Mayor Mike Fahey Public Comment
Dublin Core
Title
Mayor Mike Fahey Public Comment
Subject
Email, Public Comment
Description
Email from Mayor Mike Fahey expressing his concerns about lead-based paint during the public comment period for the EPA's record of decision.
Creator
Fahey, Mike
Source
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Publisher
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Date
30 December 2008
Contributor
Honda, Seth
Relation
https://semspub.epa.gov/work/07/30023191.pdf
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
PDF Scanned Email
Identifier
Public Comments received on the October 28, 2008 Final Proposed Plan from Mike Fahey, Mayor City of Omaha - 30023191.
Email Item Type Metadata
Email Body
Re: Proposed Final Remedial Action for Omaha Lead Site Dear Ms. Kring:
December 30, 2008
The purpose ofthis letter is to provide comment on EPA's Proposed Plan for the Final Remedial Action for the Omaha Lead Site.
As Mayor of the City of Omaha, 1 am very concerned that the Final Remedial Action Plan has broadened in physical scope but yet fails to put more emphasis on health education and a comprehensive plan to address high levels of lead in children. In 2002, the City of Omaha agreed to allow about 27 square miles of the City to be listed as a lead superfund site to specifically address child blood-lead levels. To date EPA has spent approximately $100 million te replace 4..200 yards, Citabilize exterior lead-based paint of 600 residences, provide limited health education, and perform a treatment study.
The cost estimate for this final purposed action is $254 million and could potentially go higher. Unfortunately, this expenditure or the plan itself fails to recognize lead-base paint as another primary source for elevated lead in children. Despite the community's specifie request, EP A's risk assessment did not include analysis of lead-based paint impacts.
The Douglas County Health Department has thousands of child blood-lead tests and years of study that shows lead-based paint as a primary source of elevated blood levels in Omaha. The studies show further evidence that blood-lead levels have decreased in Omaha, consistent with national trends. Within the superfund site, the blood-lead levels have decreased to 3.7 percent which is well below EPA's remedial action objective of5 percent for the site. The actual measurement of impact on Omaha children shows that health education, testing, and addressing lead-based paint exposures is the most effective. approach.
As you can see, we believe there is a great amount of data to support our position for the need to incorporate lead-base paint as another source for elevated lead in children. I believe it is critically important that rather than concentrate solely on soil remediation, EPA revise the Preferred Alternative to address lead paint exposure and increase funding for a comprehensive program that includes health education.
I would also like to express my displeasure with the EPA for refusing to grant Senator Nelson's request to review the documents for an additional 45 days. As you know, December is a busy time of the year due to the holiday season. With this in mind, I believe the City of Omaha should have been given more adequate time to read through documents then the 15 days allotted by the EPA.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide public comments i)n EPA's Proposed Plan, and encourage you to give serious consideration to these comments. Working together on a comprehensive plan to reduce blood lead levels in children \'"ill have a far reaching impact on our City, neighborhoods and communities.
PDK/dlm
c: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Douglas County Health Department
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy
Senator Ben Nelson
Senator Chuck Hagel Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Congressman Lee Terry Congressman Adrian Smith
December 30, 2008
The purpose ofthis letter is to provide comment on EPA's Proposed Plan for the Final Remedial Action for the Omaha Lead Site.
As Mayor of the City of Omaha, 1 am very concerned that the Final Remedial Action Plan has broadened in physical scope but yet fails to put more emphasis on health education and a comprehensive plan to address high levels of lead in children. In 2002, the City of Omaha agreed to allow about 27 square miles of the City to be listed as a lead superfund site to specifically address child blood-lead levels. To date EPA has spent approximately $100 million te replace 4..200 yards, Citabilize exterior lead-based paint of 600 residences, provide limited health education, and perform a treatment study.
The cost estimate for this final purposed action is $254 million and could potentially go higher. Unfortunately, this expenditure or the plan itself fails to recognize lead-base paint as another primary source for elevated lead in children. Despite the community's specifie request, EP A's risk assessment did not include analysis of lead-based paint impacts.
The Douglas County Health Department has thousands of child blood-lead tests and years of study that shows lead-based paint as a primary source of elevated blood levels in Omaha. The studies show further evidence that blood-lead levels have decreased in Omaha, consistent with national trends. Within the superfund site, the blood-lead levels have decreased to 3.7 percent which is well below EPA's remedial action objective of5 percent for the site. The actual measurement of impact on Omaha children shows that health education, testing, and addressing lead-based paint exposures is the most effective. approach.
As you can see, we believe there is a great amount of data to support our position for the need to incorporate lead-base paint as another source for elevated lead in children. I believe it is critically important that rather than concentrate solely on soil remediation, EPA revise the Preferred Alternative to address lead paint exposure and increase funding for a comprehensive program that includes health education.
I would also like to express my displeasure with the EPA for refusing to grant Senator Nelson's request to review the documents for an additional 45 days. As you know, December is a busy time of the year due to the holiday season. With this in mind, I believe the City of Omaha should have been given more adequate time to read through documents then the 15 days allotted by the EPA.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide public comments i)n EPA's Proposed Plan, and encourage you to give serious consideration to these comments. Working together on a comprehensive plan to reduce blood lead levels in children \'"ill have a far reaching impact on our City, neighborhoods and communities.
PDK/dlm
c: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Douglas County Health Department
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy
Senator Ben Nelson
Senator Chuck Hagel Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Congressman Lee Terry Congressman Adrian Smith
Subject Line
Proposed Final Remedial Action for Omaha Lead Site
From
Mike Fahey
To
Debbie Kring
CC
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Douglas County Health Department
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy
Senator Ben Nelson
Senator Chuck Hagel Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Congressman Lee Terry Congressman Adrian Smith
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy
Senator Ben Nelson
Senator Chuck Hagel Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Congressman Lee Terry Congressman Adrian Smith
Other Media
Citation
Fahey, Mike, “Mayor Mike Fahey Public Comment,” History of Environmental Inequalities, accessed May 18, 2024, https://steppingintothemap.com/inequalities/items/show/247.
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