Mercury: Protect the Western Slope

Tell Secretary of Energy Steven Chu that Colorado's Western Slope is no place to dump 10,000 tons of toxic mercury.

E-mail Steven Chu Today

The federal government thinks Colorado's Western Slope would be a good place to dump an estimated 10,000 tons of mercury waste.

I disagree. So do The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Western Slope residents, and Coloradans around the state. The federal government's proposal is just too risky.

Forward an e-mail to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, and let him know Colorado's Western Slope is no place for the federal government to dump 10,000 tons of mercury.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced it is considering the Grand Junction Disposal Site -- among sites in six other states -- to permanently dispose of thousands of tons of toxic mercury waste by 2013.

The proposal would require the shipment of mercury from around the country through Colorado communities and along vital water sources like the Colorado River, putting Colorado's air and water at risk.

A small spill or fire while in transit, or a small leak into the Western Slope's groundwater, are distinct possibilities. We are, after all, talking about the shipment and storage of roughly 20 million pounds of mercury within Colorado.

But the lasting harm such an accident would pose to Colorado's families, businesses and natural resources is simply unthinkable.

Forward an e-mail to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, and let him know Colorado's Western Slope is no place for the federal government to dump 10,000 tons of mercury.

Toxic chemical waste should be stored close to where it was originally generated, not shipped across the country to be dumped in Colorado.

Thank you for joining me to convince the U.S. Secretary of Energy to reject Colorado as a potential dumping site for thousands of tons of mercury from across the country.

Sincerely,

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

P.S. The Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management is in the process of selecting the most suitable location to ship over 10,000 tons of toxic mercury, and Colorado is one of just seven states under consideration. It's not too late to influence the agency's decision, so please take action now!