Keep Drinking the "clean water"

Orrington- What good are state and federal law do if it is not enforced? The Clean Water Act of 1972 was enacted to protect America’s water ways from pollution. Since then, manufacturing companies have been skirting around the CWA. HoltraChem base out of St. Louis, Missouri, closed down the chemical plant in Orrington, Maine in 2000. HoltraChem has been fighting the Maine Department of Environmental Protection over toxic chemicals leaching into the Penobscot River and surrounding aquifer since the plants closure.

While they battle this out in court, toxins are leaching into the waterway by the tons. In the past year alone, HoltraChem has been fined five times. One of the most prevalent toxins leaching out is Methyl-Mercury; it accumulates in the food chain, and environment. According to DEP’s study most of the lower Penobscot River and Penobscot Bay are contaminated by the mercury.Studies have shown that lobsters in this region contain high levels of mercury, this alone could have repercussions that are felt for many years. This could effectively wipe out whole communities that rely on bay for their livelihood.

Mercury does not break down over time. Once it is in the environment, it has to be removed by excavation. HoltraChem plans to remove 1/5^th of total contaminated soil. That means that 350,000 cubic yards of contained soil will remain onsite. That will allowtoxins to leach into the soil, river, and drinking water for years to come.

This is just a brief view of what is taking place in Orrington. If HoltraChem circumvents the law by out spending the regulatory agency, which could leave the door open for any manufacture to exploit Maine’s environment and its communities. Why bother to enact laws if companies can sidestep the legal system. That would be a sad affair for the state and residents of Maine. It could lead to are new state motto: Maine the toxic wastes state.

14-1 and 15-1 ab

13-2
Here a few links about HoltraChem in Orrington,Maine and my source. The company was toxic waste leaching into the river and drinking water.


[ http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/holtrachem/index.htm ]http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/holtrachem/index.htm

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115602&catid=2

[ http://www.wmtw.com/news/23250090/detail.html ]http://www.wmtw.com/news/23250090/detail.html

http://www.downeast.com/the-tipping-point/2010/april/referendum-democracy

[ http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141415.html ]http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141415.html

[ http://www.cleanupholtrachem.com/ ]http://www.cleanupholtrachem.com/

[ http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141921.html ]http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141921.html

[ http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141921.html ]http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141921.html

http://www.cascobay.usm.maine.edu/pdfs/Toxics%20Chapter%209.pdf

http://maine.gov/dep/rwm/holtrachem/pdf/composthearingbrief3-22-10.pdf