Public hearing #1

Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 7pm

Re: Well water contamination in Slippery Creek

Held at Slippery Creek Public Library

Called by CPHD

63 attendees

I.                    Introduction and Opening by William Burroughs, Director of State Public Health Dept.

a.      Welcomes residents

b.      Discuss findings of test of 10 Slippery Creek wells

                                                               i.      2/10 contaminated with higher levels of lead at 17 ug/dL (EPA limits 15 ug/dL)

                                                             ii.      remind of letter sent saying not to use well water

c.      Why contamination happened

                                                               i.      Explain mine tailings from MH Mining Co.

                                                             ii.      Landslide of tailing piles on Silver Cliff, rain carried it into creek

d.      Effects of lead

                                                               i.      Problems in central nervous system, reproductive system, memory retention, kidneys; can cause anemia or growth stunts in children

                                                             ii.      Contaminated through swallowing or breathing lead

e.      Recommendations for short-term relief

                                                               i.      Don’t use well water for drinking (buy bottled water)

                                                             ii.      Let faucet run for 20 seconds to flush out any lead concentrations (boiling water will not have any effect)

                                                            iii.      Use cold water always (when showering, cooking, etc)

                                                           iv.      Include high amounts of iron and calcium in diet, especially children’s

f.        Long-term goals--get EPA involved to do mass clean-up

II.                 Jose Rodriguez of Hispanic Alliance

a.      No money in community to buy bottled water

b.       Many residents of Slippery Creek not at hearing—how to reach them?  CPHD needs to send letters in both English AND Spanish

III.               Megan Lee Jones of STAC

a.      “something needs to be done now”—get more aggressive with EPA

b.      what about going onto city water—Burroughs didn’t bring it up

IV.              Mark D’Zine of Silver County Planning Dept.

a.      City water not viable solution at this point—would take too long to hook up system

b.      Says he’s been in touch with EPA and that they’re considering involvement—will be a hearing next week

V.                 Maria Sanchez of Slippery Creek

a.      Furious that they have no options—blames it on the fact that Slippery Creek is mostly Hispanic and thus has no money/power to alter decisions

b.      Feels that her community is not taken seriously

VI.              Bobby Cross, retired MH Mining employee

a.      One of non-Hispanics in Slippery Creek

b.      Thinks that Mayor Millhouse should be more involved because this is his fault

c.      Mayor doesn’t have to live in Slippery Creek so he doesn’t care

d.      Mayor should pay off EPA to get them in here now

VII.            Megan Lee Jones

a.      Asks why CPHD isn’t doing anything more

b.      With her experience at Silver Co. Water Mgt, she knows that CPHD has more authority than they’re exerting—they should be providing Slippery Creek with drinking water until clean water can come through their faucets

VIII.         William Burroughs

a.      Explains that EPA is better at handling these issues, has more experience, should get answer from EPA in next week or so after hearing

b.      Enough options exist now, no big fears that sickness will occur because contamination is not widespread or at very high amounts

c.      Concedes by offering free blood tests to determine levels of lead at Silver Cliff Medical Center through Nov. 20^th

d.      Ends meeting