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Michigan governor to blame state environmental agency for Flint water debacle Michigan governor to blame state environmental agency for Flint water debacle
(about 3 hours later)
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will tell a congressional committee Thursday that “systemic failures” at the state’s environmental protection agency led to the poisoning of Flint’s water supply.Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will tell a congressional committee Thursday that “systemic failures” at the state’s environmental protection agency led to the poisoning of Flint’s water supply.
Prepared testimony released Wednesday afternoon shows that Snyder will repeat his message that “a failure of government at all levels” resulted in the catastrophe. He also will insist that a water specialist at the federal Environmental Protection Agency was “silenced” when he tried to warn about the lead contamination in February 2015.Prepared testimony released Wednesday afternoon shows that Snyder will repeat his message that “a failure of government at all levels” resulted in the catastrophe. He also will insist that a water specialist at the federal Environmental Protection Agency was “silenced” when he tried to warn about the lead contamination in February 2015.
“I do want to thank Miguel Del Toral, a water specialist at the EPA, who spoke up early about the crisis,” Snyder says in testimony prepared for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “Tragically, his superiors at the EPA told local leaders in Flint to ignore his call for action.”“I do want to thank Miguel Del Toral, a water specialist at the EPA, who spoke up early about the crisis,” Snyder says in testimony prepared for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “Tragically, his superiors at the EPA told local leaders in Flint to ignore his call for action.”
[EPA official resigns as agency intervenes in Flint water crisis][EPA official resigns as agency intervenes in Flint water crisis]
Susan Hedman, former head of the EPA’s Midwest region, repeatedly denied muzzling or retaliating against the scientist when she testified before the same panel Tuesday. On Thursday, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will join Snyder for what is expected to be often fierce questioning from lawmakers.Susan Hedman, former head of the EPA’s Midwest region, repeatedly denied muzzling or retaliating against the scientist when she testified before the same panel Tuesday. On Thursday, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will join Snyder for what is expected to be often fierce questioning from lawmakers.
Snyder pledges in his prepared remarks to hold those responsible accountable, noting that “bureaucrats created a culture that valued technical compliance over common sense — and the result was that lead was leaching into residents’ water.”Snyder pledges in his prepared remarks to hold those responsible accountable, noting that “bureaucrats created a culture that valued technical compliance over common sense — and the result was that lead was leaching into residents’ water.”
Some officials, including Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have called on Snyder to resign. Some Flint residents want him jailed. Three recall efforts are seeking his removal, and a special prosecutor is investigating the disaster to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.Some officials, including Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have called on Snyder to resign. Some Flint residents want him jailed. Three recall efforts are seeking his removal, and a special prosecutor is investigating the disaster to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Residents’ tap water was tainted when the city began using the Flint River as its source in April 2014 and state environmental officials failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the supply. That caused lead to leach from aging pipes. Anyone who drank the water — including nearly 9,000 young children, the most vulnerable population — was exposed. Residents’ tap water was tainted when the city began using the Flint River as its source in April 2014, and state environmental officials failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the supply. That caused lead to leach from aging pipes. Anyone who drank the water — including nearly 9,000 young children, the most vulnerable population — was exposed.
At Snyder’s order, the city of about 95,000 people switched back to Lake Huron water in October, but unfiltered tap water is still not safe to drink.At Snyder’s order, the city of about 95,000 people switched back to Lake Huron water in October, but unfiltered tap water is still not safe to drink.
[Did Flint’s contaminated water cause deadly outbreak of disease?][Did Flint’s contaminated water cause deadly outbreak of disease?]
Also Wednesday, the EPA released thousands of pages of emails about the Flint debacle. One suggests that McCarthy grew concerned in late September after receiving a memo from Hedman.Also Wednesday, the EPA released thousands of pages of emails about the Flint debacle. One suggests that McCarthy grew concerned in late September after receiving a memo from Hedman.
“Seems like the Flint lead issue is really getting concerning,” McCarthy wrote to Hedman and other agency officials on Sept. 26 as she called for a meeting on the subject. “This situation has the opportunity to get very big very quickly.”“Seems like the Flint lead issue is really getting concerning,” McCarthy wrote to Hedman and other agency officials on Sept. 26 as she called for a meeting on the subject. “This situation has the opportunity to get very big very quickly.”
The emails detail the EPA’s efforts to work with the state Department of Environmental Quality and the city as the crisis mushroomed. In October, they show, the EPA began to receive requests from citizens groups and at least one lawmaker to intervene using its emergency power. The emails detail the EPA’s efforts to work with the state Department of Environmental Quality and the city as the crisis mushroomed. In October, the emails show, the EPA began to receive requests from citizens groups and at least one lawmaker to intervene using its emergency power.
But the EPA didn’t take that action until Jan. 21, when it found that Flint’s water posed “an imminent and substantial endangerment to the health” of the people drinking it. McCarthy accepted Hedman’s resignation the same day.But the EPA didn’t take that action until Jan. 21, when it found that Flint’s water posed “an imminent and substantial endangerment to the health” of the people drinking it. McCarthy accepted Hedman’s resignation the same day.
In remarks he is planning to deliver Thursday, Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a longtime EPA critic, says that “if the EPA doesn’t know when to step in and ensure a community has safe drinking water, I’m not sure why it exists at all.”In remarks he is planning to deliver Thursday, Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a longtime EPA critic, says that “if the EPA doesn’t know when to step in and ensure a community has safe drinking water, I’m not sure why it exists at all.”