Is your water safe to drink? Is your soil safe to grow veggies? These questions are front of mind for many residents of the Pikes Peak region. For years, firefighting exercises at air bases in Colorado Springs used chemicals that we now know have contaminated area groundwater and are bad for our health. Find out what we know, and what’s being done about it, from an expert panel convened at the Peak Environment Podfest.
The podfest featured three panels recorded in front of a live audience on October 19, 2019, at Stargazers Theatre & Event Center. This panel, moderated by Colorado State Senator Pete Lee, discusses the hazardous traits of PFAS, a family of “forever chemicals” that take a long time to go away. Senator Lee co-sponsored House Bill 1279 which outlaws the foam’s use for training and in firefighting equipment.
Panelists include:
Dr. Tyler A. Cornelius
Visiting Assistant Professor, Environmental Program
Colorado College
Eli Fahrenkrug Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Colorado College
Liz Rosenbaum
Founder, Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition
Candidate for House District 21
Fran Silva-Blayney
Colorado Chapter Chair Sierra Club
Fountain Creek Water Sentinels
Mike Fink, P.E.,
Water Superintendent, City of Fountain Water Utility
Producer: Debbie Vitulli
Editor: Katie Lawrie
Special thanks to our co-host for this event, Stargazers Theatre & Event Center.
LINKS:
Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition
Sierra Club PFAS information page and listserv signup
PFAS: What You Need to Know About Your Water
Episode 21 of Peak Environment: PFAS Contamination in our Water (3/20/19 PASF Presentation)
UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
Take Colorado Springs Utilities Energy Planning Survey
Green Drinks
Thursday, November 21, 2019
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Smokebrush Farm (Red Crags Estate)
302 El Paso Blvd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Potluck contributions welcome
Some refreshments provided
$5 donation requested
Parking is limited; please carpool if you can
The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.
Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Pikes Peak Environmental Forum
Pikes Peak Group of Sierra Club
Pikes Peak Library District Green Team
Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Subscribe (free) on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss an episode:
Hare to believe there has been this kind of denial of the health impacts of PFAS: TOP U.S. TOXICOLOGIST WAS BARRED FROM SAYING PFAS CAUSE DISEASE IN HUMANS. SHE’S SAYING IT NOW. https://theintercept.com/2019/10/24/pfas-toxicologist/