Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), alongside Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Representative DeGette (CO-01), demanded answers from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin after a series of alarming safety failures at the EPA Region 8 Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. These failures — including the mishandling of a bomb threat, removal of hardwired emergency phones, and the absence of clear emergency protocols — have left federal employees without reliable means to contact emergency services.

Before a recent bomb scare next to the building, EPA employees received vague warnings about threats to the office and to the State of Colorado, but management provided no specific details, safety guidance, or answers during a subsequent all-hands meeting. When the scare occurred roughly a week later, employees received no evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions, and local management allowed people to freely enter and exit the building. In addition, following 2025 Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions, hardwired desk phones were replaced with computer "soft phones" that employees have not been trained to use, leaving them reliant on personal cell phones in a building with poor cellular service and no reliable way to contact emergency services.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, "It has been brought to our attention that EPA employees lack a clear understanding of who alerts whom during an emergency and how management becomes aware of incidents occurring in or around the building…When asked for specific details about the nature of the threats and the steps EPA was taking to protect staff, management did not respond."

The lawmakers continued, "The following day, there was a bomb threat against EPA Region 8 employees. Employees received no direction on whether to evacuate or remain home, and reports indicated even the Deputy Regional Manager was unaware of the situation occurring near the building. It appeared management was reluctant to make decisions, and their priority was keeping employees in the building."

In a letter, the Members ask the Department to explain:

• What the process is for notifying employees of emergencies in the vicinity of the building, and what specific information is provided in those notifications;

• What specific steps the EPA took in response to the threats made against the Denver office;

• Why standard emergency communication protocols were not followed during the bomb scare incident;

• Why hardwired emergency phones were removed, and whether the Administrator agrees their removal creates unsafe working conditions;

• How the EPA plans to ensure reliable access to emergency services given that parts of the building lack cell service;

• What training has been or will be provided to employees on the soft phone software, and whether it can successfully call 911. 

The full letter is available HERE.

###

To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can  also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.