Just Like New York

The tactics the Chamber and industry are using are virtually identical to the delaying tactics used by General Electric to block the PCB clean-up on the Hudson River in New York.  GE has said for years that it's safer to just leave the PCBs in the river, and allow new clean sediment to cover the PCBs.  But the reality on the Hudson, just like the Fox River, is that the PCBs don't stay buried.

• Chamber's Claim ---  "The Chamber supports efforts that preserve the long term quality of the Fox River and our quality of life."
The Truth --- The Chamber has opposed environmental regulations for years, despite the need to protect public health and wildlife.  They usually side with polluters.
 
• Chamber's Claim --- "Superfund designation for the Fox River at this point is premature."
The Truth --- Official clean-up plans have been discussed more than 12 years.

• Chamber's Claim --- "Companies along the river have shown good faith to work with the DNR to resolve this issue.  They should be given that opportunity."
The Truth --- The polluters have dominated the official clean-up committees for 12 years.  They've proven the "voluntary cooperative approach" doesn't work.  They still argue the PCBs shouldn't be touched.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Companies have demonstrated a commitment to responsible stewardship of the Fox River."

The Truth --- The polluters fought tooth and nail to block the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and other legislation needed to protect public health.  They generally do only what the law requires them to do.
• Chamber's Claim--- "By 1971 the use of PCBs in carbonless paper was discontinued.  (They imply that PCB discharges stopped then.)"

The Truth --- Significant PCB discharges by paper recycling companies continued up to about 1991, and Granulation Technologies, in Green Bay, still releases up to 10 lbs. of PCBs to the air each year.
• Chamber's Claim --- "About 40 tons of PCBs remain in the river sediments, of the original 125 tons."

The Truth --- Experts estimate that 80 to 90 tons of the PCBs are still in the river.   We can still catch the majority of the pollution before it gets to the Bay.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Most of the PCBs are buried in the sediments."  (They imply this is a safe condition.)

The Truth --- Unsafe levels of PCBs are exposed on the surface of river muds, getting into the fish and ducks, and flowing downstream.  If a 100 year storm comes along, the buried PCBs will be kicked up.  A huge dose of PCBs will poison the Bay and Lake Michigan.  We must remove the PCB hotspots before this catastrophe happens.
• Chamber's Claim --- "The companies showed good faith by providing $10 million for further studies and one demonstration project."

The Truth --- The $10 million represents less than 1% of the total estimated clean up cost.  It's a drop in the bucket.  Why didn't they provide this money 12 years ago when it was needed for the Remedial Action Plan?  We also have serious concerns about the methods proposed for the demonstration.
 
• Chamber's Claim --- "Some, including many environmentalists, question whether dredging sediments and disturbing PCB deposits won't do as much harm as good."
The Truth --- Most environmentalists who have studied this issue believe we must get the hotspots out of the river.  We have concerns about the dredging methods and the final treatment and disposal methods, but the Chamber is clearly misrepresenting our concerns.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Do current PCB levels in river sediments pose a serious threat to human health or the environment?  It is uncertain whether present levels of contamination pose any serious threat."

The Truth --- After all these years and the hundreds of studies confirming the dangers of PCBs, how can the Chamber dare to  show such complete disregard for public health?  They're ignoring all the fishermen thrown out of work, the deformed frogs, birds, mammals and other sick wildlife in the river and bay.  They're perpetuating ignorance and denying the human cancer risks and serious threats to our children's sexual development, intelligence and behavior.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Superfund designation will result in a protracted legal battle."

The Truth --- They said this 12 years ago.  If we had started then, we could be farther along now, but the Chamber pushed the "cooperative approach."  Also, litigation won't delay the clean-up.  Superfund provides clean-up money right away, while the legal battles rage.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Once EPA assigns blame and responsibility all cooperative efforts will be halted."

The Truth --- What cooperative efforts?  After 12 years, we've seen no progress.   And why shouldn't our government agencies identify the polluters?  The polluters are not victims.
• Chamber's Claim --- "If the paper companies are held responsible for paying for clean-up activities, it could have catastrophic consequences for those companies, their employees, and the communities where they are located."

The Truth --- A typical Chamber scare tactic --- black mail the workers.  The reality is that 7 major corporations and 5 major sewage plants have enormous assets they can use for this clean-up.  The costs will also be spread over many years.   Remember:  Fort Howard took it's profits out of Wisconsin to build a new mill in China for a billion dollars.  That money should have been spent here to clean up Fort Howard's mess and protect the community and workers who built that company.
• Chamber's Claim --- "Everyone in N.E. Wisconsin will be affected by this issue."

The Truth --- Everyone around Lake Michigan is affected by Fox River PCBs.    Business people in the Fox River Valley are being self-centered and need to realize this is a regional public health issue, not just a local business concern.