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Kildee calls for federal probe of Flint water crisis

October 21, 2015

Kildee calls for federal probe of Flint water crisis

Rep. Dan Kildee has requested an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency into the Flint water crisis, saying the unacceptable lead levels detected in the city's water "were a failure of government at every level." Kildee, a Democrat from Flint Township, wrote Wednesday to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about the need for accountability "to restore confidence and to ensure that these failures never happen again," following revelations that lead levels existed in city water at dangerous levels for months. "Unfortunately, the citizens of Flint are the victims in this situation. They deserve a thorough investigation and answers to these questions," Kildee wrote to McCarthy. The request by Kildee and Ananich comes after Michigan's top environmental official acknowledged late Sunday the state made mistakes in its handling of Flint's long-running water crisis. He made changes, including reassigning a top official responsible for the safety of drinking water. Dan Wyant, director of Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality, has said staff members applied the wrong standards of the Lead and Copper Rule that governs testing and monitoring for drinking water. The result was that proper controls regarding corrosion were not put in place when the city began drawing its water from the Flint River in spring 2014. Kildee is requesting that, at minimum, the EPA conduct a review of its oversight of state programs, looking at issues such as whether the federal agency evaluated testing guidelines that the state was using in Flint. Wyant admitted Sunday the state applied the wrong standards of the Lead and Copper Rule, using the standard for cities with populations of 50,000 or less instead of the one for a population like Flint's, which is closer to 100,000. Kildee asks whether EPA was aware that the state was applying wrong standards of the Lead and Copper Rule. He also wants to know when the EPA first became aware of potential elevated levels of lead in Flint's water, and at what point the agency is required to notify officials after learning of such an issue. The congressman requested that McCarthy respond by Oct. 27. The EPA is sending federal technical advisers to assist with the Flint crisis, following requests by Kildee's office last week.

Issues:Local Issues