DENVER — Environmental advocates are urging Colorado state lawmakers to crack down on tiny plastic pellets they say are polluting waterways and threatening wildlife.

State Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and state Rep. Lesley Smith, D-District 49, are backing Senate Bill 26-016, which would bar the discharge of preproduction plastic materials, which are commonly called nurdles. The bill would also prohibit any plastic discharge permits from ever being issued within the state of Colorado.

“These pellets are small, round bits of plastic, sort of lentil-sized,” said Rachel Jaeger, a campaign associate with Environment Colorado, an organization that supports the bill. “They can resemble fish eggs… if fish were to eat these bits of plastic, and then plastic bio accumulates in their bodies, and then one of our sportsmen here in Colorado fishes a trout out of a river and eats it for dinner, it’s very possible that they could be exposed to the plastic, and also to any chemicals that the plastic carries.”

Cutter, who has worked on plastics and toxin issues for years, said the bill is intended to force stricter handling and transport practices.

“It just adds an extra layer of caution so that organizations know that when they’re using or transporting these really tiny little plastic pellets… that they have to take extra caution,” Cutter said. “Plastics have been found in 100% of the waterways in which they’re tested… it’s really important that we do our part in protecting those waterways.”

Smith, an aquatic scientist with a 30-year career at the University of Colorado, warned the pellets can fragment into ever-smaller pieces that enter food webs and drinking water systems.

“If these plastics are found, for instance, in our drinking water treatment plants… then we are going to be drinking the plastic ourselves,” Smith said, noting that early research has even found microplastics inside human brains and hearts.

Jaeger said nurdles can be lost at multiple points: during manufacture, in delivery and in transport by truck or rail.

Colorado bill aims to ban plastic disposal in our waterways

Similar bills have been proposed in other state. To date, California is the only state that has passed legislation specifically targeting plastic pellet pollution.

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Losing offensive tackle Jordan Seaton meant a lot of things for the Colorado Buffaloes, but stability wasn’t one of them.

It opened a realm of options for coach Deion Sanders to rely on along his offensive line heading into 2026. Seaton was “The Franchise,” one of the best linemen in the nation and a future first-round NFL draft pick, so shoring up his absence is key to returning numerous investments, from quarterback Julian Lewis to offensive coordinator Brennan Marion.

Offensive Line Up For Grabs After Jordan Seaton’s Departure

The Buffs now have 11 offensive linemen with starting experience, seven of whom are transfers. Many of them have spent time at power programs, giving the trenches some pedigree for the fall.

It’s a slight alteration to last year’s line, which had two starters who came in from Group of Five schools. Its most successful five had Seaton anchoring the left side with former Memphis Tiger Xavier Hill and Louisiana Tech Bulldog Zarian McGill. Zy Crisler (Illinois) and Larry Johnson (Tennessee) held down right guard and right tackle, respectively.

After all but Johnson departed, it required a portal overhaul. Their tackle room has seen four transfer additions who combined for over 1700 snaps over 23 starts last season.

Bo Hughley headlines the bunch. The former Georgia Bulldog is poised to take over Seaton’s spot after starting two games and not allowing a sack. In a win over Tennessee, he had a breakout performance and had a chance to ascend into his junior year, but he’s instead electing the Buffaloes.

MORE: Jordan Seaton Transfer Portal Could Lead Him To Big-Time Programs

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At 6-7 and 295 pounds, Hughley projects well to replace Seaton and could compete for the right tackle spot as well.

Another option for Lewis’s blindside blocker is Jayven Richardson, who joined the Buffs after two seasons with the Missouri Tigers. He made 16 appearances and started twice as his line’s sixth man, mostly at left tackle.

Richardson began his career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he earned Division I offers from Ole Miss, Auburn, and Texas Tech. He chose Mizzou and made his first career start against South Carolina last September. He didn’t allow a sack in a win and started the next week, a thorough beatdown of UMass.

Colorado’s newest lineman is Leon Bell, who spent last season with the Cal Golden Bears after stops at Kilgore Community College and Mississippi State. The 6-8, 330-pound native of Dickinson, Texas, started once in six appearances over two years with the Bulldogs before starting eight games (583 snaps) at right tackle last season.

The Buffaloes also nabbed former Rutgers Scarlet Knights stalwart Taj White, a versatile piece with 20 starts over the last two seasons at left guard, left tackle and right tackle. He made 11 starts on the right last fall and has played over 1,500 snaps in his career.

Those names should test Johnson’s starting status from last season. The returning Phillip Houston should as well, who started at Colorado for most of 2024 before an ACL injury that kept him out of this past fall. The Buffs also added a coveted high school recruit at tackle in Xavier Payne.

Colorado football signed five players from the transfer portal on Saturday, with one of them immediately filling a need on the defensive line.

Baylor transfer defensive lineman Samu Taumanupepe flipped his commitment from Florida to Colorado. At 6-foot-3, 375 pounds, Taumanupepe significantly upgrades the Buffaloes nose tackle position. 247Sports rates him as a three-star recruit and the No. 108 defensive lineman in the portal.

Taumanupepe finished the 2025 season with two total tackles across 7 games. Before Baylor, he spent two seasons at Texas A&M, recording 6 total tackles. He now comes to Colorado with hopes of shoring up the Buffaloes’ abysmal run defense.

Taumanupepe is CU’s 13th defensive line addition, showing head coach Deion Sanders’ clear commitment toward improving one of college football’s worst offenses.