ACTION ALERT: Send comments to USFWS opposing the Rocky Mountain Greenway by July 30th
Background: The Rocky Mountain Greenway is a proposed mountain bike trail that would be built through contaminated land adjacent to the former nuclear weapons plant, Rocky Flats, 16 miles North West of Denver. If built, this trail would endanger public health by exposing trail workers and the public to respirable particles of plutonium dioxide and other contaminants left in the environment from nuclear bomb production at Rocky Flats. Please send a statement to USFWS opposing this irresponsible and immoral project. Link to the July 2020 USFWS Environmental Assessment.
Send comments to rockyflats@fws.gov by July 30th.
Also please consider Cc'ing your local City Council and County Commissioners.
Sample email: Dear USFWS, The public is calling for a halt to public recreation at Rocky Flats. The action proposed by the July 2020 EA issued by USFWS would have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, USFWS must not pursue further trail development at Rocky Flats.
The Rocky Mountain Greenway endangers public health by exposing people to respirable particles of plutonium dioxide. Claims by CDPHE to the contrary must be re-evaluated by independent scientists and public health professionals. For years CDPHE Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division has operated under a conflict of interest by receiving funding from DOE, the federal agency responsible for nuclear bomb production.
I provide the following links for reference to support this statement:
April 2020, a new analysis of soil from near the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant has documented widespread contamination by “hot particles” of plutonium.
The CDPHE Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division receives federal grant money from the Department of Energy.
Local legislators, local school boards, and community groups from around the nation oppose public recreation at Rocky Flats.
7 local school districts made a commitment to not allow field trips to Rocky Flats. This includes BVSD, SVVSD, Adams 12, Adams 14, Jeffco Public Schools, and Denver Public Schools.
It is irresponsible to expand public access to an area that remains contaminated from a history of nuclear weapons production and environmental crimes. It is immoral to open this contaminated land to children. Stop ignoring the public’s demands to prioritize public health and immediately halt plans for construction of the Rocky Mountain Greenway. Sincerely,
A Nuclear Guardian (Your Name)
Here are additional points for research:
April 2020, a new analysis of soil from near the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant has documented widespread contamination by “hot particles” of plutonium. The research by Michael E. Ketterer and Scott C. Szechenyi from Northern Arizona University (NAU) concluded, “These particles are found to be pervasive in non-US Government land east of Rocky Flats, and it is reasonable to believe that ongoing wind transport is continuing to spread the contamination across open space used by the public, and toward residential areas.”
August 2019, a soil sample on the East side of Rocky Flats included an exceedingly high measurement of plutonium at 264 pCi/G.
The CDPHE Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division receives federal grant money from the Department of Energy. Thus they operate under a conflict of interest with the federal agency responsible for nuclear bomb production.
Local legislators, local school boards, and community groups from around the nation oppose public recreation at Rocky Flats.
7 local school districts made a commitment to not allow field trips to Rocky Flats. This includes BVSD, SVVSD, Adams 12, Adams 14, Jeffco Public Schools, and Denver Public Schools.
In 2016 property owners in the Cook V. Rockwell case received a settlement of $375 million due to contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant. The jury found that “plutonium will continue to be present on the class properties indefinitely”.
Presentations were heard from CDPHE, Engineering Analytics, and representatives from citizen groups. Here is a list of the citizen group speakers and their credentials:
Jon Lipsky, former FBI agent who led the 1989 raid on the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, presenting on environmental contamination by the Plant.
(Randy Stafford covered this presentation because Dr. Moore was unable to attend) Dr. LeRoy Moore, first-hand participant in setting plutonium soil standards for the Rocky Flats cleanup project, presenting on that soil standard setting process.
Dr. Harvey Nichols, CU professor emeritus of biology who studied Rocky Flats airborne contamination, presenting evidence that the entire Refuge was dusted with tiny plutonium particles; health implications.
Randy Stafford, presenting on his survey of all past offsite soil and public health impact studies listed in his JPAC position paper (linked from https://www.jppha.org/citizen-engagement).
Tiffany Hanson, founder of http://rockyflatsdownwinders.com , presenting on reports her organization has received about sick and deceased downwinders, including the MSU health survey.
Dr. Gale Biggs, micro-meteorologist (retired) who chaired the Air Committee of Governor Romer’s Rocky Flats Scientific Monitoring Panel, presenting on air monitoring for plutonium.
Dr. Michael Ketterer, Northern Arizona University professor emeritus of chemistry and specialist in radionuclide soil studies, presenting on soil contamination in the Parkway right of way
Ms. Pat Mellen, Esq., subject matter expert on Rocky Flats cleanup history, presenting on the importance of the Special Grand Jury 89-2 records and why they should be reviewed.