Sure Donald Trump was all for the change in pipes with federal funding. But, not unconditionally.
Does anyone actually believe the government of Flint, Michigan would do anything less that seek a way to replace the water pipes? Really?
July 14, 2017
By Ron Fonger
Flint, MI -- The city has replaced more than 7 percent (click here) of the estimated number of lead and galvanized water service lines in the city, meeting a federal mandate to do so by June 30, the coordinator of the effort says.
Retired Brig. Gen. Michael McDaniel, coordinator of the Flint Action and Sustainability Team, told the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in a letter Monday, July 10, that the city's replacement of 2,150 service lines as of June 30 exceeds the requirement in the federal Lead and Copper Rule.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an administrative order to the city in January 2016 after the agency determined Flint's water constituted an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public because of elevated levels of lead.
"The city thus had until (June 30) to replace ... the 2,037 service lines," McDaniel wrote in a July 10 letter to the director of the DEQ's Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Division. "I am very pleased to advise, formally, on behalf of the city (the replacement of) 2,150 service lines, exceeding the LCR requirement."...
Was there a doubt about the level of contamination in the Flint water system? Was there ever a doubt to the extent these pipes had to be replaced? The federal funding should have started immediately. THERE WAS NOTHING TO PROVE to the federal government as to the extent of the damage to the Flint Water System.
Lead and Cooper Rule (click here)
Must replace at least 7% of LSLs annually; (click here) State can require accelerated schedule
If only portion of LSL is replaced, PWS must:
- Notify customers at least 45 days prior to replacement about potential for increased Pb levels.
- Collect samples within 72 hours of replacement and provide results within 3 days of receipt.
The seven percent rule is to prevent the federal government from getting involved with every pipeline issue in the country. The seven percent rule was for water systems that surprisingly has more than seven percent replacement year after year.
The federal government thought every municipality should be fiscally sound enough to handle 7% of pipe replacement before needing federal funding. HONESTLY, this is not the Flint reality.
May 11, 2017
By Margie Kelly
Residents of Flint, Michigan (click here) will finally get their lead pipes replaced as the result of a settlement agreement approved by a federal judge today. The settlement will require the State of Michigan and City of Flint to replace Flint’s lead pipes within three years, and will be enforceable by the court. The lawsuit was filed in response to the Flint water crisis, the result of failed government decisions that caused lead to leach out from aging pipes into thousands of homes in Flint.
“This hard-fought victory means safer water for Flint. For the first time, there will be an enforceable commitment to get the lead pipes out of the ground. The people of Flint are owed at least this much,” said Dimple Chaudhary, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and lead counsel in the case Concerned Pastors for Social Action v. Khouri....
Making Flint, Michigan responsible for PROVING there was a real need for new water pipes is ludicrous. That decision is nothing but pure hatred of people. There was no reason for it. I am sure there would not be a run on the national treasury simply because Flint, Michigan had an emergency to replace the majority of the pipes, if not all of them.
I don't know how the mayor keeps her cool. I'd be furious as the hideous nature of this requirement.
