Summer 2021 Issue

PEOPLE ARE TALKING
ABOUT
Written by and for the employees of the Colorado Division of
Oil and Public Safety
Summer 2021 Issue
1

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
00 Director’s Corner
00 Farewell
00 To Susan
00 New Employee
Spotlight
00 Rewards &
Recognition
00 Kudos/Accolades
00 Getting to Know…
00 Memories
00 Recipes
00 Poem
00 This Day In History
00 Tech Tips & Tricks
00 Green Information
for
your Summer
PROGRAM UPDATES
00 Amusements
00 Boiler
00 Compliance
00 Conveyance
00 Enforcement
00 Explosives
00 Operations
00 PCRF
00 Remediation
00
Internship/Partners
hip
00 Calendar of Events
3

Summer 2021
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Page 4
Thank you for your work at OPS, especially
this past year. I hope you and your families
have stayed safe and healthy through this
pandemic, and I hope you have been able
to spend some R&R time and enjoy our
state's natural beauty. It was great to see
many of you at the OPS BBQ at the shop
earlier this month, and some of you in the
office as we ease into working in the office
one day a week. I am still getting used to
the transition back into the office, and I
suspect you are too.
I think it's partially because we have all
been successfully working from home, and
not had to deal with the commute to work.
As you have heard before, we did
amazingly well through the pandemic, and
in most of our OPS programs we hardly
missed a beat with regard to productivity
and numbers, thanks to all your efforts. I am
most proud of the manner in which you'll
have conducted your work and served
customers, and it is evident in the genuine
Kudos from customers, many of which are
featured in this newsletter.
I am also proud and thankful for all the
tenacity and work many of you have put in
to enable COSTIS-IA to go live this month.
It has been a challenging journey, and
while it still has its shortcomings that will
take some time to get used to, I am
confident that our amazing data team will
continue to work on enhancements.
We have been fortunate to be able to bring
on some talented new employees to the
OPS family this past year and I was glad to
see them featured in this newsletter. We
are all going to miss Susan as she retires
this month, and I am so grateful for
everything she has done for OPS since her
first day here. She has been an inspiration
to me and I suspect to many of you. I am
also so thankful that she coached and
mentored Tiffany, Jenna, and the rest of
the Operations Team over the years to
enable a truly seamless transition as she
heads off to enjoy a well-deserved
retirement.
With regard to OPS I believe we are in a
great place at this time, financially and
operationally, enabling us to continue to
provide Outstanding Public Service
everyday.
Mahesh

Summer 2021
FAREWELL
Page 5
I wanted to take the opportunity to say
goodbye to everyone as I retire. Many of
you I haven't seen in over a year and
some of you I was fortunate enough to see
recently.
I have spent 24 years in total working for
OPS, two of them as a contractor in 1995-
1996. I cannot express how grateful I am
for the wonderful memories that I have and
the many friendships that I have formed
over the years.
I don't think that I am overstating it to say
that the OPS family is the best group of
individuals that anyone could wish for
throughout their career.
By far, the best part of my work has been
to work closely with so many of you,
getting to know you, and sharing in your
growth and professional development. It
truly is the most rewarding part of my job.
Thank you all for your kindness,
compassion and friendship over these
many years. I will miss all of you very
much!
Susan DeMeules
There is so much talent within our group,
but more importantly, there is a sense of
belonging to a group that is committed and
deeply cares about what we do for the
health and safety of the citizens of
Colorado.

Summer 2021
Susan,
TO SUSAN
Page 6
The OPS family wishes you a happy retirement, you will be greatly missed. We put
together some memories of you throughout your OPS journey. Have a great retirement
and enjoy every minute of it!

Summer 2021
NEW EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Page 7
My name is Michael Getz and I have a BS
in Geology from Colorado Mesa University
in Grand Junction, CO.
I first went to work in the oil field as a Mud
Logger for Field Geo Services after
graduation. I then went to work for an
environmental company called Storage
Tank Technologies, Inc doing
soil/groundwater sampling and was
introduced to the field of oil/gas compliance.
Following STTI, I worked for Patriot
Petroleum Solutions before being blessed
with the opportunity to work for the
Colorado Division of Labor and
Employment as a field inspector for OPS.
I am passionate about providing excellent
customer service and doing my absolute
best to help preserve the environment and
our drinking water.
I am a Colorado native, I love spending time
with my wife and dog, skiing, and mountain
biking.
Monte McMechen
Hi I’m Monte. I mostly go by Monte, but
have been called other choice names on a
few occasions.
A Colorado native. Live in Bailey. I am the
father of two beautiful grown daughters.
I enjoy the outdoors and about any activity
associated with being outside. Friends and
family are important. So is a sense of
humor. My mom and dog both think I’m a
great guy!
I’ve been in the petroleum industry with
construction and maintenance for more
years than I can remember now at this
age. Majority of it has been spent working
for manufacturing companies of retail
dispensers and POS equipment.
Michael Getz
I have been with OPS since October of
2020 and it has been awesome since day
one, simply just a great group of people to
work with.

Summer 2021
NEW EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Page 8
Patrick Lawler
Hello, my name is Patrick Lawler and I
joined the Remediation group back in
March 2020.
Prior to OPS I worked in environmental
consulting primarily doing investigation and
remediation of contaminated sites. Much of
my work in consulting was with the
Department of Defense, which brought me
to some really interesting sites around the
world. I’m grateful for my time in consulting
as it gave me broad experience in the
environmental field, but I feel very much at
home with the Remediation group and am
excited to learn and grow with them. It’s a
quality group.
I enjoy spending time with my wife, 7-year
old son, and two dogs. We are often on the
road exploring and doing a lot of the
activities the west has to offer, and are
most passionate about skiing.
Welcome to OPS!

Summer 2021
Page 9
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2020-21 EDI Champion
Award
Jacquee Wilson

Summer 2021
Page 10
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2021 PEAK PERFORMERS
Tiffany Becker
John
Bonifacic
Kyle Campbell
Jack Christos
Orren Doss
Luz Duque

Summer 2021
Page 11
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2021 PEAK PERFORMERS
Tom Fox
Julia Fraser
J Garcia
Alisha
Humphrey
Karly Jones
Sandi
Johnson

Summer 2021
Page 12
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2021 PEAK PERFORMERS
Karen
Klaversma
David Knight
David
Loutzenhiser
Jenna
Petropulos
Leslie Sohl
Erik Trefry
Jacquee
Wilson

Summer 2021
Page 13
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
YEARS OF SERVICE
Sandi
Johnson
5 Years
David Knight
10 Years
Julia Fraser
10 Years
Karen
Klaversma
10 Years
Scott
Wagner
10 Years
Tom
Martinez
10 Years
Bill Hickman
25 Years

Summer 2021
Page 14
REWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Susan DeMeules
24 Years
Retirement

Summer 2021
KUDOS / ACCOLADES
Page 15
To: OPS
From: Mahesh Albuquerque
Email from Mahesh during Employee
Appreciation Week - I usually ask Danita
to bake cookies to bring to work during
Employee Appreciation Week, but being
that we are mostly working from home I just
want to repeat how grateful and
appreciative I am for everything each of you
have done to enable OPS to continue
providing Outstanding Public Service this
past year. As we heard during our all-staff
meeting last month, our metrics across the
Division during the pandemic have been as
good if not better than the prior year. This
is a significant testament of your
accomplishments, especially when the
trend in many other programs during the
pandemic has been the opposite. This past
year at OPS has probably been my best,
and I think it's because the adversity we all
face has strengthened our sense of
belonging to the OPS family and working
together as a team. Thank you for your
Outstanding Public Service everyday.
To: Conveyance Team
From: David Hutchcraft
I would like to reiterate the kudos I
expressed at the team update meeting last
Thursday for all involved in the inspector,
contractor and mechanic licensing process.
By all accounts from those directly involved
the team completed the licensing "season"
as one lead put it "the smoothest the
process has run in 10 years". This is a
testament to the processes and attention to
detail the team put forth.
The high level of customer service and
communication across all interested
parties and team members is a testament
to the team's hard work and dedication to
make OPS's conveyance program the best
in the nation and a team I am honored to
be a part of. Thank you!
To: Amusements
From: Jamie Barrow
Thanks for the fast turnaround! I just
wanted to say thanks for the clear, easy,
and seamless transition with being down a
key member. I am impressed with how
smoothly this went!
Scott Narreau - comment This was a
great kudos from Vail Resorts. The credit
goes to Leslie for the amazing dedication
she provided through a tumultuous
database experience at the busiest time of
the season for the Amusement's program.
Leslie's hard work and persistence is
extraordinary. Public Safety and OPS are
incredibly fortunate to have her on the
team
To: Michael Leal, David Loutzinhiser,
Mike Kwieciński
From: Karly Jones
We have been in the process of
implementing a new database and I have
been in charge of scheduling training for all
of the internal employees who use the
database. I reached out to these three to
the training and they stepped up and have
been incredible to work with. They got all
of the content together and the training
went very smoothly. Great work :)

Summer 2021
KUDOS / ACCOLADES
Page 16
To: Marisa Cantarovici
From: Ronda Franke
CDLE Value: Collaboration
I want to recognize and thank Marisa
Cantarovici. Marisa has been a godsend for
me during this whole pandemic. Because
she has been not only willing to go into the
office and be present, but she has also
been willing to help our whole department in
dealing with the physical mail that comes in
and out of the office on a daily basis.
Without her I wouldn't have been able to
efficiently do my job from home.
Not only does she scan incoming mail to
me and she also stuffs the mail I print on a
daily basis into envelopes to send out.
I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
To: Christa Sanchez
From: Susan DeMeules
CDLE Value: Agility
Our communications coordinator was out
on sick leave and Christa immediately
stepped in to contact all of our stakeholders
about an upcoming meeting. Her swift
response was very much appreciated!
To: Scott Wagner
From: Amy Wilson
CDLE Value: Agility
Scott is an amazingly flexible co-worker
who can find solutions to problems that are
actually outside of his job description and
implement them in timely and cost effective
ways. I doubt we could keep the lab running
as smoothly without his help!
To: Jacquee Wilson
From: James A. Newby
CDLE Value: Collaboration
I want to give a huge KUDOS to Jacquee
Wilson for presenting at the E&T-
Workforce Development Programs All Staff
meeting on 19 Jan 2021. WDP likes to do
a Division Spotlight once a month to help
our staff understand the broader mission of
CDLE. Jacquee provided a very thorough
and informative presentation on the many
programs and functions within OPS. The
information she provided educated WDP
staff and provided them with a better
understanding of the important work of
OPS. Her willingness to take the time to
share this information was a true testament
to value of collaboration.
To: Dan Cannell
From: Rich from the Data Team
CDLE Value: Collaboration
Dan defines Collaboration for me. He
immediately responds to my requests for
his Subject Matter Expertise!!
The most recent request was him
accepting a last minute Google Meet
invite. I set the time for 30 minutes
because it was such a last-minute request.
Two hours later, Dan was passionately
answering all my detailed questions with a
genuine "can I help you with more" follow
on to my last question! It was amazing how
fast and pleasurable the time went by…

Summer 2021
KUDOS / ACCOLADES
Page 17
To: Dave Knight
From: Sun Valley Rides, LLC
Hi Dave, TEAM was here and performed
the necessary tests. We had to weld a
couple of smaller cracks that were along
those box looking pieces under the boom
itself. I don't think that they were structural
but those were the only cracks that they
found. We welded those up, I'm waiting on
a copy of the cert of the welder and I will
email that to you when I get it.
Thanks again and please contact me for
any reason!
I feel proud of the level of collaboration we
have here in our Division of Oil and Public
Safety. I call Dan out here today, but
everybody in the division is a pleasure to
work with. Onward Team!
Thank you so much for recommending
TEAM! I spoke with them right after you
and I had talked. There tech, Josh was
here at 10am and just left an hour ago.
YOUR the type of Inspector that we enjoy
working with, common sense and
KNOWLEDGE is the key! I can not recall
any inspector, state or otherwise who took
the time to research and look at similar
rides to see if those rides experienced the
same issue's that we had with our
Paratrooper!
I spoke with my mechanic, Pete Pederson,
the ride foreman, Alberto Lando and Vidal
Garcia who is our Midway Operations
Manager and explained to them about
keeping that tension bar that goes to the
gear box tight so that there should not be
much or any flexibility with that lower
section of boom.

Summer 2021
Andre Quintana
GETTING TO KNOW…
by Peggy Christian
Andre has been with the Division for a little
over a year. Here is what he would like us
to know.
What brought you to Colorado?
Page 18
Seeing the kids grow through all their
triumphs, failures, family issues, etc. was
the greatest reward. I remember one
student named Micah. He was a two-yearold
boy that drew me a picture of a ninja
turtle, it was Raphael. Micah said I
reminded him of a superhero.
When I was six years old my mom, sister,
and I packed up our U-Haul and drove to
Colorado seeking a fresh start. I didn’t know
what to expect. Looking back on it now
though, that was the greatest decision we
ever made.
What are your hobbies/interests?
My favorite thing in the world to do is
fishing. There is nothing like relaxing on a
peaceful day outside with a line in the
water. I enjoy camping, hiking, boating,
basically anything outdoors. Sports are also
a huge part of my life. Broncos football will
be watched every Sunday at my house.
What is the best thing about your job,
and what would you change if you
could?
My favorite part about working at OPS is
ensuring the safety of our community.
Without our efforts there would be oil spills
going unnoticed, the use of explosives
without regulation, etc. We play a big role
for the public and even ourselves, and that
is exciting! If I could change one thing, I
wish we could have been in office during
the past year. Covid-19 was an obstacle
that everyone had to overcome. Both
mentally with what was going on in the
world around us and in the workplace.
Playing basketball and joining a flag football
league are great ways to get some exercise
and have fun. Religion is another big
portion of my life. I am a Christian and enjoy
attending bible studies to gain a closer
relationship.
What is your most rewarding job?
I was a kids and adults Martial Arts
Instructor for seven years. That was the
most fulfilling job I ever had.

Summer 2021
GETTING TO KNOW…
by Peggy Christian
If you were a fish, which one would you be and why?
Page 19
Funny enough I have put a lot of thought into this. I am an avid fisherman, and have
witnessed a lot of fish. Some are poisonous and have teeth bigger than a human. While
others are just swimming to survive. If I could be any fish, it would have to be a dolphin.
They may lack in size and girth, but Dolphins certainly make up for it elsewhere. They are
intelligent, swift, and can communicate just as well as we do. Their first reaction to danger
is to save and protect. Dolphins are much more than the average fish; they are the glue
that keeps the ocean life together.

Summer 2021
MEMORIES
by Ronda Franke
Page 20
What a year it has been for the inspectors. Here are some photos recapping the year of
PPE’s and social distancing.

Summer 2021
RECIPES
by Luz Duque
Page 21
Aborrajados (a-bo-rra-ha-dos) :
Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese
Prep:15 mins
Cook:10 mins
Total:25 mins
Servings:10
servings
Yield: 10 aborrajados
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
245 18g 20g 3g
Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Aborrajados are sweet ripe slices of
plantain that have been stuffed with cheese,
coated in batter, and deep-fried. Some
people like to add a slice of guava paste to
their aborrajados, which pushes them
towards the dessert category.
Ingredients
• 2 ripe (black and yellow) plantains
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt (farmer cheese,
Monterey Jack, or mozzarella)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk
• 2 large eggs
Steps to Make It
Preheat several inches of oil to 360 F.
Slice the ends off of the plantains, then
slice through the peel lengthwise several
times to help remove the peel. Slice the
plantains crosswise into 1 1/2 inch thick
pieces. Fry the plantain slices in the oil
until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain
the plantain pieces on paper towels. When
cool enough to handle, place each slice
between two pieces of wax paper, and use
the flat bottom of a glass ( or any other flat
item) to flatten the plantain to about 1/4
inch thickness.
Sandwich 1 to 2 tablespoons of grated
cheese between 2 slices of plantain,
pressing the plantain together around the
edges to seal in the cheese. Repeat with
remaining plantain slices. Whisk the flour,
sugar, baking soda and salt together. Stir
in the eggs, and add enough milk to make
a thick batter. Stir until well mixed. Dip the
plantain "sandwiches" into the batter to
coat them, then return them to the oil to fry
in batches, until golden brown and crispy
on the outside (about 4 minutes). Drain on
paper towels and serve warm. Enjoy!
• 6 cups of vegetable oil, for frying
• 4 tablespoons of flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar

Summer 2021
RECIPES
by Ronda Franke
Page 22
Oriental Cabbage Salad (Great
summertime salad, your jaw will get a
workout)
Salad
• 1 Medium Cabbage (green)
• 1 Bunch of green onions
• 2 Pkgs of Top Ramen
• 1 Pkg of sliced almonds
• 3 oz. of sunflower seeds
Toast almonds and sunflower seeds under
the broiler until lightly brown (approximately
2 minutes) before mixing them with other
ingredients. (I use a toaster oven)
Dressing
• 1 Cup of salad oil
• 4 TBS of sugar (I don’t add sugar)
• 6 TBS of rice vinegar
• Pepper to taste
Mix ingredients together, shake vigorously.
You can make both the salad and the
dressing ahead of time, but don’t put the
dressing on the salad until just before
serving. The salad will keep in the
refrigerator overnight but really isn’t too
good after that.
The nuts get soggy! I add Rotisserie
Chicken as well.
Addicting Cheese Dip
• Large block of Velveeta Cheese
• 2 cans of Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese
Soup (this makes it addicting)
• Mushroom Soup if you want
• 1 can of Diced Rotel Tomatoes with
Green Chilis
• Choose the “temperature” of the Rotel
based on your spicy
tolerance.
• Hot, Mild, Jalapenos
Add Meat if you want:
- Chicken
- Sausage
- Ground Beef

Summer 2021
POEM
by Ronda Franke
Page 23
In out-of-the-way places of the heart, where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming, waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time, it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety and the gray promises that sameness
whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream, a path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear,
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning, that is at one with your life's desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
John O’Donohue

Summer 2021
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
by Patrick Lawler
This Day in History -August 08th, 1893
Page 24
On August 08th, 1893 President Grover
Cleveland sent a message to Congress
suggesting the immediate repeal of the
1890 Sherman Silver Purchase Act. It’s a
topic that sounds incredibly boring, but
provides an interesting footnote to Colorado
history.
Whether you are a resident of the city or
hills, you’ve likely heard of the Tabor name.
Tabor Opera House (Leadville), Tabor
Grand Opera (Denver), Tabor Block, the
Matchless Mine, Lieutenant Governor, U.S.
Senator – the Tabor name is attached to a
number of Colorado cultural institutions,
businesses, and political seats, but the high
life quickly came tumbling down for these
folks in a wild way with the repeal of the
Sherman Silver Purchase Act.
Horace and Augusta Tabor moved to
Denver City in 1859 as store keepers to
capitalize on the Colorado Gold Rush.
Augusta Tabor
Between 1859 and 1878 the Tabor’s
bounced around mining towns in Park
County and Lake County, operating
general stores while Horace served
intermittently as postmaster and
prospector. Horace gradually built a
reputation as a successful businessman
and politician, serving as Mayor of
Leadville and then Lieutenant Governor of
Colorado when the “Colorado Silver Boom”
took off.
Horace Tabor

Summer 2021
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
by Patrick Lawler
The Tabors gained a lot of wealth during
this period, and Horace ultimately secured
sole ownership of the ‘Matchless Mine’ for
$117,000 (about $30M in today’s dollars).
Page 25
By January 1883 the Matchless had
produced a whopping $484M in today’s
dollars. Life was good for Horace and
Augusta, until something got in the way.
It was about this time that Horace met
‘Baby Doe’ McCourt. Baby Doe was
previously married to a drinker/gambler who
couldn’t hold a job, and so she made her
way to Leadville with barely a penny in her
pocket. She found work with a friend in a
clothing shop and caught the eye of Horace
as she was young, beautiful, and “one of
the best dressed women in the West”.
Tabor Opera
Horace divorced Augusta with much public
drama, and Baby Doe began to live a
lavish lifestyle with Horace. They had two
children and took up residence in their
Denver mansion at 18th and Broadway.
The Tabor’s were living the high life with
real estate holdings around Colorado,
expensive clothing, and a taste for the finer
things. The Matchless Mine output began
to decline by the mid-1880s; however, and
the Tabor income was not keeping up with
their pricey lifestyle.
Baby Doe

Summer 2021
House Leadville
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
by Patrick Lawler
Page 26
The 1890 Sherman Silver Purchase Act
went into effect, hoping to stabilize
fluctuating silver prices, but when this was
repealed in August 1893 and the Tabors
went flat broke. The repeal wasn’t entirely
the source of their demise, but August 08,
1893 turned out to be a terrible day for the
new couple. Many of his properties were
sold to cover loans, and the downward
spiral became so bad that Horace took a
job as a mine worker at age 65 to cover
living expenses. Some well-connected
friends got him a postmaster job in 1898,
but he died just 15 months later. Baby Doe
managed for a few years, but eventually
moved back to Leadville to try and
reinvigorate the Matchless Mine (without
success).
Around 1911, things got so bad for Baby
Doe that she moved into the former tool
shed at the Matchless with one of her
daughters, Rose Mary Echo Silver Dollar
Tabor, who left shortly thereafter for a wild
life in Chicago. Baby Doe took up residence
in the cabin, guarding it with a shotgun and
living as a recluse, and occasionally
wandered town in rags. Good-hearted
neighbors kept an eye on her, though she
was known for not taking handouts. After
nearly 25 years in the one room cabin, she
was found frozen on the floor in the winter
of 1935.
The Matchless Mine and Baby Doe’s
Cabin
There are many details to this story
that add to the lore. Horace and Baby
Doe are buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery
in Wheat Ridge, you can see the
opera ‘The Ballad of Baby Doe’ (every
now and then), and you can visit the
Tabor Opera House, Matchless Mine,
and Baby Doe’s Cabin in Leadville.
Today, the Tabor and Baby Doe
names are attached to buildings,
restaurants, retail shops, and
campgrounds all around Colorado. By the
way, Augusta Tabor retained her business
sense after her divorce from Horace,
rebuilt her wealth, was a noted
philanthropist, and lived a productive life
before passing away in 1895 as one of the
wealthiest women in Denver.

Summer 2021
Google Chrome
TECH TIPS & TRICKS
by Luz Duque
Page 27
Has your Google Chrome browser been acting up? Are pages not loading? Seeing
outdated information on the web pages? Maybe it is time to do some maintenance to your
browser, the first thing to do is to clear your cache. This is how you can do it:
You can also check if your browser needs an update. If it does, it will ask you to relaunch
Chrome at the end, if it does not then it will tell you it is up to date. Here’s how you can
verify it:

Summer 2021
New Adobe DC
TECH TIPS & TRICKS
by Luz Duque
Page 28
What craziness it has been. We have had many changes, most of us got laptops for the
first time and with that change, new adaptations came up. Most of us, if not all of us, use
Adobe Pro because we need to edit PDFs, Adobe went through a big change and it does
not look like it did before. If you still use Adobe 2017 and you are getting an update, you
will see this new version (some may not get it) so make sure to save this information.
1. When you get the new Adobe, you will not find the shortcut you are used to
instead, you will now see this with the name Adobe Creative Cloud.
1. Click on the new shortcut and sign in or create an account. Once you do, you will
need to do the following:

Summer 2021
Have I Been Pwned?
TECH TIPS & TRICKS
by Luz Duque
Page 29
Hackers are everywhere nowadays. Over the years, there have been many data
breaches in different companies databases. Some of the breaches have been bigger
than others, but regardless of how big the breaches have been, the truth is our
information may have been exposed multiple times. Have you ever received spam
emails? Or even the car warranty phone call? Scam artists could have obtained your
email and phone number in one of those breaches.
Have I Been Pwned? Is a website that allows you to check if your information has been
compromised. Click here and enter your email address, the results will tell you what
websites where you have your information have been compromised.
Go ahead, give it a try.

Summer 2021
GREEN INFORMATION FOR
YOUR SUMMER
by Julia Fraser and Hannah Williams
Page 30
WATER
Denver Water has some great watering
recommendations and reminders regarding
their watering rules, check out this funny
video by them. Even if your water supplier
isn’t Denver Water, this information may
help you save water and money this
summer season.
If you are a Denver Water customer, they
also have customer rebates if you switch to
a low-flow toilet(s). Always check with your
water supplier in your area for their water
saving recommendations. You can also
sign up for Denver Water’s e-newsletter for
great tips on water usage as well as learn
about the history of water in our State. Want
to go farther? Check out EPA’s WaterSense
website and learn more about water at
https://www.epa.gov/watersense .
AIR QUALITY
There is a lot of talk about Ozone, but what
is it? The CDPHE website explains it:
“Ozone that is found high in the Earth’s
atmosphere is helpful for humans because
it protects us from harmful radiation from
the sun.
Lower in the atmosphere, ozone is formed
from the mixing of pollutants at groundlevel.
High levels of ozone can cause
health concerns for sensitive people,
particularly the elderly, young children, and
those with asthma or other respiratory
problems” If you want to learn more about
ozone and what you can do to help reduce
it, or get notifications on our State Air
quality, please go to:
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/ozone-andyour-health
LAWNS
Do you have a lawn that needs mowing?
The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC)
has a program to replace your gas powered
lawn mower with an electric mower.
Whenever you need to replace your lawn
mower, check out their Mow Down Pollution
Program at https://raqc.org/program/mowdown-pollution-residential/

Summer 2021
Page 31
PROGRAM
UPDATES

Summer 2021
Page 32
AMUSEMENTS
by Leslie Sohl & Scott Narreau
Summer is going to be busy!
• In the last 6 months we have had 3 new operators get registered with the State ,
including AirCity360 - a new trampoline park in Colorado Springs.
• Many operators are adding to their ride list, including a new Canopy Tour at Arapahoe
Basin.
• After a year of closures, reduced capacity, and the like, many operators are seeing
staffing shortages as they ramp up for a busy season.

Summer 2021
Wow, what a year!
BOILER
by Ronda Franke
Page 33
First, I’d like to give a shout out to David Woodson for passing the National Board
Inservice Inspector Examination. Due to COVID-19, David was unable to attend the
training in Columbus, Ohio. He studied here and passed the exam proctored by Bob
Becker and Rand Rutledge.
As you probably all know by now, Peggy left Public Safety to traitorously move to the
PRC! And has passed some work back to me. That being said, she is still doing a lot of
work for Boilers and we appreciate her. Once again our inspectors proved that they are
the best in the business by continuing to push through even during shutdown.
Year Stats
2019 2020 2021
10,672 10,402 (only 263 less ) 5,826 (so far)
And finally - Good-bye
As we start to step out of our homes, some mask-less, others not quite there yet. I feel
like we are starting a new normal, a reawakening, a calmer presence, a new beginning.
Some of us learned new hobbies, took classes, and expanded our horizons during
quarantine, or decided on a new path to take in life.
As I write this, I am saddened but also excited for a new adventure. I will miss all of you!

Summer 2021
COMPLIANCE
by Zach Hope
Page 34
In early 2020, storage tank programs across the country were successfully adapting to
new regulations, reporting requirements, and budget uncertainty, and that was all before
the COVID pandemic. Since March 2020, we’ve seen attempts at worldwide adaptation
on unprecedented levels that have left us impressed, amused, or just plain confused at
times. Through our COVID adaptations at OPS we have been able to increase our
presence in the storage tank industry, strengthen relationships with tank owners and
contractors, increase compliance, and more efficiently conduct our business.
Several of these changes had been in place or in the works for some time before the
pandemic, and were expedited in order to continue business, while others were made
necessary and immediately enacted. The state of Colorado leadership has taken a
pragmatic approach throughout 2020 and into 2021, addressing the facts of the
unprecedented situation, while attempting to keep Colorado open for business. This
attitude helped guide OPS leadership, and highlighted the value of preparation, not panic.
We have maintained similar inspection completion numbers while enforcing the new 2020
regulations and keeping our storage tank operational compliance number very high
(~91%). Further, we have been able to maintain a strong consumer protection focus,
identifying numerous credit card skimmers at gas station dispensers and ensuring equity
in the marketplace.
We’re certain there will be challenging adaptations to come, and that the pandemic will
continue to feel limiting at times. But through innovation, paperless processes, a team
with diverse duties, and strong partnerships, OPS has enhanced our role in the storage
tank industry and positively impacted release prevention, remediation, and
reimbursement in 2020 and 2021.

Summer 2021
CONVEYANCE CORNER
by Karen Klaversma
Page 35
Since the last newsletter;
Cindy Aicher left us to move to Wisconsin . Andre Quintana and Jake Buffy joined the
conveyance team . Andre and Jake did an outstanding job of learning the
conveyance duties remotely! David Hutchcraft has been busy traveling around the state
educating the building owners, inspectors and mechanics about conveyance
(elevator/escalator) compliance. Peggy has rejoined the operations team . Erik, the
Enforcer, continues to work his magic on encouraging compliance.
We survived another licensing season! As all of the contractor, mechanic and inspector
licenses are renewed in June each year, it can be very hectic. Shout out to Jack, Andre
and Jake for making this year's renewals run smoothly.
The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is performing a sunset review of the
conveyance program. Hopefully we will know their recommendations soon!
New words and phrases learned since March 2020:
• COVID
• Vaccine efficacy
• Social Distancing
• Super Spreader Event
• Blursday
As we phase back into the office, it is great to see folks in person again!

Summer 2021
ENFORCEMENT
by Bobby Sonnier
Page 36
Enforcement July 2021
This past year was unique for all of us, and the prior year seems so long ago. We at OPS
had our share of challenges to overcome, and we were able to overcome these
challenges and provide our customers with virtually uninterrupted service. Every person,
in every group within our Division should feel proud of what we have been able to
accomplish over the past year.
Our compliance numbers for each Program continue to be very high, and that is a tribute
to the guidance provided to our customers by our Inspectors, our Administrative
personnel, our Technical staff, OPS Program Managers, and our Enforcement team. Our
compliance numbers for each program are listed below:
Amusements: 100% (no current Enforcement Actions)
Boilers: 96.4%
Conveyances: 91%
Explosives: 99% (1 current Enforcement Action)
Petroleum: 92.1%
If the compliance numbers were a report card, it would be “Straight A’s”. Congratulations
OPS!
The Enforcement Team of Ronda Franke, Erik Trefry, and Vinny Secondo continue to
work diligently on the cases that come their way. They are very consistent and fair in how
they enforce our regulations. I couldn’t think of a better group of people to work with.
I’m sorry to say that Ronda will be leaving us to be closer to her family in Arizona, at the
end of September. We will miss her, and I have appreciated her hard work, her sense of
humor, and the professional way that she interacts with our customers. Ronda, you will
be very hard to replace.
I know we are all looking forward to what the coming year, the “new normal”, will bring.
Whatever it is, I am confident that OPS will meet all challenges that lie ahead. See you
all in 2022.

Summer 2021
EXPLOSIVES
by Scott Narreau
Page 37
In Memoriam-Ricardo Batista
Our Team would like to honor the life of one of our permit holders and stakeholders,
Ricardo Batista.
Batista tragically lost his life on June 29 after sustaining injuries from a fallen boulder
during construction operations. He was shifting rock material while working on a safety
rock stabilization project located on Highway 50 in Gunnison County near Little Blue
Creek Canyon. Batista is survived by his wife, Fawn, and he was a father of six. As an
Army Ranger during the Vietnam War, he earned two purple hearts and a bronze star. He
founded his construction blasting company, BlackWing Blasting, Inc., at the end of his
military career. Batista then became one of the original blasting business owners in
Colorado and was a longtime permit holder from our Program.
Although our Program navigated through enforcement proceedings with BlackWing
blasting, our relationship with the company strengthened as we worked closely with them,
due to the diligent efforts of Dave Knight, as he assisted the company with establishing
an inventory system framework. One of Batista’s sons will assume ownership of the
company and will continue its operations in Colorado under a new name that is yet to be
determined.

Summer 2021
OPERATIONS
by Someone
One of the biggest changes in the Operations team, besides the fact that Susan is retiring
and Tiffany is the new Operations Manager, is the new petroleum database, COSTIS-IA.
After a lot of research, hard work, and virtual meetings during COVID, we are finally
seeing the results.
This week the project completed its first week of use in the production environment. No
defects were found that completely kept users from completing their needed tasks, but 9
bugs have been recognized and are being worked on by the Slalom development team.
Page 38
The project is scheduled to finish the hands on post go-live support next week, and will
then move into warranty support (60 day period in total). The team has several meetings
scheduled to complete resolution of found bugs and to setup the ongoing support
process. Additional fixes and improvements were also found around the data migration
and data translation into the new system. Internal teams are gathering all recognized
items, prioritizing them for work, and beginning to implement changes and fixes.
The OPS team with support from some OIT resources was aware that data clean up
would be needed post go-live and so they are working to put in place the structure that
will become part of the ongoing improvement of the new system. The highest priority
items are already being worked on and several are expected to be implemented next
week. Additional work has been recognized around Box and its folder organization. The
team has requested OIT resources to assist with this and is awaiting a response on level
of effort and resource availability.

Summer 2021
PCRF
by Michelle Howard
Page 39
It feels like the wheels have fallen off the train of momentum for the Petroleum Clean-up
and Redevelopment Fund. As we all know, much has happened since the spring of
2020. Substantial monies in the PCRF were contributed to the Colorado General Fund to
support pandemic supplies and recovery. We were able to keep some money in the
balance to help pay for the new COSTIS-IA project and finish working on some of our
open sites. We have also been able to help a few citizens look for tanks on their
properties and conduct environmental assessments.
Not only has the PCRF undergone financial changes, but also personnel changes. Tim
Kelley decided in June of 2020 to enjoy his full retirement and we all know his knowledge
will be missed. Jennifer Strauss also left us for another career opportunity with
Commerce City. Thankfully, Jane Bral is still helping oversee the cleanup on our
remaining sites.
The remaining sites are in Grand Junction, Minturn, and Fruita and all are in the Level III
cleanup phase. The two sites we were able to help with tank removals during the
pandemic are both in Denver. A total of 11 tanks were removed from these two
properties.
Besides the PCRF work, we also have been working with Towns, Cities, Urban Renewal
Authorities, and EPA to help support Petroleum Brownfields and clean-up at sites across
our state. We are always looking and hoping for more funding to be able to help more
property owners in our state and enrich our communities.

Summer 2021
REMEDIATION
by Mary White
Page 40
It is hard to believe that 2021 is halfway over. The COVID pandemic brought lots of
changes to the way the Remediation Team worked, but we barely saw a change in our
everyday work flow. In fact, we saw a productivity increase in what we could accomplish.
While the Remediation Team has always been a collaborative force, working remotely
has continued the testament of how collaborative we are. Calendars filled up with
meetings between each other, consultants, and facility owners/responsible parties.
Additionally, we made use of the Google Chat feature (GIPHYs are everyone’s favorite)
and old-fashioned phone calls are still a go-to.
Additionally, we had some personnel changes over the past year: First we welcomed
Patrick Lawler in February 2020, and within three weeks, we were working remotely. He
has done such a fantastic job at this quick transition so soon in his career at OPS! On
October 1, 2020 the Remediation Supervisor, Robert Herbert retired and moved back to
Utah. I became the Remediation Supervisor and the Remediation Team has been
practicing agility and respect in supporting me as I moved into this role. Jennifer Strauss
said her final goodbyes on June 30, 2021 to go work for Commerce City as a Storm
Water Coordinator. Finally, on August 2, 2021 we will welcome John Ritchie as our
newest Environmental Protection Specialist.
Some highlights of from the year are:
• Tom Fox became a team lead for a new ITRC group that will showcase the three ITRC
Petroleum Guidance Documents together.
• Murray Brown co-presented a poster at the REMTEC conference in March 2021.
• Kyle Campbell was selected to be on the Natural Source Zone Depletion panel for the
Batelle 2021 Conference
• The State Lead Technical reviewers, Tom Fox, Hannah Williams, Kyle Campbell, and
Orren Doss were led by Julia Fraser in the effort to select eight new State Lead
Contractors for the new Master Agreement, to be effective November 1, 2021.
• Michelle Howard, Julia Fraser, and Tom Fox diligently worked on UAT Testing for the
new COSTIS-IA database.
• Jane Bral came back for another 9 months to help out Remediation!
• Hannah Williams welcomed her first child, Eli Allen!
All in all, with all of the challenges, the Remediation Team has maintained agility,
collaboration, accountability and most of all respect for their colleagues through these
dynamic times. A special kudos to all of you for making it through this past year with
positive attitudes!

Summer 2021
SAFETY
COMMISSION
by Jacquee Wilson & Leslie Sohl
INTERNSHIP /
PARTNERSHI
P
by Unknown
Page 41
The staff team is assisting the Safety
Commission with a few key initiatives:
• Implementing the 2020 USDOT PHMSA
State Damage Prevention grant in
collaboration with Colorado 811 to
provide online excavator training in
Spanish
Due to the pandemic, there were no
internships or partnerships with local
universities. Hopefully next year we will
once again partner with the Colorado
School of Mines or Metropolitan State
University.
• Developing a statewide standard for
marking underground facilities
• Informing stakeholders and nominating
entities about open Safety Commission
seats

Summer 2021
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Page 42
This are the scheduled events for the month of August. Some Committees do not have
schedule meetings yet, but you can check the Intranet for more information. If you would
like to see more of the events calendar, click on the picture and scroll to the bottom of the
Intranet page.