After finding out how far the gas and volatile pollution of flares reach, I asked the City of Adrian (in person of its new mayor Jim Berryman), the Lenawee County Health Department in person of Patsy Bourgeois and Martha Hall, and by contacting the DEQ in person of Kristine Shimko and Louis Schineman, what they are going to do about it:
November 27, 2013
Dear Jim, Patricia, and Kristine,
Please let us get together to figure out a way to monitor the health risks posed by the massive flare on Witt Farm that is still going strong. Please consult my latest blog post at:
http://adrianoil.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-flare-on-witt-farm.html
http://adrianoil.blogspot.com/2013/11/witt-farm-update.html
and the attached annotated risk assessment by the internationally known Canadian scientist James Argo.
Feel free to consult with me any time - I am looking forward to a meeting!
Sincerely, Tom
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Thomas Wassmer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Siena Heights University
1247 E. Siena Heights Dr.
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-7637
As expected, one institution looks at the other for being responsible and in charge of doing something. From the city I only have a statement of intention by mayor Jim Berryman that the city should do something, the County Heath Department asked the DEQ if they could monitor the flare, and they denied this request. I therefore wrote the below letter to the
County Heath Department
today. In copy to: Mayor Jim Berryman, the City of Adrian Comissioners, and John Mulcahy from the Daily Telegram
January 7, 2014
Martha and Pat,
That was expected as they ignore the risk - and do not have jurisdiction - nor the money to force prudent and well needed safety, health and environmental risk monitoring on the industry. Now the question is, will the county and the city also ignore what should be done to safeguard the citizens of Adrian, Adrian Township and Raisin Township?
Tom
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Thomas Wassmer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Siena Heights University
1247 E. Siena Heights Dr.
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-7637
I did write a Letter To The Editor in the Daily Telegram concerning this very subject. Hopefully, we will get many people to read this letter. By doing so, people may take a more active interest in this most important matter.
ReplyDeleteJames Hannah
You don't seriously expect the Lenawee County Health Department or Michigan DEQ to do anything about the flare's toxic residuals do you?! Just this last summer elderly Gerald Henning was still being poisoned by noxious waste manure spreading which he had to suffer with for the previous 13 years! Mr Hennings life next to a Confined Animal Feeding Operation for the last 13 years of his life were hell. Money talks and as long as big corporations like Savoy Energy and the the Dairy Lobby own our legislators, the average citizen's health and comfort WILL be ignored. Allison MacArthur-Ruesink
ReplyDeleteBlog group ... this is sad that this discussion on air monitoring cannot get off the ground. I am interested in investigating what needs to be done - as an individual citizen - to figure out how to move ahead with establishing a group, setting goals for baseline and ongoing air monitoring, doing some crowd funding, etc. If anyone is interested please send me an e-mail at patbogusz54@gmail.com. I will see who responds and then move forward from there. Please provide the following information: (a) full name; (b) contact information - phone and e-mail would be perfect; and (c) any other pertinent information.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside - I'm leaving this coming Thursday, 1/16, to install water filtration systems in Nicarauga and will return on 1/23. So it will not be until late in the month that I would contact interested individuals.
Let's act!
According to a couple of sources, Lenawee Vo-Tec was evacuated for a time last Thursday (1/9/14) because of a strong odor of oil/gas. Fortunately, only a couple of schools were open that day so the number of students were limited. Although there was no evacuation, Bixby Hospital experienced the same problems. Both institutions are in close proximity to oil gas rigs with burn-off flares.
ReplyDeleteA friend also emailed this info to me about that incident.
"It screaming stunk that day by Witt farm. It looked like they were putting in a new building so I assumed they either de coupled some pipe joint or spilled something.
It would be nice if that complex were at least zoned industrial. The assessment on that property is not on the public record yet... They should have a steep personal property tax on it ...hopefully it will be on the books soon...."
john kuschell
I live in Adrian Twp in Northhills sub. This past week the oil company has been installing small green pipeline along Hunt Rd. & across Bent Oak Ave. back behind our sub. I'm very concerned about this. I called the Twp. & the lady there must of thought I was crazy because I was concerned. Apparently the state says it's ok & we can't do anything about it. Does anyone know if they also fracking at these oil sites?
ReplyDeleteHi Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous,
DeleteThe oil companies in our area currently do not frack their wells because the rocks in our area let the oil and gas through without being fractured. This means that they pump less chemicals into the ground and use less water than fracked wells. However, wells and pipelines can still fail and cause spills of oil and chemicals to pollute the ground water. In addition, Savoy flares off most of its wells polluting the air. Therefore you are absolutely right to be concerned and you are not at all crazy. Unfortunately, many local people, including many in the local government do not know and understand what is going on in their backyard - and they do not want to know. It is so much easier to blindly trust the authorities instead of realizing that nobody cares about your health and the future of your family if you do not take it into your own hands. Join our blog and stay informed.
Best, Tom