From: | tokey@igc.org |
Date: | Tue, 28 May 1996 12:07:48 -0700 (PDT) |
Reply: | cpeo-military |
Subject: | Who's On Board the Public's Ship? |
From: Thomas Okey <tokey@thecity.sfsu.edu> On May 14, a press conference was held in Alameda, California by Clearwater Revival Company regarding a review conducted by the company's principal engineer, Mr. Patrick Lynch (CRC 1996). The review was critical of the remedial activities and decisions regarding Naval Air Station, Alameda's Site 15--one of the first of NAS Alameda's 23 sites slated for completion. The CRC report is well documented and it contains legitimate criticisms, recommendations for improved cleanup, and improved decision making processes for the remainder of the sites at NAS Alameda. Mr. Lynch conducted this review pro bono as a service to his community and his country. As a member of the Restoration Advisory Board for NAS Alameda, I am pleased and energized whenever qualified professionals and concerned members of the public dedicate so much effort and time to help the Department of Defense solve the myriad problems relating to the sometimes substantial environmental contamination that characterize its closing bases. Unfortunately, Mr. Lynch has not been universally met with gratitude, professional courtesy, or a widespread willingness to focus on the technical issues in his report. Instead, judging from a May 17-20 article in the Alameda Journal, it appears that the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control has joined the Navy's public relations staff in taking aim on the professional and personal credibility of Mr. Lynch and two RAB members (myself included; I was invited to this press conference to provide the public with information about my ongoing research on bio-transport of PCB's from sediment to fishes in San Francisco Bay). According to the Journal Article, a spokesman for the Department of Toxic Substances Control effectively accused the press conference participants of using scare tactics and leapfrogging the Restoration Advisory Board. At the very least, I hope this spokesman's first accusation was not a reference to the scholarly work that was conducted by Mr. Lynch in his analysis of key decisions at Site 15. With respect to the latter accusation, I hope that this spokesman was not implying that any member of the public who does independent research about a contaminated site is somehow obligated to go through the Navy's Restoration Advisory Board. Such an expectation is not only bureaucratic elitism, but it is also erroneous. Perhaps Mr. Lynch correctly perceived that NAS Alameda's RAB is somewhat contrived. In fact, Mr. Lynch did approach, discuss, and correspond with several involved parties including the Navy's community co-chair, involved regulators, and community RAB members. But it doesn't matter whether or not Mr. Lynch chose to follow some defined RAB process for input. The RAB is one of many avenues for public education and input, and as an individual citizen he is free to contact the media whenever he chooses. I am disappointed in the remarks of this DTSC spokesman. Fortunately, this sentiment does not pervade the entire department. DTSC's project manager for NAS Alameda, Mr. Tom Lanphar, has studied Mr. Lynch's analysis and recognizes his constructive criticisms and recommendations as legitimate. I am confident that Mr. Lanphar welcomes this input as a crucial part of the decision making process. If there are any more spokespeople out there for the DTSC and the Navy, and I'm sure there are, would you please share with us your viewpoints on public participation? Also, would you please clarify yourselves in the Alameda and Bay Area newspapers? Perhaps you could use the opportunity to solicit more public participation to bolster the dismal public turnout at NAS Alameda RAB meetings (for which I share some responsibility). Only by cooperating with each other and working as a team can we make progress in trying to ensure a safe and healthy future in communities and regions that are now faced with the DoD's legacy of contamination. I would like to know if the DoD and the DTSC are on board the public's ship. Thomas A. Okey Executive Director / Marine Ecologist Chair, Natural Resources Focus Group, RAB, NAS Alameda | |
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