“It was dismissed, however, because of cost considerations and repeated assurances that the water was safe”, the report notes, while also acknowledging that Snyder was relying on incorrect information provided by state agencies. The vast bulk of the report’s findings relate to failures of the state and local agencies that had primary responsibility for Flint’s water, but the EPA probably deserves 5-10 percent of the blame. Though some critics have said the department shifted away from an enforcement focus to become too business-friendly, Flint involved a municipal water supply, not a permit requested by a business.
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“The Flint water crisis is a story of government failure, intransigence, unpreparedness, delay, inaction, and environmental injustice”, reads the report released today by the independent Flint Water Crisis investigative panel.
In a press release responding to the report, Snyder didn’t mention those findings.
Furthermore, the task force added, “Official state public statements and communications about the Flint water situation have at times been inappropriate and unacceptable”.
“When this task force came together I asked them to be completely unbiased in determining how the Flint water crisis occurred”, Snyder said. In addition to reviewing crisis actions, the group has been considering long-term financing models for a more robust health public program.
“Flint Public Works personnel were ill-prepared to assume responsibility for full-time operation of the Flint” water treatment plant “and distribution”, the task force concluded.
In December, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant resigned after the task force laid most of the blame for the city’s water crisis at the feet of his agency.
Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when the city switched its drinking water source, as a cost-cutting move, while it waited for completion of a new pipeline to Lake Huron, the Karegnondi Water Authority. Public officials failed to act until outside researchers began their own tests on lead levels in the city’s water as well as in blood samples of Flint’s children. “We are suggesting to the governor and the legislature that the emergency manager law in MI needs to be reviewed”.
Masons from MI lodges are donating $100,000 to help children exposed to lead during Flint’s water crisis.
Snyder had previously criticized the rules implemented U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s in which it was stated drinking water is considered safe if 90% of tap samples taken from high-risk areas are within lead concentration levels of 15 parts per billion, Crain’s Detroit Business noted. The law removes checks and balances that could have scrutinized or stopped bad decisions made by four separate EMs in Flint.
Former emergency manager Ed Kurtz authorized the use of the river as the water source, the report states.
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Gov. Rick Snyder said Monday he wants Flint and the entire state to have more stringent lead-level regulations than what federal rules require, following the city’s water contamination crisis.
