Re: [CPEO-BIF] Privacy vs. the public's right to know

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

DNR discloses sites of tainted wells

Wes Johnson
Springfield News-Leader (MO)
May 29, 2010

Following a Sunshine request by the News-Leader, the Missouri Department 
of Natural Resources on Friday released the locations of 
TCE-contaminated wells near Rogersville.

The well with the highest contamination detected so far is located 
southwest of Rogersville near Farm Road 186.

That well had 323 parts per billion of the chemical degreaser 
trichloroethylene when it was tested, far higher than the 5 parts per 
billion the EPA allows for drinking water.

It's also far higher than the 11 other positive TCE well tests, which 
ranged from 0.63 ppb to 6.22 ppb.

DNR initially declined to reveal the locations of the contaminated 
wells, out of concern that might deter people from participating in the 
department's TCE well survey.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100529/NEWS01/5290336/DNR-discloses-sites-of-tainted-wells



Lenny Siegel wrote:
> At the Rogersville, Missouri TCE contamination site, the location of 
> impacted private wells is being kept private, to anonymize the exact 
> locations of impacted homes. Though to my knowledge there is no vapor 
> intrusion investigation underway in Rogersville, this approach is 
> routinely followed at vapor intrusion investigations across the country, 
> as well. In an editorial today, the Springfield newspaper questioned 
> that practice.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Lenny
>
> *****
>
>
>
>
> DNR should give locations of wells with TCE
>
>
> Editorial
> Springfield News-Leader (MO)
> May 28, 2010
>
> Concerns over property values shouldn't trump the Sunshine Law.
>
> Think of it like a series of burglaries. Or sinkholes. Or lead migrating 
> from an abandoned mine.
>
> If you lived nearby, you'd want to know as much detail as possible about 
> all those problems, wouldn't you?
>
> The state Department of Natural Resources doesn't see it that way.
>
> The agency is refusing to release addresses of several wells near 
> Rogersville -- even though they show the presence of a commonly used 
> degreaser known to cause cancer in certain animals.
>
> ...
>
>
> For the entie editorial, see
> http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100528/OPINIONS01/5280314/DNR-should-give-locations-of-wells-with-TCE 



--


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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