Noting that the Justice Department was investigating the contamination of Flint’s water supply, Earnest said Obama will make sure that EPA officials are held responsible for any “errors or wrongdoing” that may be uncovered.
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The city of Flint in that state has generated national attention because of high levels of lead in the water supply. The change was announced in a news release that acknowledged “lingering uncertainty about the quality of the water” and also sought to “dispel myths and promote the truth about the Flint River and its viability as a residential water resource”, assuring the public that the the water would be tested.
“Our children should not have to be anxious about the water they’re drinking in American cities”.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver refused to call for Snyder’s resignation while at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C., saying investigations should go forward.
The agency also released a letter from McCarthy to Snyder outlining terms of the emergency order, which says that city and state responses to the water crisis have failed.
In April 2014, Flint switched its water source from Detroit to the Flint River as a short-term measure while a new system to connect to Lake Huron was constructed. Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage brains and cause other health problems.
The crisis has set off a political scandal in MI, with accusations the state’s Republican governor, Rick Snyder, was negligent in his handling of the crisis. The invitation will be specifically for the governor and he can not send a representative on his behalf, Manzer said.
“This just wasn’t a case of people having their water cut off for not paying their bills”, said Baxter of U.K.-based Montrose Pictures. “There are no confirmed details at this time, particularly with respect to a date or witness invitations”, the spokesman said.
Townsend was sacked by Flint Mayor Dayne Walling in November 2011, a few days after a state review panel declared Flint in a “financial emergency” and recommended a state takeover of the city’s finances.
Ballenger’s stand on the crisis counters a growing tide of concern from around the nation. What I’ve said is, we have an investigation going on and I can’t wait to hear the results of that investigation because everybody that should be held accountable needs to be held accountable.
Ballenger, who previously served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, was born and raised in Flint, WWJ-TV reported. It could not conclude if the cases were related to the water switch.
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A report Thursday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says nine people died of the bacterial illness between June 2014 and October 2015 in Genesee County, which includes Flint.
