Introduction and Initial Reaction

[Mark F. Bohne <hilltop@lrbcg.com>]

I was born and raised in New York State. I now live in Milan, Ohio. I am married with one son. For the past twenty six years I have been intimately involved with environmental issues. I became very serious when I became a Federal Boarding Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard in 1975. I was raised to be environmentally active.

Since, I have been involved at the state and local levels concerning issues of land and water pollution in and around Erie County (north central Ohio) and Lake Erie.

I am Co-Chair of the Plum Brook Ordnance Works Restoration Advisiory Board, a project run by the Huntington, West Virginia Army Corps of Engineers. I was asked to participate in the Environmental Cleanup Stakeholders Forum held in St. Louis Missouri in November 2000.

I fully encourage total disclosure to the public and cooperation by the public in matters concerning their environment. Relevant facts may be "forgotten" when official investigations are initiated. The public can lead investigators to a more complete understanding of facts if the public is aware of the investigation and are encouraged to contribute.

However, I should note here that the best laid plans are invalid in the absense of the resources to act. All too often needed remediation is set aside due to agency acceptance of invalid research performed by polluters. A lack of funds is the most common reason for a lack of action. 

Our efforts should be to focus on public eduation about needed remediation so there is public support of expenditure of government funds to resolve environmental issues.