Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Aircraft was issued departure clearance Runway 34L. Weather was IFR; and I was unable to visually see Air Carrier X or the runway out the window. When Air Carrier X was approximately halfway down the runway; I noticed a primary target on the runway at the very end. AMASS did not alarm even though the 'bars' were up and there was very clearly a primary target on the runway. I issued an advisory to Air Carrier X; but did not cancel his take off clearance. Air Carrier X appeared to climb out normally and reported he hadn't seen anything on the runway when queried. An OPS vehicle was dispatched and reported a snow berm or bank. OPS reported they took action and the primary target disappeared; and did not return. Last night was one of the most complex sessions I've had in the Tower. I feel I was working traffic at 100% of my capabilities and felt very near to my limit; even at the slowed pace I chose to work at due to the many external factors (working multiple positions combined; volume; complexity; and most of all; weather.) With uncertainty that overtime would be approved; we were expecting a reduction in the arrival rate. That did not appear to happen and; in my opinion; safety was compromised for volume. The three CPCs in the Tower were already fully saturated with the amount of traffic they were running. If overtime wouldn't have been approved; there would have been no way that the CPCs left would have been able to handle that volume. I was unable to provide Air Carrier X with my best service. Safety was compromised when we were assured that safety would have priority over volume without question.
DEN Controller described an AMASS alert on the departure runway as an Air Carrier was taking off; elected to issue only an advisory; the anomaly was later determined to most likely have been a snow bank.