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 Productions exposes Rocky Flats' dark past and prompts critical reflection on the implications of the nation's renewed nuclear weapons buildup.