[CPEO-BIF] Burr Requests Investigation in EPA's Handling of CTS Contamination Studies

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

United States Senator ∙ North Carolina
Richard Burr
http://www.burr.senate.gov

Burr Requests Investigation in EPA's Handling of CTS Contamination Studies


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 07, 2009
	
  WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-North
  Carolina) sent a letter to Bill Roderick, Acting Inspector General for
  the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requesting an investigation
  into how the Agency has handled studies of high levels of
  Trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination affecting wells and groundwater
  in Skyland , North Carolina .  TCE is known to have profoundly
  negative effects on human health.  Senator Burr's letter expresses his
  disappointment with the EPA, and requests that they conduct an
  investigation into how this issue has been handled so far.  Excerpts
  from the letter follow:


"I am formally requesting an investigation of the work performed to this
date by EPA Region 4 on a hazardous waste site in Skyland , North
Carolina . I am further requesting that an immediate reassessment of
both the drinking water and the air quality of the area in question be
conducted by independent and credible sources in order to demonstrate
the safety of the area to concerned citizens.

"I no longer believe that the mission of EPA is being fulfilled.

"The site was occupied for many years by CTS of Asheville . During that
time, CTS, an electroplating company, used large quantities of
Trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser. TCE, a chemical known to be
harmful to human health, is now found in unsafe quantities throughout
the occupied area and in neighboring property.

"In the over 40 year history of the site, many individuals in the
surrounding area have become ill and died from symptoms that are
potentially attributable to TCE exposure. EPA has a mission to protect
human health. In EPA Region 4's over 20 year history on the site they
have failed to demonstrate the safety of the area to citizens in the
area and to hold the responsible parties to account."

# # #



--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
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



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