How could Air National Guard range usage affect the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment?
CDPHE must continue managing environmental risks from historical range usage The historical use of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range by the Air National Guard and other military branches led to the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and munitions on the 100-square-mile plot in Arapahoe County. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has been actively involved in the cleanup process, having signed off on the remediation of the site. Because old rounds are still found in the area, the CDPHE maintains a critical regulatory role in overseeing the management plan and ensuring risk reduction before any further development can proceed.
- Effect
- Mild negative
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Over the long term
- The story
- Gone quiet
How it reaches Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Southshore Recovery Acquisition, LLC filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense to compel payment for cleaning up unexploded bombs and unused munitions on a 105-acre plot in Arapahoe County. Southshore claims it has already spent over $700,000 to manage the cleanup. The land was part of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range, which was used by military branches, including the Air National Guard, from 1937 to around 1963.
The full event1independent outlet -
The range usage, which occurred during World War II and continued through subsequent wars, established the site as a former military range. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has been involved in the cleanup of this site over the years, having created a management plan and signed off on the remediation. This ongoing presence of old rounds means the CDPHE must maintain regulatory oversight.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- westword.com Oct 29
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The 100-square-mile range was first used for bombing training and firing ranges during World War II.westword.com
- The Corps and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have worked to clean up the site over the years.westword.com
- After the CDPHE signed off on the cleanup, the company sold the land to another developer, Richmond American Homes, on Aug. 26, 2020.westword.com
- Old rounds are still found in the area every once in a while.westword.com
Why it matters
The CDPHE's involvement is critical because the site contains unexploded ordnance (UXO) and military munitions, which pose ongoing environmental and public safety risks. The department must manage the balance between allowing land use and ensuring that the hazards left from decades of military training are properly mitigated.
This issue is not unique to this location; the reports note that other areas in the Denver metro, such as William F. Hayden Park, also have signs warning hikers of potential artillery shells, demonstrating a broader, regional challenge in managing legacy military contamination.
What we don't know yet
- What is the current status of the management plan for the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range?
- What specific regulatory requirements does the CDPHE impose on future land development in the area?
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
Reporting
- westword.comOct 29
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