[CPEO-BIF] Privacy vs. the public's right to know

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

At the Rogersville, Missouri TCE contamination site, the location of 
impacted private wells is being kept private, to anonymize the exact 
locations of impacted homes. Though to my knowledge there is no vapor 
intrusion investigation underway in Rogersville, this approach is 
routinely followed at vapor intrusion investigations across the country, 
as well. In an editorial today, the Springfield newspaper questioned 
that practice.

What do you think?

Lenny

*****




DNR should give locations of wells with TCE


Editorial
Springfield News-Leader (MO)
May 28, 2010

Concerns over property values shouldn't trump the Sunshine Law.

Think of it like a series of burglaries. Or sinkholes. Or lead migrating 
from an abandoned mine.

If you lived nearby, you'd want to know as much detail as possible about 
all those problems, wouldn't you?

The state Department of Natural Resources doesn't see it that way.

The agency is refusing to release addresses of several wells near 
Rogersville -- even though they show the presence of a commonly used 
degreaser known to cause cancer in certain animals.

...


For the entie editorial, see
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100528/OPINIONS01/5280314/DNR-should-give-locations-of-wells-with-TCE

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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