RFD & COMMUNITY

Rocky Flats Downwinders is seeking independent researchers in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, research methodology, health policy and public-health communication to evaluate both CDPHE's Rocky Flats cancer studies and how their findings have been communicated. The objective is not to predetermine whether Rocky Flats caused disease. It is to determine what the existing evidence can—and cannot—establish and ensure that Colorado communicates those distinctions

The Town of Superior has adopted Resolution R-73 supporting H.R. 10115, proposed federal legislation that could expand radiation-exposure compensation eligibility to qualifying people affected by Rocky Flats. The resolution puts the neighboring community's support for the legislation formally on the record.

CDPHE has analyzed cancer-registry data around Rocky Flats for decades. But cancer-registry analysis is not the same as monitoring the long-term health of people who may have been exposed during Rocky Flats operations. Understanding that distinction is essential to understanding what Colorado's cancer studies can—and cannot—tell us.

New federal legislation could extend radiation-exposure compensation to people affected by Rocky Flats, bringing long-sought recognition to downwind communities and renewed attention to their health concerns.

Existing cancer-registry studies provide useful information about people diagnosed while living near Rocky Flats—but that is not the same as following the people who lived there during historically relevant periods. RFD is advocating for independent research that considers residential history, migration, latency, exposure-informed geography and long-term health outcomes.

CDPHE says decades of cancer monitoring have not found elevated rates among residents living near Rocky Flats. But who was actually studied: people present during potential exposure or people living nearby when diagnosed? Our exchange with Colorado’s cancer registry examines this critical distinction

Broomfield's Resolution 2026-115 supports expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act at a critical moment. H.R. 10115 could bring federal recognition and assistance to communities surrounding Rocky Flats—communities that have spent decades asking for greater acknowledgment, health research and support.

With support from a Roddenberry Foundation Catalyst Grant, Rocky Flats Downwinders brought together scientists, community members and a Colorado hemp grower to investigate an unusual question: Could industrial hemp take up plutonium from soil collected near Rocky Flats? The pilot experiment produced intriguing results—and important questions for further research.

Mental health professionals practicing in Arvada, Broomfield, Westminster, Superior, Boulder and other communities near Rocky Flats may encounter clients whose emotional well-being has been affected by the history of the former nuclear weapons plant. Some clients may have lived, worked or attended school near Rocky Flats. Others may be former workers, family members of workers, current residents or people who learned about the site only after receiving a serious medical diagn

A systematic review of 41 studies found that living with chronic environmental contamination can affect anxiety, stress, depression, and trauma symptoms. The research also shows that institutional dismissal of community concerns may deepen the harm.

The 2016 Metro State–RFD Health Survey collected 1,745 community health histories and reported concerning preliminary patterns involving thyroid and rare cancers. The findings were never conclusive—but the study closed before its proposed next steps or a final analysis could be completed.

Rocky Flats Downwinders has created a new resource to help community members discuss their environmental exposure history with their doctors. The Environmental Exposure Letter for Primary Care Providers is designed for people who lived, worked, or attended school near the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. The one-page letter gives healthcare providers a concise overview of Rocky Flats’ operating history, materials associated with the facility, potential long-term heal

New federal legislation could significantly expand who qualifies for compensation for radiation exposure in Colorado, including people who lived near Rocky Flats. In a September 1 report, CBS Colorado examined the proposed Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 and spoke with Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen and community members about why they believe the legislation is needed. Expanding RECA in Colorado Pettersen, who represents Colorado's 7th

A newly introduced federal bill could provide an important form of recognition and compensation for people who lived near Rocky Flats and later developed qualifying illnesses. As reported by the Arvada Press, H.R. 10115 would expand eligibility under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include people who lived near Rocky Flats, along with communities affected by several other former nuclear sites. The legislation represents a significant development for Rocky Fl

Our new logo is an evolution of the original Rocky Flats Downwinders identity created by Colorado artist and filmmaker Jeff Gipe. Discover how Colorado sunshine, the Front Range and an almost-hidden radiation symbol come together to tell the story behind our new mark.

Why do individual health stories matter? Meet some of the people behind Rocky Flats Downwinders and learn how a growing collection of community experiences is helping preserve a history that statistics alone cannot tell.

Colorado has monitored cancer incidence around Rocky Flats for decades, but an exchange with the state's cancer registry raises an important methodological question: Can data based largely on where people live when diagnosed adequately evaluate a community defined by where people may have lived and been exposed decades earlier?

In 2016, Rocky Flats Downwinders gathered at the Colorado State Capitol to recognize National Downwinders Day. Looking back at the rally reveals an organization and a community beginning to find their public voice—and to ask that people living near nuclear weapons production facilities be included in America's Downwinder story.