From: | Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org> |
Date: | 1 Jul 2004 22:18:36 -0000 |
Reply: | cpeo-brownfields |
Subject: | Colorado TCE standards |
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Save up to 67% on Omaha Steaks + Get 6 FREE Burgers and a FREE Cutlery Set + Cutting Board! http://click.topica.com/caacpgjaVxieRa8xCZRa/OmahaSteaks ------------------------------------------------------------------- submitted by Don Holmstrom <dholmstrom@denverlabor.org> SMOKING GUN DOCUMENTS SHOW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BOWING TO POLLUTER PRESSURE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2004 Colorado Health Department Internal E-mails Document Industry Pressure to reverse TCE decision Copies of e-mails and memos obtained from a Colorado Open Records Act search show in detail how the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment first made a policy decision to use the most updated and scientifically accurate testing guidelines and standards to measure and clean up a toxic contaminant called TCE -- but then pressure from lawyers representing developers caused them to reverse themselves. The e-mails and memos show that industry attorneys Norm Higley and Brent Anderson contacted the Colorado Department of Health a month after the department had made its policy change to use updated TCE standards. Higley, who represents polluters in Colorado Springs and Anderson, who is a former President and Corporate Counsel for CHEROKEE (the developer currently in charge of cleaning up GATES RUBBER FACTORY) pressured the Health Department to renege on their May 23rd policy decision to use updated TCE standards. The Colorado Department of Health had already made that policy decision public in a memo to the Colorado Department of Transportation, The Denver Department of Environmental Health, the Tri-County Health Department and the EPA. Not only did the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment withdraw its May, 2003 policy because of Higley's and Anderson's pressure, the documents attached below further demonstrate that the Department is working with these attorneys to develop a new policy, which would apply the updated standards for testing, but NOT REQUIRE CLEAN-UP UNTIL A LEVEL 100 TIMES WORSE WAS REACHED! (test at .016 levels, don't take action until 1.6 levels!) Members of a group called Campaign for Responsible Development, a coalition of environmental, labor, and women's advocacy groups said the action was: "A textbook case for how money and politics prevail over science at the Colorado Health Department." [quote by Don Holmstrom, Denver Area Labor Federation and member of Coalition for Responsible Development. 303-477-6111 x20.] National experts, like Devra Davis, PhD, MPh, author of "When Smoke Ran Like Water," says the science behind the updated standards for TCE is solid, and this is just another instance of how politics is influencing what should solely be a health issue. (You can contact Dr. Davis at: 202-544-7731 cell 202-487-7731, or by email at devradavis@comcast.net. A full description of her publications, awards, appointments, etc. can be viewed at www.whensmokeranlikewater.com. -- Lenny Siegel Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041 Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545 Fax: 650/961-8918 <lsiegel@cpeo.org> http://www.cpeo.org Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Amazing Diet Patch The fastest - Easiest way to lose weight! Try it now FREE! http://click.topica.com/caacoW6aVxieRa8xCZRf/MyDietPatches ------------------------------------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CPEO: A DECADE OF SUCCESS. Your generous support will ensure that our important work on military and environmental issues will continue. Please consider one of our donation options. Thank you. http://www.groundspring.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2086-0|721-0 | |
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