A public meeting concerning the Smeltertown Superfund site and regulatory actions at Butala Construction has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th at the Poncha Springs Town Hall beginning at 5:30pm.
The Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety(DRMS) are holding the public meeting to answer questions regarding recent regulatory actions at Butala Construction.
Butala sits on the Smeltertown Superfund site which contains many ground contaminants including creosote, lead, zinc and copper that were used in mining operations stretching back over 100 years.
According to local news sources, DRMS sent a cease-and-desist order to Butala in July for failing to comply with their permit agreement. According to an EPA spokesperson, agencies have been working together to determine the best path forward to protect human health and the environment.
Although the owner of Butala has reportedly requested advice on cleaning up the site, the company has a recent history of violating regulations, including water contamination and moving material from a restricted area
