Bennet, Pettersen Push to Advance Lincoln Park Superfund Site Clean-up

Sep 14, 2026 | Press Releases

Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Brittney Pettersen (D-Colo.) pushed to advance the clean-up of the Cotter / Lincoln Park Superfund Site near Cañon City, which has awaited cleanup for more than 40 years.

In the letter, the lawmakers urge EPA to move forward with the next step of the Superfund remediation process, which includes developing a detailed planning document for collecting, testing, and validating environmental data from the main portion of the site to Superfund standards. The lawmakers also ask EPA to provide clear timelines to the community for progression through the overall Superfund process.

"[…] It is critical that EPA continue to move forward with site mitigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), collaborating with Cotter Corporation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the local communities to facilitate the responsible cleanup of the Lincoln Park Superfund Site," wrote the lawmakers.

The Lincoln Park Superfund site is a 2,600-acre decommissioned uranium, vanadium, and molybdenum processing mill that consistently discharged liquid waste containing radionuclides and heavy metals into 11 largely unlined waste ponds for about 20 years. In 1984, the mill was designated a Superfund site because high contamination levels posed a risk to human health and the surrounding environment. Yet, four decades later, this site has barely advanced through the Superfund process, with progress impeded by multiple ownership changes, as remediation plans need to be restructured after each liability switch. This uncertainty has left many residents frustrated and concerned about the future of the site.

"Many community members have spent decades advocating for the remediation of this site, and they deserve clear information about when they can expect meaningful progress" continued the lawmakers.

"Members of the Lincoln Park / Cotter Community Advisory Group appreciate the assistance of Senator Bennet and Congresswoman Pettersen in helping to move the Cotter Superfund site closer to a cleanup. The Cañon City area has waited more than 42 years. We've not only had no cleanup in all those decades, we have not even had comprehensive environmental testing to determine all the places that are contaminated," said Emily Tracy, Chair of the Lincoln Park / Cotter Community Advisory Group.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write in continued support of the cleanup of the Cotter/Lincoln Park Superfund Site in Fremont County, Colorado. As you know, the Lincoln Park Superfund Site sits two miles south of Cañon City, Colorado, a major transit and tourism hub in Southern Colorado. It is critical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to move forward with site mitigation following the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) procedures, collaborating with Cotter Corporation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the local communities to facilitate the responsible cleanup of the Lincoln Park Superfund Site.

The 2,600-acre Lincoln Park Site has a long history of contaminating the area and cleanup has progressed minimally through CERCLA procedures since being designated a Superfund site in 1984. The site is home to the decommissioned mill managed by Cotter Corporation that processed various uranium, vanadium, and molybdenum products between 1958 and 1979, discharging liquid waste containing radionuclides and heavy metals into 11 largely unlined waste ponds. Since designation, liability for the site has switched multiple times, slowing down progress as remediation plans need to be restructured each time. The remediation timeline's continued uncertainty has left local residents both frustrated and concerned about the future of the site.

In a recent discussion with Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western, our staff was pleased to hear the Regional Administrator's commitment to the Superfund program and to making meaningful progress at the Lincoln Park Superfund Site. In the meeting, Administrator Western underscored EPA's commitment to promptly carrying out CERCLA procedures as written without cutting corners, while maintaining full transparency with the public and affected communities. We welcome Administrator Western's commitment and urge EPA to ensure this process is implemented at the Lincoln Park Superfund Site and that Region 8 maintains the necessary staff and resources to carry out this vision.

Many community members have spent decades advocating for the remediation of this site, and they deserve clear information about when they can expect meaningful progress. At the Lincoln Park Site, community groups report that the Quality Assurance Project Plan for Operable Unit 1 (QAPP for OU1) has been placed on "pause" for two years while Cotter Corporation undertakes immediate remediation activities, potentially outside the CERCLA process. We respectfully underscore the importance of moving forward with the CERCLA process, including completing the QAPP for OU1, without further delay. High-quality testing conducted to CERCLA standards is essential for accurately understanding risks and determining appropriate remediation. This work is particularly urgent because land within OU1 is now home to an active community and event center. Finally, we respectfully ask EPA to provide the community with concrete timelines for completing the QAPP for OU1, executing comprehensive environmental testing in OU2 and OU3 (as required by the approved QAPPs), and further advancing the CERCLA process for the Site.

We thank you for your continued support for Lincoln Park Superfund Site remediation. As the CERCLA process continues, we look forward to continuing to collaborate to ensure local, state, and federal partners are satisfied with the remediation of the site.

###