Welcome to A People's Atlas of Nuclear Colorado
Navigating the Atlas
Using the buttons on the left, you may also browse the Atlas's artworks and scholarly essays, access geolocated material on a map, and learn more about contributors to the project.
If you would like to contribute materials to the Atlas, please reach out to the editors: Sarah Kanouse (s.kanouse at northeastern.edu) and Shiloh Krupar (srk34 at georgetown.edu).
Cover Image by Shanna Merola, "An Invisible Yet Highly Energetic Form of Light," from Nuclear Winter.
Atlas design by Byse.
Funded by grants from Georgetown University and Northeastern University. Initial release September 2021.
Site
Butterfly and Burrell Mines
The Butterfly and Burrell Mine Sites are former uranium mines located near Uranium Peak in Rio Blanco County. In 2005, the White River National Forest conducted a site assessment and confirmed the presence and release of hazardous materials from the site. Both mines are situated on the south-facing slope of the Coal Creek drainage. Coal Creek is a perennial stream that ultimately discharges to the White River. Hazardous materials identified in soil analysis include elevated levels of arsenic and uranium. Surface water sampling below the mine site confirmed elevated levels of uranium due to soil erosion. The Forest Service has determined these hazardous materials pose an unsafe human health risk to the general public and to the environment and are taking steps towards final reclamation of this site.
Sources
WISE Uranium Project. "Decommissioning Projects—Colorado, USA." July 29, 2019 [last updated]. Accessed July 31, 2020.
Au’ Authum Ki, Inc. "Site Assessment Report Butterfly and Burrell Mines Rio Blanco County, Colorado." Prepared for White River National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. December 20, 2005. Accessed July 31, 2020.