Residents of Treece Kansas must Leave their Homes

"News Releases By Date: EPA Takes Public Comment on Proposal to Offer Relocation Assistance to the Residents of Treece, Kansas." Release date -2/12/2010 Contact: Dave Bary at 214-665-2200, David Bryan at 913-551-7433 Bryan.David@epa.gov or r6press@eap.gov - 

The heading of this article, that is in blue, used to be a live link to the news release. That link is no longer available unless by request or FOIA.(05.03.2014)

 When I did a search on the news release, this is what I come up with. Superfund Implements the Recovery Act. This happened in 2011, shortly after the relocation.

From my original blogpost in 2010: "(Dallas, Texas – February 12, 2010) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a proposed modification of the cleanup plan for the Tar Creek Superfund site in Oklahoma.

 The proposed modification provides for the relocation assistance of nearby residents in Treece, Kansas."

How do you know when Environmental Justice has been swept under the rug? Industry, who screams "progress" and "jobs", sure are quiet as they slither away from the Toxic dump sites they leave behind.

In this case it is better to say it flowed on "downstream" to the Native American Tribes. 

From now on, Mining and Industry should be required to locate in towns like Beverly Hills and Carrollton, Ga. I promise you the way Industry does business would be all different.

May 3rd, 2014 - Here is a link to a pdf file I found on the EPA Superfund site. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/factsheets08/cherokee_cty_baxter_treece.pdf


to be continued -

Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump - EPA Gives an Extra 30 Days for Public Comment!

"New Releases By Date: EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Clean Up Plan for Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump" Release date: 07/01/2010 Contact Information: Kelsey O'Neil, (617)918-1799
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/4B24FC49DF5A43508525775300642E04

The Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump, is a Superfund Site, in Ashland, Massachusetts. A Superfund Site is determined by several different factors. It is not just one thing that makes a piece of industrial land a Superfund, but it had to start out as industrial or commercial to end up being called Superfund. When an Industry is making a product like Bromide, Chlorine, even Windmill Blades; the production of these items causes waste. In regulatory [at EPA, State Department of Environmental Quality & Industry], circles it is referred to as Waste By-Product.

Our way of doing business the last 100 years, and promoting "progress" has turned us to a dependence on Chemicals. During periods of Industrial growth, the focus became strictly a financial focus, and a hope of New Prosperity came at a price we still have not realized. The 'inspiration' for industrial ideas is what every American or follower of Hill, Armour and Ford hopes for. I think what steered us wrong was 1). The desire to do everything faster., 2). Greed. Inspiration, must be followed through to the end. 

 There are different classifications of violated Lands for Industrial use. A National Priority List property, is one where properties are being monitored, because it is 'suspected' that there are possible chemical or other toxins, and the property has been abandoned by the Industry. This happens when the parameters of safety and the ability to thrive, for human life is violated or possibly violated.

The Nyanza site is next to active industrial sites. This means that the 10,000 residents near to the 35-acre site, have this old toxic mess that was spilled, dumped and buried on site by this one violator who operated there from 1965 - 1978. The site was first used for Industry in 1917. There was no Environmental Protection Agency, there was no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water act. Uses before Nyanza were:production of textile dyes, intermediates, and other products. There are Six propositions for remediation [or not] of different areas of the Nyanza site. They are:

Nyanza used Over 45,000 tons of chemical sludges generated by Nyanza's wastewater treatment processes, along with spent solvents and other chemical wastes, were buried on site. The area that contains the largest amount of buried waste and exposed sludge is referred to as the Hill section.

In many of these agreements or settlements on lands that lay in waste, is to simply do nothing.

 Reports are generated by engineering firms for Government Agencies, that are often "Cut & Paste" for reports to say nothing and everything. Many reports will say, "...there is no confirmed changes in toxicity levels for ABC Creek. Tests were done 12-02-2002. {Test results not confirmed, turned in, verified. Fill in blank - Awaiting results} In some cases it is the same Engineering firm or Consulting firm who assisted the last violator in obtaining permits to pollute, compiled testing and reports for the Industry. Environmental Consulting firms make a truckload of money, they are not regulated by anyone, and they will be the ones paid taxpayer dollars to "monitor" superfund, or NPL properites ~ sweet deal, huh.

1). Enhanced Natural Recovery (ENR)
2). Monitored Natural Recovery (MNR) in other reaches of the river
3). Limited Action for Reach 8
4).“Institutional Controls” throughout the river
5). No Action for Reaches 5 and 7
6). Reviews will also be conducted every five years

This is a time that residents who are affected by this continued toxic soup, to have some say. Maybe you can see Environmental Justice.

I noticed in this article, that they mentioned that the "current owner leases out parts of this to other industry." That is a bit confusing, because as a Superfund site, it is being maintained by Taxpayer dollar.

EPA is accepting Public Comment on the Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump Superfund site Clean-up proposal, until August 26, 2010. Comments can be sent by mail, e-mail, or fax:

Daniel Keefe
Project Manager
EPA New England
5 Post Office Sq. Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912

E-Mail Comments to keefe.daniel@epa.gov
Fax Comments to 617-918-0327

Follow this link for more information on the Nyanza Chemical Waste Dump Superfund site Clean-up http://yosemite.epa.gov/r1/npl_pad.nsf/f52fa5c31fa8f5c885256adc0050b631/E720462345729A4F8525691F0063F6E1?OpenDocument

Thank you for taking time to read this information. Thank you for every "one thing" you do to enhance and protect our environment. Thank you for your public service.

EPA Announcement! "Polluter Pays" for Superfund Site Expenses!

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/6E61EB7AB20B163C8525774900592657


"News Releases By Date: 'EPA Supports Superfund "Polluter Pays" Provision / Agency submits administration's guidance to Congress.'" Release date 06/21/2010. Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov. 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355.


This Announcement is Very Important for those who are tired of Industry getting away with murder, toxic pollution, destroying our only environment, then...they walk away with a Tax Write-Off and a new name.


The EPA - Directed by Lisa P. Jackson, has submitted to Congress their recommendation that the Industries Pay into their Pollution Boo Boo Funds - Trusts so that when horrible pollution and toxicity happens, the Polluters don't get to just disappear and say thank you for all the Profits.


for example:The State I live in does everything to fight and ignore EPA regulations and guidelines. If it is a toss-up between Human Health, and a few guys making a profit...it is called "Progress", and anyone who questions a State Agency's decision to move forward with Progress, "to hell with them, and all of the Creeks, trees, mountains, caves, water wells, and habitat. "Drilling for energy is more important than pristine water and aquatic habitat." They go all out, and make sure Mr. Slick gets his factory, and his permits, any questions are quickly buried and passed over. Mr. Slick builds his factory with Seasonal Immigrants, Pays a few key people decent salaries, holding towns hostage with jobs enough to be taxed to death. Oddly, enough, for the messes they make, they don't really provide a lot of energy. Or, they sell it to another State and we buy it back...huh?


A decade later, children are born with birth defects. Miscarriages are commonplace, people are riddled with kidney problems. Brain development lags behind.


After a lot of paperwork and effort on the part of a bureaucratic employee; the Slick factory gets a notice they are being sued by the Regulatory agency. Slick leaves town. Writes it off on his taxes. The City or State picks it up, it is given Superfund or Watch List Status and some consulting firm gets to maintain it.


Often, it is the same consulting firms who helped Slick get his permits in the first place. In order for Citizens to get Environmental Justice it is up to the EPA and U.S. Justice Department.  Louisiana is in Region 6 EPA District, their State/Parish agencies have had the same theory about "progress". It is difficult for Louisianans to get Environmental Justice, but by giving the EPA regulators real teeth, for real polluters, we will all be served.


In order for the Polluter to be held accountable, they need to Pay to Play (Pollute), and not unlimited, and no Offers in Compromise. This cannot be done without changes in the Laws and Rule making. During the last 25 years it has been a polluters paradise. More people are sick, unemployed and dying from the Slick polluters, than are happily and healthily employed. That is insanity.


Please Contact your Legislators and let them know in no uncertain terms they better get behind these changes. Do you want BP to be able to walk away from the Deeepwater Disaster, and get a tax write-off? I don't think so. Please let your voice be heard. Speak up and Out for our Earth. It is the only Planet we have right now.


http://whitehouse.gov then go to Energy and Environment
to find your Senators and Representatives http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
to support Lisa P. Jackson's efforts - find her on Facebook


To find out more about the Superfund program http://www.epa.gov/superfund/


Thank you for all you do. Thank you for your Public Service. Thank you for every 'One Thing' you do for our Environment/World/Habitat. Peace, Blessing and Strength

Citizens of the World ~ Have Your Say! EPA is Seeking Public Comments Regarding Remediation Goals for Dioxin in soil

News Release by Date: 12/31/2009. Contact: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355 - http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/6526D9A72FBC7F388525769D004FC223

"EPA Seeks Public Input on Interim Guidance for Dioxins in Soil Cleanup Goals"

EPA - Superfund Division

"Development of Draft Recommended Interim Preliminary Remediation Goals for Dioxin in the Soil"

Every governmental agency is broken up into many divisions. As a citizen attempting to navigate a monstrous bureaucracy, it helps if you narrow down the actual Agency, Department, Division and highest person within that division that does intake on information, complaints and inquiries.

While reading this announcement, and knowing the processes that transpired to create a Superfund or Brownfield with dioxins in the soil, I know that Dioxins could have been stopped from entering the soil in the first place. But, the problem of dioxins entering the soil in the first place, is another another division. A different problem with multiple solutions.

We have 50 days from yesterday (12-31-09) to make our voices heard regarding the way dioxins are remediated from soil. It is imperative to have healthy soil, because that is where we get nutrients, food, water is filtered...so many reasons. http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home EPA SFUND 2009-00907 (Notice titled "Draft Recommended Interim Preliminary Remediation Goals for Dioxin in Soil at CERCLA & RCRA Sites" will be published on 01/17/2009 [hopefully they mean 2010] and have a docket i.d. of EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0907. You can review the pre-publication copy of this Notice on the Office of the Federal Register's Electronic Public Inspection Desk Web site at http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx ).

In case you are not sure about a lot of language used in the Environmental Regulatory agencies, I hope to offer some clarity.

Brownfield's are abandoned or underused industrial sites that due to contamination, or perceived contamination. Often the facility or industry that did use that property were brought to Enforcement by an Environmental Regulatory Agency. There are two sides to every story, but the final outcome is that the U.S. citizens pick up the bulk of the cost when an Industry (Facility) decides or is forced to shut-down.

When a Facility is brought into regulatory trouble {they get pulled over by the pollution police} it is called a Consent to Administrative Order. Case by case violations are considered. Depending on the sophistication of the Industrial owners and staff depends on how punishment or remediation is ordered. Remediation being: an example; Joe Blow Chemical has been dumping their hazardous water out on the back 40 acres of their site. They have been at this practice for 12 years. They are finally reported in a way that gets results. An Inspector from the Govt Agency will go and assess. Soon, the plant is notified and asked to respond within 10 days. It goes from there. Joe Blow will probably have to shut down, unless he is willing to change his ways. His fine will probably be the top amount per violation. He will probably skip town and abandon his plant. It will now be a Brownfields area. Usually the local city, town or Parrish now works to bring another industry in that will promise to clean up and do the remediation. We all know that ain't going to happen without incentive. So, very much incentive, grants and help is available to a business who is willing to go in, clean up, change the operations and stay clean. Those grants and stuff are taxpayer dollars at work.

Now, MoaMoa Chemical is a worldwide conglomerate they have facilities all over the U.S. and globe. They became powerful in the 1940's. They spend a good deal of money to have experts in laws, regulations and how laws and regulations are made. They spend a good deal of money on political campaigns. They know their rights and they use them. They are allowed to appear before Congress and have input into rule and lawmaking. They have tons of money and time to make sure things go their way. They know that generally other citizens who are opposed to blatant pollution for the sake of profit, will not spend the time, take the effort and certainly not the money to get the interest of their Representatives or Senators in matters of the Environment. They are even protected through IRS rules that allows them to simply abandon or refuse to remediate the property they have destroyed. MM is quite sophisticated. They send in their reports in triplicate when only one is required. They will report upsets and spills. They "Self-Disclose". If they are Inspected by a Govt agency, they will have the inspector escorted, requiring the Inspector to return at a better time for the plant. They will not go out of business. They will pay a couple of thousand dollars and move on. This is then what we call a Superfund Project. This means, now the EPA is responsible to make sure this property is rehabilitated and in getting that done, not violating the Regs themselves.

Now. This is an opportunity for citizens worldwide to make Public Comment. We have 50 days from yesterday 12-31-2009, to get all or our comments in. Do you want to have a say in how brownfields are rehabilitated in your back yard? This is your chance. This is the link to the EPA Public Comment ; docket ID number: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-00907 http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#searchResults?Ne=11+8+8053+8098+8074+8066+8084+1&N=4294967141+8102 THIS IS GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE ON HOLIDAY BREAK, IT HAS NOT BEEN POSTED YET, BUT JUST USE SFUN 2009, AND CHECK ONES THAT ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL CHECK 1/5/10, AND REPOST AN UPDATED LINK TO THE ACTUAL COMMENT YOU MAY WANT. **UPDATE: it is still not posted. I forwarded a note to www.regulations.gov as this has a 50 day comment period beginning December 31, 2009.

Americans making their government work for them are a powerful force. This is a time when everyday people can, do and will have a say.

Many thanks to Lisa Jackson - Chief Administrator of the EPA and all of the staff who are working so hard for the People. Blessings. Happy New Year.

1. U.S. EPA, May 26, 2009 - EPA's Science Plan for activities related to Dioxins in the Environment: Press Release http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=209690 There are two updates included with the original notice: [09/09], [12/09] and includes a link to yesterday's announcement 12/31/09.
2. U.S. EPA, April 13, 1998 Approach for Addressing Dioxin in soils at CERLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act) and RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) sites (PDF) OSWE Diective 9200.4-26
3. TEF (Toxic Equivalency Factor) - The most toxic of the dioxins is (2,3,7,8-TCDD) this is used as a base of comparison of the TEF of a chemical. This measurement is regulated under ...
4. 40 CFR 300 Section 430(e)(2)(i)(A)(2)
5. Cancer risks :read for the math used to determine the toxicity of a chemical and the human chance of getting cancers from exposure.
6. A hazard quotient = ratio of an exposure level for a single substance to a reference dose...
7. EPA's Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, ...EPA/540/R-92/003
8. Human Health Risks: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/pdf/hhmemo.pdf
9.IRIS will be the data base for the development of this action....