Re: Natural Attenuation (NA)

[No Author]

In follow-up to Frank's 2nd point, I pose the following
presentation/question:

I assume that there is a line item for such environmental funds - Y or N

I assume that the reduced funding finally agreed upon by Congress is based
on some initial request amount by DoD - Y or N

The request for funding from DoD is based on their overall target (i.e.
cleaning up 50% of the high risk sites by 2002) - Y or N

This predetermined clean up rate has been developed by Pentagon level
individuals who are not remedial, environmental or public health
specialists - Y or N

In follow up to the last two questions, assuming the answers are Y, the
request to Congress is not based truly on need considering environmental
impact and public health, but instead it is based environmental spending
levels deemed acceptable by DoD - Y or N

Depending on the answers to these statements/questions, one may conclude
by working in this field that clean up is based on predetermined allowable
levels based on fiscal decisions emanating from primary mission needs.
While this may be appropriate or may not, the point is that one can
seriously question whether 1) DoD is requesting and 2)Congress is aware of
the actual funding needs based on environmental impact and public health
risks.

Wednesday is a fine day for enlightenment, so lets have a decent
exchange on this one so I can affirm or correct my belief that Congress,
public policy and DoD clean-up are not soundly connected.

Sincerely

Ted

>
> From: "Gibbons, Frank W." <GIBBONS@ohm.com>
>
>
> IN REPLY TO STEVEN POLLACK: 1)I AGREE THAT DILUTION TO BELOW
> REGULATORY STANDARDS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE CLEANUP STRATEGY SINCE
> THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CONTAMINANTS DOES NOT DECREASE; HOWEVER, NA
> IS NOT BASED ON DILUTION BUT RATHER DESTRUCTION OF THE TOXINS BY
> THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; 2)CLEANUP STANDARDS ARE ALREADY BEING
> INDIRECTLY SET BY PUBLIC POLICY IN THAT CONGRESS FOR THE PAST
> SEVERAL YEARS HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO FUND DOD ENVIRONMENTAL
> CLEANUP AT GREATER THAN $2 BILLION WHICH IS DOWN ABOUT 4-6% FROM
> THE PEAK IN 1994.
> FRANK GIBBONS
>
>

*******************************************************************

Theodore (Ted) J. Henry, MS

Managing Director,
Community Health Assessment & Public Participation (CHAPP) Center

737 West Lombard Street, Room 540
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1041
(410) 706-1767 - phone
(410) 706-6203 - fax
thenry@umaryland.edu
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