1. 1 | P a g e
COLORADOWATER PLAN
To GovernorHickenlooperandthe ColoradoWaterConservationBoard,
My name isCrystal Edmunds,andI am currentlya graduate studentat the Universityof Denver,
studyingGlobal Finance,Trade andEconomicIntegration withafocusinenvironmental security.Inmy
secondyearof school,IinternedforWaterfor People inDenver,CO,mostlywritingdue diligence
reports. The organizationcurrentlyworksinnine countriesaroundthe world:Honduras,Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Bolivia,Peru,Malawi,Rwanda,Uganda,andIndia-- bringingtogetherlocal entrepreneurs,
civil society,governmentsandcommunitiestoestablishcreative,collaborative solutionsthatallow
people tobuildandmaintaintheirownreliableandsafe watersystems.
For the past twoyears,I have workedas an AmeriCorpsvolunteer throughthe WesternHardrock
WatershedTeamwiththe Coal CreekWatershedCoalitioninCrestedButte,CO,primarilyinvolvedin
capacitybuilding.Thissummer,Istartedinterningwiththe UpperGunnisonRiverWaterConservancy
DistrictinGunnison,CO,focusingoncommunitydevelopment.Perhapsitwasgrowinguponthe banks
of the Maumee RiverinOhio,butmy life seemstobe perpetuallylinkedtowater!The more Ilearn,the
more I recognize the profoundsignificance of thisnatural resource andhow muchmore energyneedsto
be directedtowarditsprotection.
In the followingpagesare mymajorconcerns regardingColorado'sWaterPlan:
 Water qualitystandardsforarsenic,fluoride andnutrients
 Fracking,outdatedmininglaws, abandonedmines,rare earthelementmining
 Pesticides inagriculture andnoxiousweedcontrol
 Chemical Regulation
 Environmental Education
 Environmental Health
Thank youfor yourwork!
Sincerely,
Crystal Edmunds

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Water QualityStandards_____________________________________________________________
Arsenic
Perhapsmyfavorite partof workingwiththe Coal CreekWatershedCoalitionwasresearching,following
the processof andattending the April 2013 arsenicrulemakingatthe ColoradoDepartmentof Public
Healthand Environment.CrestedButte isimpairedforarsenic,partlyfromhistoricminingandpartly
because itsgeology. A majorpart of the work of the CCWC was to discernthe contaminationtothe
watershedof arsenicfrommining. Ihadfirstlearnedof arsenicthroughinterningatWater ForPeople in
Denver: Three decadesago,healthanddevelopmentexperts andlocal contractors dugmillionsof deep
tube wellsthroughoutBangladesh,encouragingthe whole nationtodrinkwell waterbecause itwas
deemedtobe safe,free of the bacteriathatcauseswater-borne diseasessuchasdiarrheaandother
intestinal maladiesthathave longplaguedthe country.However, inswitchingfromrivers andother
surface sourcesof water,the people of Bangladeshmayhave exchangedwater-borne diseasesfor
arsenic.Inthe 1970's publichealthspecialistsandgovernmentpolicy-makerswere unaware of the
problem.Itwasonlyin1993 that "clean"well water wasdiscoveredtocontaindangerousquantitiesof
the metal. Accordingtothe WorldHealthOrganization,estimates of contamination varyfroma lowof
28 to 35 milliontoa highof 77 million—morethanhalf the populationof Bangladesh,one of the most
crowdednations onthe planet.Itis estimatedthatoveramillionIndiansare alsodrinkingarsenic-laced
water.Newercasesof arsenicpoisoninginthe GangesBasinsuggestthatmanyof the region's 449
millionresidentsare atrisk.
Arsenicisthe numberone environmentalhealthconcernworldwide-- andisrankednumberone onthe
federal listof the top275 most hazardoussubstancesfoundattoxicwaste sites. Exposure tohighlevels
of the metal can cause cancers of the skin,bladder,kidney,andlung,anddiseasesof the bloodvessels
of the legsandfeet,aswell aspossiblydiabetes,highbloodpressure,andreproductive disorders. It's
alsolinkedtokidney,nasal,liverandprostate cancers. The predominantcancer risk is through drinking
water. Inconsistenciesremaininthe studiesof arseniccarcinogenesis,butthe mainpointisthis:even
thoughmuch remainstobe learnedabouthow arseniccausescancer,there isno doubtthat it does.If
indeedarsenicisanendocrine disruptoraswell asa silencerof cancer-protectinggenes,thennosafe
level of exposure mayexist.
Thisis incrediblyrelevantwiththe developmentof transportationandtappingintogroundwater
throughoutthe state-- asarsenicisfoundinbedrock, fromwhichit can leach intogroundwaterorrise
to the surface whencoal or metal oresare mined. Asa resultof irrigation,arsenicisbroughtfromthe
subsurface tothe soil surface.Anincrease inarsenicconcentrationinthe soil surface,asaresultof
irrigation,candetrimentallyimpactcropgrowthand isa source of entryof arsenicto the foodchain.
Ground-waterresourcescurrentlysupplyapproximately18percentof the state’sneedsandground-
waterdevelopmentiscontinuingata fastpace. However,the technologydoes notexisttodetect
arseniclevelsthatEPA officialsare pushingtoreduce the standardto. However,Boulderisthe firstin
the state to have an arseniceffluentstandardinitsdischarge permit;ithasthe in house capabilityto
testfor arsenicat low standards,while inprioryearsthere were onlytwolabsinthe UnitedStatesthey
were able touse for testing.
SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING ARSENIC CONTAMINATION
 Utilize Boulder'sarsenicactionplanasa model forthe state:channel more fundingtowater
treatmentresearchanddevelopment,includingionexchange,reverse osmosis, andelectric
dialysis.
 Analyze constructiondewateringrulesstatewide.
 Develop more methodsof educationonthe ColoradoPrimaryDrinkingWaterRegulations.

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 Collaborate withWaterforPeople onoutreach!
 Get the publicmore involvedinwaterqualitystakeholdergroupsbythe nextrulemakingin
2016.
 Determine if there issubstantial bioconcentrationof arsenicoccurringinColorado’ssurface
waters,andif so, determine the extentof thisbioconcentration.
Fluoridation
"We makethe mistakein reasoning thatthefluorinein the wateris thecause of the betterteeth, when
we should lookto thepresence of liberal amountsof thecalcium-bearing and phosphorus-bearing
apatiteputting morecalcium and more phosphorusin the foodsatthe sametime that by decomposition
it is putting fluorineinto thewater percolating down through thesoil." - Dr. William A. Albrecht,
Fluoridation of PublicDrinking Water
Fluoridationwasfirstadvancedinthe USat the endof the secondWorldWar, andit isnow in abouttwo
thirdsof the watersupplyinthe US. Proponentsarguedthatfluorideinwaterandtoothpaste would
helptoprotect teethandpreventdecay.Overthe followingdecades,fluoride wasaddedtopublicwater
suppliesacrossthe country. Fluoride isakeyingredientinindustryusedformakingaluminum,steel,
high-octane gasoline,andforenrichinguranium.The real issue wasin"greenwashing"the pollution
fromthese industrial plantsandpollution,asindustriesare responsible forpotential damage forinjuries
to workers.A medical studycommissionedbyindustryatthe UniversityOf Cincinnatiinthe 1950s
showedthatfluoride isprofoundlyinjurioustolungsandlymphnodesinexperimentalanimals.That
studywas buried. Todaythe fluoridesthatgoesinourdrinkingwaterisalmostexclusivelyraw industrial
pollutionfromthe FloridaPhosphate Industry.It’sawaste that’sscrubbedfromthe smokestacksand
truckedintankersand dumpedintoreservoirs.
While the benefitsof fluoridationhave beenheldtobe unquestionable,accumulatingevidencepoints
to a alternative prospect:thatfluoride mayhave seriousadverse healtheffects,includinginfant
mortality,congenitaldefectsand decreasingIQ1
.Fluoride poisonsenzymes;the halogeninhibitsmany
enzymesbybindingwiththe metal ionstheyrequireinordertofunction.Itinhibitsothersbyadirect
poisoningactionof theirproteincontent. Fluoride alsohasatoxiceffectongenesandgene function;
researchat the International Institute forthe Studyof HumanReproduction,ColumbiaUniversity
College of PhysiciansandSurgeons,aswell asatthe Universityof Missouri,hasprovedthatfluoride it
mutagenic,i.e.itdamagesgenesinmammalsatdosesapproximatingthose humansreceive from
artificial fluoridationexposure.
Fluoride isusedbythe bodyina desperate attempttoreplace iodineif the bodyisdeficientiniodine.As
a consequence,thyroidmedicineusuallyhastobe doubledin60 dayswhena medical physicianorders
Prozac.Any personwithoutproper iodine levelsinvitesfluoridemimickingiodine.The bodythen
attemptsto utilize the fluoride asthoughitwas iodine,alwaysunsuccessfully.Inthe process,itshuts
downall the clinical pathwaystothe thyroid.Fully71 pathways, orenzymes,thusbecome annihilated.
Enzyme constructionandthyroxinutilizationbecome the observedandmeasuredresults.Fluoridealso
has the capacityto bindlithiuminthe brain2
.
1 DemocracyNow. "The Fluoride Deception:How a Nuclear Waste Byproduct Made Its WayIntothe Nation’s Drinking Water."
<http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/17/the_fluoride_deception_how_a_nuclear>.
2 Walters, Charles. "Minerals for the Genetic Code: An ExpositionandAnalysisof the Dr. Olree Standard Genetic Periodic Chart
and the Physical, ChemicalandBiological Connection."

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SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING FLUORIDATION
 End fluoridationof drinkingwater.
Mining____________________________________________________________________________
Outdated Mining Laws,Abandoned Mines
There are an estimated500,000 abandonedhardrockminesinthe West,accordingtoEarthworks.The
US Bureau of Minesestimatesthat12,000 milesof the waterwaysof the Western US, or about40
percent,are contaminatedbymetalsfromacidmine drainage,mostlybyabandonedmines,while
abandonedmine runoff continuestotaint180,000 acres of lakes.InColorado,2,751 abandonedmine
siteshave possibleimpactsonwaterqualityin20 watersheds.All toooften,noviable financially
responsible partyexistsforthe abandonedmines.Whilethe waterqualityinthe vicinityof the mine
continuestobe impaired,noone canbe heldresponsibleforcleaningitup.Further,the General Mining
Law of 1872 (GML) continuestoregulate the extractionof hardrockminerals;accordingtoJane
Danowitz,publiclandsdirectorforthe Pew EnvironmentGroup, inaNew York Timesinterview,"Thisis
a law thatbasicallyhasn'tbeenchangedinalmost140 years."Asthe GML allowsminingcompaniesto
take approximately$1billionannuallyinmetalsfrompubliclandswithoutpaymentof aroyalty,funds
for remediationeffortsare notsufficientforthe task.
While Superfundwasdevelopedtoaddressabandonedhazardouswaste siteswhenliable partiesno
longerexistoreithercannotorwill notundertake acleanup,ittoolacks the necessaryfunds.Underthe
Superfundlaw,the EPA wasorderedtodevelopalistof more than 400 prioritysitesnationwide,atleast
one ineach state.The agency soonrecognizedthatthe scope of the problemwasmuchlarger,
estimatingthat2,000 siteswouldultimatelybe includedonthe National PrioritiesList.In1985, as the
original legislationwasabouttoexpire,the now disbandedOffice of TechnologyAssessment(OTA)
issueditsreport—SuperfundStrategy—whichconcludedthatthe magnitude of the hazardouswaste
problemwasmuchlargerthan mostlawmakershadenvisioned.Accordingtothe OTA,the numberof
sitescouldmushroomtomore than 10,000, requiringcleanupeffortsoveraspan of perhaps50 years.
The report estimatedthatcostsborne bySuperfundcouldreach$100 billionand thatoverall coststo
the nationcouldtotal several timesthatamount.The Superfundprogramhasinpast receivedfunding
fromtwo sources:general fundsfromthe Treasuryandbalancesinthe Superfundtrustfund.Inearlier
years,revenuesforthe trust fundcame fromthree dedicatedexcisetaxesandanenvironmental
corporate income tax.Those taxesexpiredinDecember1995, and the amountof unobligatedmoneyin
the funddeclinedtozerobythe endof FY2003. The program iscurrentlychargedwiththe cleanupof
nearly1,300 hazardouswaste sitesacrossthe country; one infourAmericanslive withinthree milesof a
contaminatedsite posingseriousriskstohumanhealthandthe environment,accordingtothe EPA.
For those concernedwithjobcreation,thinkof how manyjobswe can create throughenvironmental
remediationeffortsfromhistoricminingandbeyond.The economiccrashand crisisof the pastyears
can be transformedintoacatalystfor a new economicparadigm-- aneconomythatisnotbasedoff of
70 percentconsumption,butcreative thought,the healthof the environmentandsubsequent
biodiversity.
Fracking
Before frackingthe NorthForkValley--the state’shighestconcentrationof organicfarmsandranches--
and beyond,we collectivelyneed toanalyze the environmental,economicandsocial impactsfrom
historicminingtounderstandfracking’spotential ramifications.Suchimpactscanbe attributedtoboth
a lack of industryandpublicconcernabout potential hazardsandanabsence of environmental

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regulation.Further,asresearchfromthe National Environmental EducationFoundationstatesthatonly
1-2 percentof Americanscouldbe considered“environmentallyliterate,”the depthof potential hazards
fromhydraulicfracturingisnot fullyunderstoodbyanyone-- scientistsandcitizensalike.Overhalf of all
the shale gas everdevelopedinthe worldhasbeenproducedinthe lastthree years,whichhasresulted
innearlyall of the peer-reviewedscientificresearchonthe environmental andpublichealth
consequencesof shale gashavingbeendoneinthe lastyearand a half.The legacyof historicmining
shouldprovide alessontostrengthenourmindfulnessof extractive industries-- inparticular,hydraulic
fracturing-- andour ownunderstanding of the earth.
Environmental regulationandconcernaboutpotential hazardsregardinghydraulicfracturingisalso
incomplete.The hydraulicfracturingprocessitself isexemptfromsevenmajorfederal regulations:
• The CleanWater Act andSafe Water DrinkingAct:The Safe DrinkingWaterAct'sUnderground
InjectionControl programprotectsundergroundsourcesof drinkingwaterfromcontaminationby
injectedfluids.In2005 the EnergyPolicyActamendedthe Safe DrinkingWaterActto exclude
hydraulicfracturingfromthe definitionof "undergroundinjection."Due tothe "Halliburton
loophole"pushedthroughbyformerVice-President/formerHalliburtonCEODickCheney,
corporationsare exemptedfromrevealingthe chemicalsusedinfrackingfluid;
• the Resource ConservationandRecoveryAct,whichhasexemptedall oilandgasexplorationand
productionwastesfromfederal regulationspertainingtohazardouswaste since 1988;
• the Superfundlaw,whichrequiresthatpollutersremediateforcarcinogenslikebenzenereleased
intothe environment,exceptif theycome fromoil orgas;
• the Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,andLiabilityAct,whichexcludes
partiesinvolvedinoil ornatural gas that have contributedtoenvironmentalmessfromlegal
responsibilityforthe costof cleaningitup.CERCLA excludesoil andgasproductsand anychemicals
containedinthem(unlessotherwise regulated);
• the National Environmental PolicyAct,whichrequiresgovernmentagenciestoconsiderthe
environmental impact of theiractions,andrequirespubliccommentandevaluationof alternatives
throughan environmental impactstatementprocesswhenasignificantimpactislikely.The 2005
EnergyPolicyActcreateda categorical exclusionforsome typesof oil orgaswell expansions,
allowingthemtooccur withlimitedreview.The publicnow hastoprove significantharmto
challenge anythingonthe basisof NEPA violations.
• the ToxicRelease Inventoryunderthe EmergencyPlanningandCommunityRight-to-KnowAct,
whichthe oil and gas industryisexemptfromreportingreleasesof toxicmaterialsinthe Toxic
Release Inventory.
• the CleanAirAct, whichrequiresthe EPA tolistmajorand clusteredminorcategoriesof sourcesof
air pollution,buthasnot includedwellsorfieldsallowingoperatorstoavoidemissionscontrols
standards.
In the past year,Colorado,TexasandPennsylvaniahave movedtotightenstate regulationsandrequire
mandatorydisclosure of what'sinthe frackingfluids,butloopholesstillremain."We don'tknow the
chemicalsthatare involved,"VikasKapil,chief medical officeratthe National CenterforEnvironmental
Health,admittedata recentconference."We don'thave a greathandle onthe toxicologyof fracking
chemicals."Dr.TheoColburnof the Endocrine DisruptionExchange hasspearheadedresearchonthe
toxicologyof frackingchemicals,payingparticularmindfulnesstoendocrinedisruption.Endocrine-
drivendisordersinclude ADDandautism.She notedina2010 Democracy Now interview that944
chemicalsare usedinnatural gas extraction,andthatwe know between95 and100 percentof about 14
percentof the chemicalsthatare beingused,andnothingisknownabout43 percentof the productsin
use.Further,the EPA is currentlypursuingacomprehensivestudyof groundwatercontaminationfrom

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hydraulicfracturing,andintendstorelease afinal reportin2014. Shale gasdevelopmenthasalready
causedsignificantsurface waterpollution.Frackingfluidsextractchemical substancesfromshales,
includingtoxicandcarcinogenicaromatichydrocarbons,toxicmetals,andradioactivematerials.Some
of these materialsare releasedtothe environmentwhenblowoutsandotheraccidentsoccur.A greater
route of release andexposure comesfromdisposalof frac-returnfluids.Approximately20 percentof
the material usedinhydraulicfracturingflowsbacktothe surface inthe firstfew weeksafterfracturing
withall of the addedandextractedchemical substances.
Rare EarthElements
US Rare Earths saidin a release thatithas stakedadditional claimsinthe areabeyondits4,000-acre
holdingColorado'sPowderhornmineral belts.Thoriumhasbeenfoundsince 1949 in at least33 deposits
inan area six mileswide and20 mileslonginthe Powderhorndistrict,Gunnison,CO;the districthas
longbeenknownforitsalkalicigneousrocks,of whichthe bestknownare those of the Iron Hill
composite stock.The districtisdrainedbythree northward-flowingtributariesof the GunnisonRiver:
WillowCreek,CebollaCreek,andthe Lake Forkof the Gunnison.
US Representative HankJohnsonreintroducedthe Resource Assessmentof Rare Earths(RARE) Act of
2013 to CongressinMarch 2013. Itis a bill aimedatsecuringrare earth suppliesandreducingChina’s
monopolyonthe market.RAREdirectsthe UnitedStatesGeological Survey(USGS) toconducta three-
year,comprehensive globalmineral assessmentof rare earthelements(REEs).The USGSglobal
assessment,conductedwithgeologicalsurveysof partnernationsaroundthe world,will identifyand
quantifyindividual rare earthelementsinknowndeposits,improveunderstandingof the distribution
and formationof rare earth elementdeposits,assesslikelyundiscovereddepositsworldwide,analyze
the state of the complete rare earthssupplychainfromminingtomanufacturing,andrecommend
furtherresearchandstepsto improve ourunderstandingandensure access.
SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING FRACKING,ABANDONED MINES, OUTDATED MINING
LEGISLATION AND THE MINING OFRARE EARTH ELEMENTS
 Clarifypotential disposaloptionsforwastewaterandotherwastescontainingradioactivity.
 Encourage congressional memberstopassGeneral MiningLaw reform, the GoodSamaritan
Law, the federal budgetwiththe hardrockmininglanguageintact,reinstatingSuperfundtaxes--
and demandingparallel regulationsandtaxationforthe hydraulicfracturingindustry.
 Pushlegislation thatwouldallow westernstatestotapfederal fundsearmarkedforcoal mine
clean-upanduse themto addresssafetyandenvironmentalissuesatabandonedhardrock
miningsitesinstead.
o In Colorado,the law’spassage wouldmeanthatthe Divisionof Reclamation,Mining
and Safetywouldbe able toaffordtotake onapproximately100additional projects
annuallyforthe nextfew years.
 Supportfurtherstudiesonradioactivitybeforeallowing rare earthelementanduranium mining.
 Regulate the hydraulicfracturingprocessunderthe followslaws andacts:
o The CleanWater Act andSafe Water DrinkingAct;
o the Resource ConservationandRecoveryAct;
o the Superfundlaw;
o the Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,andLiabilityAct;
o the National Environmental PolicyAct;
o the ToxicRelease Inventoryunderthe EmergencyPlanningandCommunityRight-to-
KnowAct;
o and the CleanAirAct.

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Agriculture________________________________________________________________________
Fertilizers&PesticidesinAgriculture andWeedControl
The recentwater warninginToledorelatedtoalgal bloomswarmsusof the harms of excessnitrogen
and fertilizer-- theyalsodebunkno-till,nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizer-heavy,mono-culture
agricultural paradigmsperpetuatedbyCargill,Monsantoandthe like.
Nutrients
Nutrientpollutionfromfertilizersisaleadingcause of degradationof U.S.waterquality,andnitrogen
and phosphorusare the nutrientculprits.While ithasbeendiscussedatthe national andstate levelsfor
manyyears,nutrientpollutionisdifficulttodefine andaddressbecauseof the widespreaduse of
fertilizersinagriculture andlandscaping.Accordingtothe National Academyof Sciences,eventhough
farmersuse pesticidesmore widely,homeownersuse 10 timesmore fertilizerperacre.Treatedsewage
isalso a majorcontributorof nutrientpollution.
Nitrogenandphosphorustogethersupportthe growthof algae andaquatic plants,whichprovide food
and habitatforaquatic life.However,excessnitrogenandphosphorusinaquaticsystemscanstimulate
over- productionof biomass,leadingtochangesinbiologicalintegrity.Nitrogenpollution canrender
entire stretchesof waterbodiesdead-- forexample fertilizerrunoff hascreateda5,800 square mile
deadzone inthe Gulf of Mexico. Harmful algal bloomsnegativelyimpactthe foodwebbydecreasingthe
amountof nutritious,edible phytoplanktonthatzooplanktonandotherprimaryconsumersneedto
survive.These organismsmaythenstarve,leadingtodecreasedfoodforhigherorderconsumerssuchas
fish.Harmful algal bloomscanblocksunlightfromphytoplanktonunderthe water’ssurface,leadingto
decreasedfoodandoxygenlevels.Whenharmful algal bloomsbegintobreakdownanddie,theycan
decrease dissolvedoxygenlevels,achange that can be lethal tootheraquatic organismsandcause fish
kills.The toxinsproducedbyharmful algal bloomsare aconcern forhumanhealth-- theyare possible
carcinogenstohumans,and currentresearchisstudyingthe linkbetweencertaincyanobacterial toxins
and neurological diseasessuchasLou Gehrig’sdisease.Themostcommontoxiniscalledmicrocystins.
There are at least60 differenttypesof microcystins,andtheirtoxicitycanvarysignificantly.The WHO
standardfor microcystin-LRindrinkingwateris1.0µg/L,butthere are no similarstandardsforwatersin
the UnitedStates.
Toxinsof mycrocystins:
Toxin Types Examples Effects
Neurotoxins
Anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(s), saxitoxin,
neosaxitoxin
Affectscentral nervoussystem, causes
seizures, paralysis, respiratory failure,
and death
Hepatotoxins
Microcystins, nodularins,
cylindrospermopsin
Affects liver, causes hemorrhaging,
tissue damage, tumors, liver cancer,
and death
Dermatotoxins and
Gastrointestinal toxins
Aplysiatoxins, lyngbyatoxin-a,
lipopolysaccharide endotoxins
Affects skin and mucous membranes,
causes rashes, respiratory illness,
headache, and stomach upset
Cytotoxins Cylindrospermopsin
Affects liver and other organs; causes
chromosome loss, DNA strand

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breakage, and organ damage
I am thankful thatinMarch 2012, Coloradopassednew rulestotackle nutrientpollution,yet
disappointedthatagriculture isnotbe regulated.Agriculture remainsthe mainsource of nutrients;it
wouldbe verywise forColorado'sWaterPlanto make thisamendment.
GermanscientistJustusVonLiebigwasresponsible forthe theorythatNitrogen,Phosphorous,and
Potassiumlevelsare the basisfordetermininghealthyplantgrowth.However,thistheory,whichdates
to the 1800s, doesn'ttake intoaccountthe dozensof othernutrientsandelementsthatare essentialto
plantgrowthsuch as sulfur,hydrogen,oxygen,carbon,magnesium,etc.Nordoesthe theorytalkabout
the importance of beneficial soil organismsthathelpplantsfightoff pestsanddiseases3
.Infact,
elementssuchascarbon,hydrogen,oxygen,sulfur,magnesium, copper,cobalt,sodium,boron,
molybdenum,andzincare justas importanttoplantdevelopmentasN-P-K4
.SomedisturbingfactsI
have learnedaboutnitrogen,beyondthe algal blooms,include:
o Nitrogenisespeciallytoxictofishandinvertebrates. It'salsotoxictohumans;people whodepend
on rural,private wellsfortheirwatersource have one of the higherratesof a conditioncalled
Methemoglobinemia,akaBlue BabySyndrome,whichdamagesbloodcellsandistracedto high
Nitrates5
.
o Reactive nitrogenincreasesatmosphericozone levels,causingrespiratorydiseasesandhurtingcrop
yieldsandproducesacidrain.To top itoff,oceanicnitrogenisconvertedtonitrousoxide,a
greenhouse gas6
.
o The kindof nitrogentypicallyfoundinchemical fertilizersdissolvesveryquicklyinwater.Thismeans
that excessnitrogenmayfinditswayintogroundwaterandfreshwatersources andcontaminate the
water.Additionally,manychemical fertilizersare now usingphosphoricacidto create a high
phosphorouscontentquicklyandcheaply; thiskindof phosphorousessentiallyneutralizesother
importanttrace mineralsfromthe soil that plantsneed.
Accordingto SandraSteinberger's"RaisingElijah,"in2009, nitrogenfertilizerwasusedonnearlyall
conventionallygrowndurumwheat,94percentof otherspringwheat,and83 percentof winterwheat.
In 2009, 2,968,000,000 poundsof nitrogenfertilizer were usedtogrow America'swheatin2009. Almost
all of these nearlythree billionpoundswerecreatedfromnatural gas.Five percentof global natural gas
reservesisturnedintonitrogenfertilizer--all byitself,the UnitedStatesconsumes2.2billionpoundsof
nitrogenfertilizerayear.Do we reallywantthe whole world'sagricultural systemtoride atandem
bicycle withthe oil andgas industry?
 A 2010 healthrankingstudyundertakenbythe RobertWoodJohnsonFoundationshowedthat
some of the leasthealthycountiesinthe USare locatedinbumpercrop regions.Andyet,for
manyof these counties,the listof theirunderlyingproblemsincludethe phrase:"lacksaccessto
healthy,affordable food."
Pesticides
The firstsystematiccomparisonof pesticideresiduesinorganicandnonorganicfoodswascarriedout in
2002. Examiningthe datafrommore than 90,000 samplesof produce,the authorsof thisstudyfound
3 Explanationof NPKand fertilizers. <http://www.cleanairgardening.com/npkexplanation.html>.
4 Garrett, Howard. “Plants for Texas.” <http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exgarhow.html>.
5 Keim, Brandon. “Reactive Nitrogen:The Next Big PollutionProblem.” WiredScience. May15, 2008.
<www.blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/05/reactive-nitrog.html>.
6 Keim, Brandon. “Reactive Nitrogen:The Next Big Pollution Problem.” WiredScience. May15, 2008.
<www.blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/05/reactive-nitrog.html>.

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that nearlythree-quartersconventionallygrownfoodshaddetectable pesticide residues.Three quarters
of organiccrops had none.Organophosphatesblockthe actionof anenzyme thatregulatesa
neurotransmitterandare thus brainpoisons.Assessingthe powerof pesticidestoinfluence children's
hormonesisthe part of the jobmandatedbythe FoodQualityProtectionAct-- thoughitisnotyetdone,
eventhoughthe EPA was originallygivena1999 deadline.
 2, 4-D isan herbicide thathasbeen linkedwithbirthdefects.
 Chlorpyrifosisanorganophosphatethathasbeenlinkedtocognitivedeficitsinchildren.
Emergingevidencealsolinksittoautism.Organophosphate pesticidesinparticularcaninduce
spasmsinbronchial tubesandcontribute toairwayhyperactivitybyalteringthe functioningof
nervesthatsupplythe musclesof the airways.Organophosphatesinterferewiththe recyclingof
the neurotransmitteracetylcholine,one of the messagingsignalsthatflow betweenneurons.
There isno national pesticideregistryinthe US.Farmersare not required-- asare manufacturers-- to
reporttheirchemical releases.
In a 2007 study,a teamof biologistsatthe Universityof Michiganconcludedthatlegumaceouscover
crops couldfix enoughnitrogentoreplace all the fossil-fuel derivedfertilizernow inuse.Thus,they
dispute the ideathatorganicagriculture isconstrainedbylackof nitrogen.More centrally,the same
researchteamdisputesthe evidence thatorganicfarmingsuffersfromloweryields.Inareview of 293
studiesthatcomparedyieldsof organicandconventionalfarmsinbothdevelopedanddeveloping
nations,researchersfoundparity.Inthe US,yieldsonorganicfarmswere about92 percentof the yields
producedbyconventional agriculture,whereasindevelopingcountries,yieldswere actuallyhigher.
The secondmost commonpesticide usedinthe US,atrazine,enhancesthe productionof anenzyme
calledaromatase,whichisusedbythe bodyto converttestosterone intoestrogen.The endresultis
higherestrogenlevels.Like children,amphibiansare uniquelysensitive topesticides.Trace exposure to
the weedkilleratrazine hasbeenfoundtoemasculate male tadpoles--inarecentstudy,male frogs
exposedtoatrazine turnedintofully functional femalesthatmatedwithmalesandproducedeggs.
Accordingto researchersatthe National Institute forEnvironmental HealthSciences,60percentof
Americansare exposed,mostlythroughdrinkingwater,toatrazine.In2006, inspite of the remaining
uncertaintiesof atrazine'shealtheffects,atrazinewasbannedforuse inthe EuropeanUnion.Alongwith
phthalates,PCBs,andairpollution,atrazineappearsonthe listof chemicalswithdemonstrable linksto
shorterpregnancyandlowerbirthweights.
Organicfarmingprohibitsthe use of syntheticpesticides.Organicacresstill onlyaccountfor0.7 percent
of total US crop acreage.Of US cows,2.7 percentare raisedorganically.Of USegg-layinghens,1.5
percentare raisedorganically.Inessence,organicagriculture isaformof farmingthatreplacessynthetic
chemicalswithecosystemservices.Organicagriculture sowsthe seedsof itsownpreservation.
Weed Control
I am callingforan alternative approachtonoxiousweedmanagement;the new fieldof ecology,invasion
biology,sprangforthfromCharlesEtoninjust1958. Seenfroma differentperspective,the development
termed"invasion"couldalsobe describedasvegetationdynamicorsuccessional change thatisa
natural processof plantspeciesandecosystemstodeal with disruptionsandopenings.Inadditionto
widespreadphysical alterationstolandscapes,massive upheavalstoecosystemsoccurfrom
contaminationbynumerousinvisible pollutantsthathave leachedintothe water,soil,andair.Insuch
disturbedecosystems,manyof the native plantsare poisonedandare lessable todeal withupheaval,
but the weedy,invasiveplantscope wellandevenflourishinthe toxicsurroundings. Forexample,
Canada thistle,bindweed,leafyspurge,sowthistle,knapweed,andyellow starthistle displayeda

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significantgrowthresponse (110percent) toincreasingCO2levelsduringthe twentiethcentury,with
the growthanticipatedtobe an additional 46 percentoverthe next100 years. Overusedanddepleted
rangelandsare the areasmost inneedof thistle;itkeepsforagingcattle fromsuchlandsand
discouragesfarmerswithitsvirulence.Thistle'srootsaerate the generallyhardsoil of improperly
managedrangeland,andovertime,the plantincreasesbiomasstorestore andconserve the topsoil
fromblowingaway.
By the dawnof the twentiethcentury,lawswere passedbythe USCongresstocontrol the plantsthat
impededthe progressof the greatagricultural machine.The regulationsstartedwiththe Lacey Actof
1900, followbythe PlantPestAct,the PlantQuarantine Act,andthe General NoxiousWeedActof 1974,
inwhichwere targetedplantsthat"can directlyorindirectlyinjure crops,otherusefulplants,livestock,
poultry,orotherinterestsof agriculture,includingirrigation,navigation,fishandwildlife resources,or
the publichealth.CornellUniversityclaimsthateachyearthe US spends34.7 billiondollarsinfighting
noxiousweeds7
.
The secondmost commonpesticide usedinthe US,atrazine,enhancesthe productionof anenzyme
calledaromatase,whichisusedbythe bodyto converttestosterone intoestrogen.The endresultis
higherestrogenlevels.Like children,amphibiansare uniquelysensitive topesticides.Trace exposure to
the weedkilleratrazine hasbeenfoundtoemasculate male tadpoles--inarecentstudy,male frogs
exposedtoatrazine turnedintofullyfunctional femalesthatmatedwithmalesandproducedeggs.
Accordingto researchersatthe National Institute forEnvironmental HealthSciences,60percentof
Americansare exposed,mostlythroughdrinkingwater,toatrazine.In2006, inspite of the remaining
uncertaintiesof atrazine'shealtheffects,atrazinewasbannedforuse inthe EuropeanUnion.Alongwith
phthalates,PCBs,andairpollution,atrazineappearsonthe listof chemicalswithdemonstrable linksto
shorterpregnancyandlowerbirthweights.
SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING AGRICULTURE, NUTRIENT POLLUTION & PESTICIDE USE
 Supportorganicagriculture.
 Supportperennial grainproduction.
 Regulate agriculture fornutrientpollution,eventuallydiscontinuinguse of syntheticfertilizersas
well asnitrogenandphosphorusrichfertilizers-- -- optinginsteadforlegumaceouscovercrops
to fix nitrogen.
 Supportstudiesof growinghemptoabsorbexcessnutrients.
 Supportresearchof mycrocystins.
 Developmandatorytestingof algal-bloomheavyareasformycrocystins.Thus,support new
technologies tomonitorpollutionlevelsinthe environment.EPA isstudyinginnovative
technologiesthatwill measurenutrientpollutioninthe airand waterusingsatellites,portable
and groundremote sensorsaswell asmeasurementandmodel data.These technologies
enhance currentmonitoringactivitiesandalsoprovide cheaperandfasterinformationon
nutrientsandotherpollutants.
 Oregonand Washingtoninthe U. S. have fertilizerregistrationprogramswithon-line databases
listingchemical analysesof fertilizers--create the same inColorado.
 Create a functioningendocrine-screeningprogram, withvalidatedprotocols,asmandatedby
the 1996 legislation.
Chemical Regulation_________________________________________________________________
7 Lee Scott, Timothy. "InvasivePlantMedicine:The Ecological benefits and healingabilities of invasives."

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Accordingto SandraSteinberger's"RaisingElijah:Protectingourchildreninthe age of environmental
crisis,"only200 of the more than80,000 syntheticchemicalsusedinthe UnitedStateshave beentested
underthe ToxicControl SubstancesActof 1976, and exactlynone of themare regulatedonthe basisof
theirpotential toaffectinfantorchilddevelopment. Currentlawsdonotrequire the screeningof
chemicalsfortheirabilitytodamage oralterpathwaysof brain growth,andonlyabout20 percentof
the 3,000 chemicalsproducedinhighvolume inthe UShave beentestedfordevelopmental orpediatric
effects.
Further,of the 300-odd chemicalsthatare presumedingredientsof frackingfluid,40percentare
endocrine disruptorsanda thirdare suspectedcarcinogens.A thirdare developmental toxicants.Over
60 percentcan harm the brainand nervoussystem.
SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING CHEMICAL REGULATION
 Provide supportforthe ToxicChemical SafetyAct.Chemicalreformshouldbe basedonthe
precautionaryprinciple.
Education_________________________________________________________________________
Accordingto the National Environmental EducationFoundation,the average Americanadult,regardless
of age,income,orlevel of education,mostlyfailstograspessential aspectsof environmental science,
importantcause/effectrelationships,orevenbasicconceptssuchasrunoff pollution,powergeneration
and fuel use,orwaterflowpatterns.Forexample,about80percentof Americansare heavilyinfluenced
by incorrector outdatedenvironmental myths;just12percentof Americancanpass a basicquizon
awarenessof energytopics.
Further,NEEFassertsthat national studiesindicate that47 percentof all natural resource agencyfield
staff and 77 percentof all leadershipstaff are expectedtoretire by2015, leavingavoidin outdoorand
science positionsinColoradoandacrossthe nation.Nearlyone thirdof childreninColoradolive in
neighborhoodswithoutapark, playground,recreationcenter,trail,orothersafe place toplay.Thus,in
additiontoenvironmental literacy,Coloradoschoolsandcommunityprovidersmustpromote outdoor
recreation,suchas hunting,fishing,archeryandadventure education,toensure all Coloradoanstudents
have the opportunitytofosterconnectionsandroutinesinthe outdoors.Coloradoteachersand
studentshave workedonwetlandcreations,xeriscaping,windbreaks,nature trailsandurbanwildfire
habitatprojectsaroundtheirschools.
Professionalenvironmental educatorsoftengive shortshrifttothe media.Butchildrengetmore
environmental information(83percent) fromthe mediathanfromany othersource.Formost adults,
the mediaisthe onlysteadysource of environmentalinformation.
SUGGESTIONSFOR THE PLANREGARDING ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION
 Seta goal that a greaternumberof ColoradoSchoolsbecome U.S.Departmentof Education
GreenRibbonSchools(ED-GRS) inColorado. Typical characteristicsof these award-winning
schoolsisthat theyexercise acomprehensive approachtocreating“green”environments
throughreducingenvironmentalimpact,promotinghealth,andensuringahigh-quality
environmental andoutdooreducationtoprepare studentswiththe 21stcenturyskillsand
sustainabilityconceptsneededinthe growingglobal economy.
 Supportexperiential learningandschool gardens.

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APPENDICES
In 1860, humanity produced 15 metric tons of reactive nitrogen. By 1995, that number stood at 156
tons, and swelledto 185 tons by 2005. Those numbers are small in comparison to global CO2
emissions — 27 billiontons annually — but the impacts are magnified by what James Galloway, a
University of Virginiabiogeochemist and co-author of the review,calls the nitrogen cascade8
.
8 Keim, Brandon. “Reactive Nitrogen: TheNext Big Pollution Problem.” Wired Science. May 15, 2008.
<www.blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/05/reactive-nitrog.html>.