Demolition Control Measures
Sloan’s Lake Medical Center (SLMC)
Schafer has performed all environmental consulting services for SLMC since 2012. Environmental consulting services include; asbestos consulting, OSHA compliance, Underground Storage Tank (UST) inspections, UST removal oversight, soil sampling, Phase I ESA, legionella water sampling, annual hazardous materials inventory statements (HMIS) per Denver Fire Department Requirements, hazardous materials management, Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan, training, CAD diagrams, mold and moisture management, infectious control compliance, indoor air quality testing, and asbestos management plan development, implementation and ongoing revisions. Schafer acts as the CDPHE asbestos project manager and develops project designs for all asbestos abatement activities at the hospital. In addition, Schafer provides respirator fit testing & asbestos training.
Major Asbestos Spill Response
Schafer responded to a major asbestos spill created by previous asbestos and renovation contractors. ACM Fireproofing was splattered within elevator shafts and impacted in various areas of the hospital. Services required close coordination with the CCoD and the CDPHE to protect the health and safety of the building occupants during emergency response actions and abatement activities. The successful completion of this $9 million hospital renovation project was accomplished following environmental management services provided by Schafer.
Schafer worked on this initial spill project for over 1 year and has continued working for the hospital and the building’s tenants.
Asbestos Abatement of ACM Fireproofing on Metal ceiling deck
Former Sears & Surrounding Buildings – Demolition and Renovation
Schafer has performed asbestos project management, building inspection services, regulated building material (RBM) inventory, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) sampling, elevator oil sampling for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and air monitoring services for the deconstruction of the former Sears at Cherry Creek, originally constructed in 1955. The asbestos demolition inspection for this project presented a unique challenge due to the former Sears building previously having noncompliant asbestos removal completed. Schafer identified multiple ACM that were previously not identified and contamination left after previous abatement activities. Schafer invited and performed a walk through with the CDPHE Asbestos Air Quality Inspectors to ensure the state agreed with the asbestos abatement work plan to move the project successfully to demolition. CDPHE agreed.
Ongoing Activities
Schafer continues to play a key role in the deconstruction of the former Sears. After the Schafer submitted an inspection report and specification, abatement began. Schafer has personnel onsite daily performing project management, RBM removal oversight, air clearances, and continuous investigations and sampling to ensure demolition permit application and schedule meet state requirements and project goals. Schafer also is in the process of destructive access building inspections and RBM inventory for 11 storefronts surrounding the former Sears as they become unoccupied.
Cherry Creek Former Sears and Surrounding Businesses
TASCO Sugar Factories – Demolition Variance
Schafer performed asbestos and hazardous waste project management during the demolition and decommissioning of two Colorado sugar factories constructed in the early 1900s. Schafer began the projects in 2011 performing initial inspections for asbestos and hazardous materials. These $5 million projects were completed in 2018. Each project presented unique challenges that were addressed in the most practical and cost-effective manner possible while maintaining compliance with environmental regulations. The Ovid site required a Structurally Unsound Building Demolition variance to perform open-air abatement. The Brighton site required asbestos abatement prior to demolition. Both projects were completed without violation or injury.
Asbestos Abatement Project Manager
Schafer performed asbestos project management during both the Ovid and Brighton projects. The CDPHE defines specific asbestos project management tasks, including; assessing that the project is conducted in accordance with regulations, assessing that the project design is followed, assessing that the abatement project is cleared in accordance with regulations, assessing that the asbestos waste generated by the project is properly manifested and disposed of in accordance with regulations and communicating these assessments to the building owner and asbestos abatement contractor. Schafer performs project management tasks and acts as the owner’s representative to ensure regulatory compliance and to reduce potential liabilities.
Brighton Smokestack Implosion
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From municipal redevelopments and educational facilities to complex brownfield cleanups and industrial renovations, the projects showcased here reflect Schafer Environmental’s commitment to scientific rigor, regulatory compliance, and community protection. Our team brings seasoned expertise and thoughtful project management to every assignment — whether developing materials management plans for sensitive sites, performing ongoing environmental oversight for school districts, responding to emergency hazardous releases, or coordinating large-scale demolition compliance with state regulators. Each project underscores our ability to navigate challenging environmental conditions while keeping safety, transparency, and your project goals front of mind.