EPA DELIBERATELY cutoff information

[Linda Baker <PolPosse@aol.com>]

Marci was far too kind regarding how EPA/MDNR has treated the CLEANUP group.  When an agency is not doing it's job, forcing citizens to conduct their own investigation which involves trespassing onto highly contaminated property to document the ongoing source of pollution, it is bad enough but they went further in this situation.  We had uncovered sites all around and in the refinery, and the documented sites forced EPA to walk the refinery and take samples.  A meeting with EPA to discuss working together etc., took place in which through a slip of the tongue, led to a more detailed discussion.  We had been waiting for the test results from EPA's walk, so it was very important to us to know if we were on the right track.  In the meeting, we found out that the tests were done, but they didn't let us know before the meeting so that we could discuss it with them.  WHY? The test results verified more contamination like MTBE, in most of the places we had discovered and brought to EPA's attention.  If they told us then we would be able to say that we were right.  The polluter had denied any use of MTBE on the refinery, yet it has been found all over as well as offsite. That is bad enough but after that, EPA did not put any information for the site at the library for 6 months.  They deliberately took our right to know away.  They also took our right to respond to anything (workplans, etc.)so now we are too far behind.  We have sent hundreds of photographs to EPA, and made comments on as many things as we knew about.  EPA's responses have been a few dozen at most.  THE FACT IS, EPA REG. VII DOES NOT WANT INTERFERENCE FROM CITIZENS, THEY ARE THERE TO SERVE THE POLLUTER.