Educating. Organizing. Empowering.
About the Lincoln Park/Cotter Superfund Site
We Educate about Toxic and Radioactive waste
Founded in 2002, Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste (CCAT) is a grassroots, non-profit organization driven by a team of dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds with a stake in the future of Fremont County Colorado. From educators and healthcare workers to business professionals and retirees, we are united by our shared love for our region’s unique treasures: Nature’s Beauty, Clean Air, Fresh Mountain Water, and amazing people.
Our mission is to educate and inform the public regarding toxic and radioactive waste.
Our focus is the Lincoln Park/Cotter Superfund Site where contamination from the industrial operations of Cotter Corporation released hazardous and radioactive waste into the groundwater and environment. For two decades, CCAT has championed our community through research, communication and advocacy. We believe an informed populace is best protected from ongoing environmental threats
How it Started
CCAT’s journey began in 2002 with the Cotter Corporation’s announcement of plans to import 450,000 tons of radioactive and toxic waste from the Maywood Chemical Works Superfund Site in New Jersey. Several residents took a collective stand to protect Canon City from becoming a radioactive waste dump that would have been detrimental to the environment and public health.
CCAT Directors and supporters are dedicated to facilitating within the community a curriculum about the Lincoln Park/Cotter Superfund Site. The contamination here is part of the landscape and lives in geologic time. Just like an Ocean. It needs to be understood so people can live safely with it and learn from it.
How to Shape Your Future
Help direct the change!
Your involvement can make us stronger and your voice is important in this conversation.
Join us today and take an active role in demanding the best clean-up for our region’s natural beauty, ensuring a healthier environment for present and future generations. We believe in the strength of unity, and we can build a future of education and full disclosure about the toxic waste at this local Superfund site.
F E A T U R E S
Resources for Community Involvement
How You Can Engage
Community Empowerment
Engage with a community that has already mobilized over the last two decades. Tell your story about Cotter.
Send it to us in writing or request a first-person interview with the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center
Educational Impact
Actively address the lack of awareness about the Lincoln Park/Cotter Superfund Site.
Legislative & Regulatory Influence
Contribute to our established efforts responding to Colorado elected officials at all levels, CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Positive Environmental Impact
Be part of the solution to the United States’ 250 million tons of radioactive and hazardous waste produced annually.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with a network of individuals actively addressing contamination from the Cotter uranium mill which spread to touch roughly 13,000 acres in Fremont County
Personal Fulfillment
Nearly 22% of the US population lives within 3 miles of a Superfund Site. There is an important role for you in understanding our Lincoln Park/Cotter Site.
Our Achievements And Impact
CCAT's dedicated efforts have led to remarkable accomplishments. From successfully halting the import of radioactive waste from Maywood, New Jersey, to advocating for the cleanup of the former Cotter Uranium Mill, our endeavors have had a tangible impact on our community and the environment.
Our significant achievements include revision of the Radiation Control Act of Colorado. This led to increased public participation in decision-making processes related to radioactive waste management and enforced more stringent measures to prevent the inappropriate disposal of such waste. Our work has been recognized locally and nationally as a testament to our unyielding commitment to environmental protection and community well-being.
CCAT has raised awareness and empowered citizens. Our efforts have resulted in many changes including these:
- Formation of a Community Advisory Group
- Gained Party Status for our community in Cotter’s license renewal hearing (2005)
- Conducted a grassroots health survey which led to an Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) assessment
- Gained a $50,000 EPA TAG Grant to publish a lay-person edition of the State Administrative Record.
- Testified in four State laws that revised the Radioactive Control Act of Colorado
Making A Difference, Together
CCAT stands at the forefront of disclosure about toxic waste in Colorado, specifically Fremont County. Our efforts over the years have led to significant changes in environmental policy and industrial practices. We played a crucial role in revising the Radiation Control Act of Colorado and contributed significantly to the closure of the Cotter Corporation Uranium Mill.
Our work continues beyond there. We demand the best cleanup of the former Cotter Uranium Mill site and regularly call on independent scientists to help us in reviewing and participating in ongoing discussion with the State and Federal Regulators. This is all done by volunteers and people like you who do what you can when you can. Attend Public meetings of the Community Advisory Group.
The Heart of Giving
CCAT is a non-profit 501(c)3 local grassroots organization. So, your donation is tax deductible. Our Board Directors and volunteers are not paid. Contributions go toward embedding a curriculum in the community as well as disclosure projects about the local Superfund Site and how to live with our toxic radioactive neighbor.
With your support, we can educate more people about the dangers of toxic waste, facilitate critical scientific research, hold public meetings, and advocate for a healthier Fremont County.
Suggested Donation Amounts:
$25 - provides lab supplies for testing air or water
$50 - provides room rental for a Public hybrid (Zoom & In-person) meeting
$100 - provides our post office box for a year
$150 - provides one-hour independent consulting scientist fee
$250 - provides direct mail notification to Superfund-affected citizens
$500 - provides one public meeting
Remember, all proceeds from donations go directly to cover our expenses for legal support, independent science consultants, educational materials, programs for the public, website maintenance, and representing our community at hearings. CCAT Directors and volunteers are not paid. Your contributions are tax-deductible.
