The Boulder City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to contribute up to $200,000 to the controversial Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.
The council heard from a stream of people largely opposed to the proposal, which would expand the length of the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail linking Rocky Flats to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Most of those who spoke asserted that enough plutonium had been left behind at the former nuclear weapons plant to make the land’s use as a recreational facility hazardous.
But Councilwoman Lisa Morzel said Boulder’s participation in the Federal Lands Access Program grant would come with strict conditions: buy-in from other communities near the 5,000-acre refuge and regular sampling for contaminants going forward.
Several of her colleagues said it was critical to keep Boulder at the table, given that the refuge is due to open to the public by the end of next year.
The FLAP grant application is due May 20 and several more communities, including Broomfield, Arvada and Westminster, must vote on participation as well.
John Aguilar: 303-954-1695, jaguilar@denverpost.com or @abuvthefold
