The Threats to YOU
Abuse of Open Space
Taxpayer-funded conservation easements and Open Space lands should be protected. Forever. That’s why taxpayers entrust the County with dedicated taxes. So while Boulder County is in court seeking an injunction to prevent oil and gas from developing on a County-owned conservation easement, the County is racing forward its own plan to build an industrial-scale dump on open space lands purchased by taxpayers for preservation.
Highway 287 Safety
US Highway 287 is one of Colorado’s most dangerous highways. In the last 5-years as congestion has surged, Colorado Highway Patrol has recorded more than 1,100 accidents, nearly 300 serious injuries and a shocking 60-fatalities on the section of US287 between Longmont and Lafayette. Now the County is proposing to create a deadly, un-signalized T-intersection for heavy trucks and semis in the worst possible section of highway.
Odor
Dozens of truckloads of human bio-solids (aka sewage sludge), animal manure, and rotting food waste from across the region is being proposed to be dumped at Rainbow Open Space every day. The County’s plan stinks.
Noise Pollution
The County is proposing to clearcut the trees on Rainbow Open Space and pave an acres-large open-air “wood processing lot” where it would chip, grind, and shred wood from the entire County to feed its industrial composting process. This outdoor process is extraordinarily noisy and will adversely impact nearby neighbors, horse boarding facilities and equestrian centers.
Water Pollution
Industrial-scale composting produces dangerous byproducts that can include the known carcinogens Benzene and Formaldehyde. Rainbow Open Space where the County proposes building a 40-acre industrial composting center is adjacent to sensitive wetlands and Leggett Ditch. The water pollution risk is profound, and the potential impact on local ecology and downstream users is irreversible. Open space lands should protect natural resources, not jeopardize water quality.
Nationally Significant Agriculture Lands
The Rainbow Open Space agricultural lands are of such uniquely high quality, the US Department of Agriculture has defined them as being of national significance. Despite this, the County is proposing to clearcut the trees and pave the land for its industrial-scale dump/compost facility.
Air Pollution
Industrial-scale composting facilities are a significant source of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), ground-level ozone, and other noxious pollutants that, in a geographic area like the Front Range where the local air gets trapped and recirculated below prevailing westerly flows coming over the mountains, can exacerbate regional air pollution problems. Further, the County’s proposed massive open-air storage of finished compost will become airborne and contribute significantly to closeby particulate pollution and dust.
Micro-Plastics Pollution
Scientists around the world classify plastics as hazardous waste. The World Economic Forum concludes ~32% of plastics enter the environment including a growing amount through composting. Commercial and residential compost is highly contaminated with plastics from food wrappers, straws, utensils and the like and the technology does not exist to completely separate the plastic out of the finished product. When spread on agriculture lands in the form of compost, as proposed by Boulder County, it leads to widespread micro-plastics contamination. This can have a profoundly negative long term impact on the ecosystem as animals bio-accumulate the plastics up the food chain resulting in increased cancer risks, species loss and habitat destruction.