Aurora, CO — In the wake of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) landmark rule classifying two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous under CERCLA, the public is urgently calling on the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to investigate, identify, and regulate PFAS contamination from two major sources in the Denver metro area: the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site (LLSS) and Buckley Air Force Base.

The Lowry Landfill Superfund Citizen Advisory Group/Technical Assistance Group (LLSF CAG/TAG) is invoking emergency enforcement and imminent hazard provisions under CERCLA, RCRA, and the Clean Water Act to compel swift federal and state intervention. Their demand comes amid growing concern that toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” from LLSS and Buckley are migrating and potentially converging in key waterways such as Murphy Creek, Coal Creek, and Sand Creek—threatening thousands of private wells and the health of local communities.

“We now have a regulatory framework, scientific evidence, and legal authority. What we don’t have is action,” said Bonnie Rader, a spokesperson for the LLSF CAG/TAG. “The mixing of toxic PFAS plumes from a military base and a legacy landfill in our water supply is not just unacceptable—it’s a public health emergency.”

The Case for Immediate Action:

• PFAS Suspected at LLSS: Despite operating over 85 unlined chemical waste trenches and confirmed detection of other hazardous contaminants, Waste Management and the EPA have refused calls to test for PFAS at LLSS. Historical waste practices, recent detections of PFAS in sump water, and a confirmed geological fault beneath the site suggest significant risks of plume migration into local aquifers.
• PFAS from Buckley: A 2018 Air Force investigation confirmed off-site PFAS migration from historic use of firefighting foam. A four-mile study area was established due to concern over exposure risks to nearby communities reliant on domestic wells. While Buckley established a Restoration Advisory Board and tested a limited number of wells, many homes remain untested or unresponsive, leaving the scope of contamination unclear.
• Plume Convergence: Independent research and testing indicate PFAS plumes from both LLSS and Buckley converge at the confluence of Coal and Murphy Creeks before traveling north into Sand Creek—impacting a dense network of residential wells between Quincy Avenue and Buckley Road. The risk of toxins in drinking water demands a coordinated, science-based response.

The groups ask for full PFAS source identification and plume mapping from LLSS and Buckley, enforceable cleanup and containment actions, and full transparency, public access to water quality data. After decades-long pollution, there is an urgent need to apply modern science to safeguard human and environmental health.

“We’ve waited too long. The science is clear, the laws are in place, and people deserve clean water. We appreciate Buckley’s efforts in beginning to investigate solutions. Now it’s time for the EPA and CDPHE to act decisively and protect the communities at risk,” Ms. Rader added.

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Read the LLSF CAG/TAG letter

See EPA’s Newest Rule Providing PFAS Protection

About LLSF CAG/TAG: The Lowry Landfill Superfund Site Citizen Advisory Group and Technical Assistance Group is a grassroots watchdog organization formed to ensure transparent oversight, public engagement, and environmental justice in the ongoing cleanup and risk management of one of Colorado’s most hazardous waste sites.