Successful Superfund Remediation in Pueblo, Colorado: A Provocative Reflection on Community Engagement and Empowerment

Abstract

The city of Pueblo, Colorado has a long industrial past; shortly after the nascence of the settlement, the city began to establish itself as a major hub for the smelting of mined materials transported into town from the Front Range. Between 1880 and 1921, five main smelters were established and operated in and around the city’s center. Though the smelting activities ended over a century ago, they left behind a topsoil contaminated with toxic heavy metals, putting local residents at health and socio-economic risks. Epidemiological studies showed elevated blood lead levels in children living near the smelters and caused the site to be listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund National Priorities List. This report describes how industrial activities degraded the environment in the city and compromised public heath, the history of the Superfund law, and how communities in the affected neighborhoods collectively organized to stand up for themselves and partake in all aspects of the Superfund remediation process in order to secure a healthy living environment. The paper shows that, regardless of background or socio-economic status, when average citizens engage and empower themselves by working with stakeholders and elected or executive leaders at the local, regional and national levels, almost anything can be accomplished in the interests of all. The paper provides a reflection on the potential implications of inaction by the scientific and leadership groups in the face of growing global environmental degradation and public health risks.