Flint Update

As the crisis in Flint continues, both the U.S. Congress and the Michigan Legislature move to aid Flint with various legislative proposals. U.S. Representative Candice Miller introduced a $1 billion supplemental appropriations bill to go toward replacing Flint’s underground water line infrastructure. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has said replacing the pipes could cost up to $1.5 billion, but estimates have come in anywhere from low tens of millions to $1 billion.

The Michigan Senate passed SB 136 on Thursday, which included an amendment by Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) that allocates $30 million to the city of Flint to essentially reimburse Flint residents on their water bills. In a letter, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich also called on Governor Rick Snyder to provide a $10 million supplemental to expand the Women, Infants and Children program in the wake of the federal government denying the request. The governor has not acted on this request yet.

Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered 26 residents in Flint had high lead levels in places where filters are rated as effective. This prompted an urgent Friday evening news conference saying the information presented a dire warning for residents to test their water. The number of residents with lead levels of more than 150 parts per billion had grown to 42 as of Sunday. Until Sunday, the state’s message on lead levels had emphasized the majority were below the 15 parts per billion standard.

Several individuals have been requested to testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform. Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards and Flint resident LeeAnne Walters testified before the committee on Wednesday. In their testimony, Mr. Edwards and Ms. Walters placed blame on all three tiers of government, local, state, and federal, for this crisis. When concerned about her water, LeeAnne Walters sought Mr. Edwards’ help, and the two of them went to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to seek help. Miguel Del Toral, an employee at the EPA, concluded lead was leaching into the water but Region 5 chief Susan Hedman disagreed with him. Mr. Edwards testified that both the Department of Environmental Quality, who failed to enforce the federal Lead and Copper Rule and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the EPA share part of the blame. In his opinion, Flint is responsible for daily operations and the distribution system and certifying that samples meet the lead and copper rule and the state is responsible for ensuring these levels are in line with federal standards. The EPA is then responsible for setting drinking standards and providing oversight and auditing state performance. In this breakdown, each level of government is partially responsible for the emergency situation, according to Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards and Ms. Walters believe the events that occurred should be considered criminal.

Soon to be former Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager and former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley has agreed to testify in front of the committee after the committee ordered a subpoena. Darnell Earley officially resigned as Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager earlier this week and is expected to vacate the position at the end of February. Initially, Mr. Earley had refused to testify. Additional members of the committee, namely U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), have requested both Governor Snyder and former Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant also be called to testify. Neither have been formally invited yet.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, February 5, 2016 10:19 AM
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