Copyright 2004, 2007, The News-Dispatch, All Rights Reserved.
| April 3, 2004
Dave Hawk and Jason Miller, The News-Dispatch |
| The measure is a precaution because tests showed an elevated level of a metallic substance in the school's well water, said Fred LaBorn, Michigan City Area Schools interim superintendent. LaBorn said he was told Ken Theisen, EPA on-scene coordinator in The Pines, went to the school Friday morning to notify school officials that beginning Monday the EPA would furnish bottled water. The EPA will bear the cost for one year, LaBorn said he was told. He wasn't sure what happens after that, but it's possible the school system may have to cover the cost of continued bottled water. The school principal wasn't at Pine Friday, and the Michigan City Area Schools is on spring break next week, but LaBorn said the school system will send a letter to Pine School families to inform them of the water situation. LaBorn had heard conflicting information about the school's well water recently, at one point being informed water was OK, he said. Now, the EPA has confirmed reports the substance in the water exceeded the allowable level, he said. "This has not been handled very well," LaBorn said. Earlier this week, a Pines resident told The News-Dispatch tests showed pollutants in the Pine School well. "We've seen markers (in recent water tests) that show there are pollutants in that water," said Jan Nona, a member of the local advocacy group People in Need of Environmental Safety (P.I.N.E.S.). "While it's not necessarily horrible, you have to consider that kids weigh half what adults weigh. Children shouldn't be drinking that water." Theisen and Mick Hahn, the EPA spokesman in Chicago, at that time couldn't confirm the test results, and neither could be reached for comment after notification of the school Friday. LaBorn said he hasn't received any formal notification yet, but was told the metal was measured at 10.8 parts, above the safe threshold of 10.0. The metal, molybdenum, has been found in other wells in the area, along with boron, manganese, arsenic and lead. Earlier, the EPA negotiated a consent agreement with NIPSCO and Brown Inc. under which those companies were to pay the $1.5 to $2 million cost of extending Michigan City municipal water west from the city into the Town of Pines for about 130 homes, about half those in the town where potentially dangerous materials were found in well water. A group of residents has been urging the EPA to require that municipal water be provided to all homes in the town. The wells were believed to be contaminated by materials leaching from the Yard 520 landfill operated by Brown on the south side of U.S. 20. The landfill, now closed, received NIPSCO power plant fly ash for years. Some fly ash, what remains after burning coal in a power plant, also was used for road building in The Pines. Pine School is south of U.S. 20 and west of the landfill, more than a mile from the nearest Pines water main, which means extending municipal water to the school could involve a great expense. In a separate project, Michigan City water is being extended from The Pines farther west along U.S. 12 to the town of Beverly Shores. Pine School is about one mile south along Brown Road from where that water main will be installed. Water main extensions have been estimated to cost some $50 to $60 per foot, meaning a one-mile extension could cost in the neighborhood of $300,000. |
|
|
Copyright 2004, 2007, The News-Dispatch, All Rights Reserved. |