Re: [CPEO-MEF] COMMUNITIES: Students excluded from Spring Valley (DC) Advisory Board

[Lenny Siegel <LSiegel@cpeo.org>]

I can't believe this. Why would any Restoration Advisory Board  
exclude people who want to volunteer their time overseeing important  
cleanup projects? I often hear complaints that young people don't get  
involved in environmental cleanup these days. Why not welcome them  
when they step forward?

I don't know who is responsible for the reported decision to exclude  
"non-permanent" residents from the Spring Valley RAB, but this is one  
more example of the need for an appeals procedure to resolve  
questions of Restoration Advisory Board participation at Defense  
Department sites. I have suggested more than once the need for an  
Ombuds-committee made up of representative regulators, Defense  
officials, and one or more community representatives. It doesn't seem  
that difficult to implement.

Lenny


On Oct 5, 2012, at 9:13 AM, Lenny Siegel wrote:

> Student voice restricted in Spring Valley
>
> Editorial
> American University Eagle (DC)
> September 20, 2012
>
>
> When arsenic is involved, everyone deserves to have their say.
>
> The Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board recently announced  
> that students cannot participate in board discussions on the basis  
> that they are not permanent D.C. residents.  Usually, this would be  
> passed off as an AU neighborhood complaint and soon be forgotten,  
> but high levels of arsenic left from World War I-era testing have  
> been found in the area surrounding AU. This is a health concern and  
> students have the right to voice their opinion.
>
> Many students live in the Spring Valley area.  Although they may  
> only be there for two or three years (maybe more if they stay after  
> graduation), they still are exposed to the residual chemical from  
> the former defense site.  On the 5100 block of Tilden Street,  
> arsenic at levels of 22.8 parts per million (ppm) were removed.   
> Arsenic levels above 20 ppm are not considered safe, according to  
> the Environmental Protection Agency.
>
>
> ...
>
> For the entire editorial, see
> http://www.theeagleonline.com/opinion/story/staff-editorial-student- 
> voice-restricted-in-spring-valley/
>
> --
>
> 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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> Military@lists.cpeo.org
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--

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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