Synopsis

In the suburbs of Denver, the U.S. secretly manufactured thousands of atomic weapons, leaving behind a toxic legacy that will persist for generations.

The Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant churned out a staggering 70,000 atomic bombs, each serving as a "trigger" for thermonuclear warheads. Concealed by government secrecy, the plant's fires, leaks, and illicit dumping of nuclear waste contaminated the Denver area with long-lived radioactive toxins. 

A major - and highly visible - plutonium fire sparked a decade of mass protests, culminating in an unprecedented FBI raid that ultimately shuttered the plant. Today, the radioactive legacy of Rocky Flats continues to threaten public health, yet surprisingly few people are aware the plant ever existed.

After a multi-billion-dollar cap-and-cover effort, the Rocky Flats site was transitioned into a national wildlife refuge. "The Most Dangerous Buildings In America" lie under six feet of soil at the heart of the refuge, concealing a landscape still saturated with radioactive contamination. While state and federal officials claim the area is safe, many community members and experts strongly disagree.

Today, the radioactive legacy of Rocky Flats is invisible to the naked eye. New housing developments are engulfing areas known to be contaminated with radioactive plutonium. Thousands of former Rocky Flats workers have suffered devastating health issues from radiation exposure. Community members are investigating a potential link between Rocky Flats and troubling health reports in downwind neighborhoods. Ongoing lawsuits, deception, health concerns, and persistent contamination issues continue to plague Rocky Flats, yet the public is largely unaware of its past and its long-lasting radioactive effects.

"PLUTONIUM HAS A HALF-LIFE OF 24,000 YEARS. THE HALF-LIFE OF MEMORY, BY CONTRAST, IS A MUCH BRIEFER THING.
THE CONTAMINATION AT ROCKY FLATS WILL LONG OUTLIVE OUR EFFORTS TO CONTROL OR EVEN REMEMBER IT."
-Hannah Nordhaus

"PLUTONIUM HAS A HALF-LIFE OF 24,000 YEARS. THE HALF-LIFE OF MEMORY, BY CONTRAST, IS A MUCH BRIEFER THING. THE CONTAMINATION AT ROCKY FLATS WILL LONG OUTLIVE OUR EFFORTS TO CONTROL OR EVEN REMEMBER IT."
-Hannah Nordhaus

Topic Summary

The U.S. production of nuclear weapons has left a lingering legacy of contaminated lands and peoples. Over 300 facilities across the nation have contributed to building the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Accidents have plagued the weapons complex, leaving workers, nearby residents, and surrounding environments contaminated with radioactive and hazardous waste.

The most notorious instances of contamination, neglect, and cover-ups occurred at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant near Denver, Colorado. Rocky Flats served as the central nuclear bomb production facility in the United States from 1952 until 1989.

Decades later, health and contamination issues continue to affect Rocky Flats and communities around the nation. Now, the U.S. government is embarking on a new nuclear build-up that will cost trillions of dollars and pose incalculable risks to human health and the environment.

Through powerful testimonials and extraordinary archival media, HALF-LIFE OF MEMORY exposes Rocky Flats' dark past and prompts critical reflection on the implications of the nation's renewed nuclear weapons buildup.