Durango, Colorado—‘Chemical-Free’ Parks But Lots Of Smoke

Durango, Colorado, has some 'chemical-free' parks. It also has a famous narrow-gauge steam railroad that emits a lot of smoke. Somehow, 'chemical-free' and smoke seem like opposite ends of the environmental spectrum.

First, let's talk about 'chemical-free' parks. In answering the question, is there really such a thing as a 'chemical-free' park in Colorado, Steve Savage says this: "Durango is a beautiful place, but unless this park is a hologram, it is made of chemicals. In fact, what makes the Durango area so beautiful are the chemicals that make up the mountains, rivers, trees and flowers. Even the nice smell from the pine trees comes from terpenes. A chemical." (1) The 'chemical-free' parks have dandelions which also have chemicals. (2) Dandelions, among the most recognizable weeds in the world, contain sesquiterpene lactones, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoid saponins, polysaccharides, and a variety of other chemicals. (3) One could go on and on listing the other chemicals, but by now the reader should get the point. The parks are not 'chemical-free'.

---

What the term 'chemical-free' really means is that there are no synthetic chemical pesticides used for the maintenance of the grass, etc. However, just because no synthetic pesticides are used doesn't mean that some form of pesticides are not being sprayed. Scott Sallee applies organic fertilizer to the city's 'chemical-free' parks. (2) And don't kid yourself, organic pesticides are not 'chemical-free.' There is a long list (1700) products of the materials allowed on organic published by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute), non of which are 'chemical-free.' (4) But let's leave this aside and give the city some credit for their actions on this issue because they will be doing even more. A recent report states, "As of 2013, more than 1/3 of all the parks in Durango will be managed organically, including 20 acres of parks land." (5) Then there is the smoke, cinders, and soot from the train. Train smoke plagues Durango residents while feeding the town's economy. The Historic Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad fuels the towns economy during the summer. It's an historic treasure attracting 150 to 200 thousand tourists annually to Durango. Some residents of the city are demanding action to cut emissions from the trains that chug through some of the most beautiful countryside in America. One person said-whatever it is we just want to get it figured out so we don't end up with soot on our pillow cases again. Sara Wright, who lives near the train station, and others say they love the train. But they tell stories of soot-stained walls and furniture, and smoky air around their homes. (6) During dry conditions, each train is followed by a fire-spotter car with a 30-gallon water tank, one of many precautions taken to deal with fire threat. I rode the train last summer and during the trip two fires were started by ashes from the train; one required us to wait over 30 minutes while the fire was extinguished. Just recently, Shane Benjamin reported on two fires which were started this past June. (7) The issue of controlling fires is taken quite seriously. In addition to the fire-spotter cars, a variety of other water-carrying boxcars and water tanks line the route. The railroad has chartered a helicopter to fly over the tracks from Durango to Silverton a few times each day to watch for any smoke or fires. The helicopter is equipped with fire-suppression gear to assist with firefighting efforts if necessary. Other precautions include wire screens on the locomotive smokestacks that filter hot cinders and locomotive smokestack sprayers that mist cinders as they pass through spark arrestors. (7). Yet, I suspect that if any coal-fired power plant in the United States emitted the soot and cinders that come from the train, the EPA would shut them down in a heartbeat. So there you have it- a city with 'chemical-free' parks, and a train that emits serious smoke. Makes one wonder if any of the smoke reaches the 'chemical-free' parks. One report says Durango's city manager Bob Ledger has urged health officials to become more involved, noting the city doesn't enforce pollution laws. (6) References

1. Steve Savage, "Is there really a chemical-free park in Colorado?", appliedmythologyblogspot.com, June 9, 2013
2. M. Castro, "Dandelion debate," Durango Herald, May 7, 2011
3. Eric Yarnell and Kathy Abascal, "Dandelion Taraxacum Officinale and T. Monogolicum," Integrative Medicine, 8, 35, April/May 2009
4. Steve Savage, "An unlikely pair: heavy metal and organic produce," redgreenandblue.org, September 27, 2010
5. "Organically managed parks in Durango," turtlelakerefuge.org, accessed June 24, 2013
6. Transcript for the piece audio version of Railing Over Train Smoke," prx.org/pieces/6977, accessed June 24, 2013
7. Shane Benjamin, "Train starts small wildfires," Durango Herald, June 13, 2013