Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: EPA leaders miss an opportunity

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 5, 2007

Re: EPA explains Stauffer plan story, June 14

On June 12, officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency again came to Tarpon Springs to discuss their latest plan for cleaning up the contaminated Stauffer Chemical site.

For approximately two hours and 50 minutes, they discussed their plan to install an underground water cutoff wall, with caps over selected areas where the heaviest concentrations of contaminated material exist.

They came to the meeting with no provision to record or even take notes as questions were raised and citizens' suggestions were made. No record was ever made of the meeting. EPA officials did say a report would be made to the Atlanta office, but when pressed, stated it would not be in writing, only verbal.

One can guess what the report will say: "We heard nothing new and all suggestions made have been thoroughly studied. The plan now being proposed is the lowest-risk one, so proceed." Such was the position of the EPA officials when they entered the room, and still their position when they left.

While many citizens pushed for the removal of the contaminates off-site by trucks, trains or barges, EPA representatives rejected this possibility as an old idea and too risky.

A clearly new idea put forward was simply expanding the cutoff wall now proposed so it would surround the property. Those putting forward the idea are convinced, based on information from former Stauffer workers, that the EPA does not know the location of all contaminated sites on the Stauffer property, where barrels of phosphorus were buried. EPA officials could not even bring themselves to make the standard political response: "We'll give it some consideration."

A member of the Pinellas County Health Department said EPA rules require any fix to be a "permanent" one. EPA officials agreed but said the best they could do was use the technology known at the moment and nothing could be guaranteed. The longest life expectancy of the steel or plastic interlocking sheet to be driven into the ground for the cutoff wall was stated as 20, 50 or 100 years. Most present did not believe that to be "permanent."

All in all, the evening was yet another missed opportunity for EPA officials to come up with a plan that would work and satisfy most citizens. While EPA officials denied that the cost to Stauffer of any cleanup plan was the deciding factor, they did volunteer that cost was one factor.

At the very minimum, it would be nice if EPA officials were required to experience a short course in relating to people and dealing with the public.

Gerald R. Goen Tarpon Springs

Re: Some pets not welcome at Expo, letter July 1

Bird bias was an injustice

As I am the Florida regional director for the American Federation of Aviculture, I was notified that the Animal Planet personnel were refusing to allow visitors with pet birds to attend the Animal Planet Expo at Clearwater's Coachman Park on June 16-17.

The advertisements, as well as Animal Planet's Web site, stated clearly that the public was invited to bring their pets and attend the Expo.

To have visitors, especially children, attend the Expo with their beloved other pets and then to see children in the parking lot crying because they were not allowed to attend because they have a pet bird is outrageous!

Those with birds were told that "birds are not companion pets." With millions of households having birds as pets, this shows how out of touch Animal Planet is with the real public.

After receiving complaints, I went to the location and asked to speak with the person in charge. I was at first told that those in charge are in the Washington, D.C., office.

A lady later admitted that she was in charge and was the person refusing to allow those with birds to attend.

Since I was in a meeting and wasn't able to get to the Expo until 4 p.m. the final day, I wasn't able to call for a news briefing so that we could bring the situation to the public view.

With a list of locations where the Expo will be going this year, we will be monitoring these locations and making sure it does not happen again.

Fred Smith, regional director, American Federation of Aviculture

Re: Museum desperate for help story, July 1

Donations stolen from museum

On Saturday, June 9, while a private lunch was finishing, a "visitor" walked in for a tour of the North Pinellas Historical Museum. As the museum was rented for the afternoon, he was told he needed to return at another time.

No one saw him leave. No one noticed that the donation jar was gone until later. The jar was found at the end of the drive.

The North Pinellas Historical Museum operates on a very slim budget. It runs on dues and donations. That's it. Every dollar is needed.

The North Pinellas Historical Museum is at the corner of Curlew and Belcher roads in Palm Harbor. It is usually open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays.

Call (727) 789-0478 for further information.

Kitty Mozina, Palm Harbor

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified July 4, 2007, 22:01:00]