DEQ Director Russ Harding decided June 16, 2000 to reject the Administrative Law Judge's ruling on the Contested Case with Pall Gelman. Local Judge, Richard G. Lacasse, the SRSW and concerned citizens all asked that the discharge limits be lowered.

Instead, Harding disagreed with the Judge, his ruling and the SRSW. Director Harding instead agreed to increase Pall-Gelman's limits to 10 ppb daily maximum and 60 ppb daily maximum. Apparently, Russ Harding felt that he alone should determine what level of cleanup is protective of our water supplies. This lack of citizen support for clean-up efforts is a trend for Mr. Harding. Russ Harding is overturning similar decisions on other sites in the State, ignoring citizens and local governments and instead catering to big business. These dictatorial actions are not partisan politics. They represent short-term thinking and just plain bad state government.

After careful review of the testimony and facts in the case, and careful recalculation of "best available technology" limits for 1,4-dioxane treatment, the judge had recommended that Pall-Gelman's discharge limits under their core permit be lowered (cut in half to 5 ppb monthly average and 15 ppb daily maximum). The Judges ruling came very close to the SRSW's request of 3 ppb and 10 ppb discharge limits. This ruling represented a major vistory for the citizens and SRSW.

Citizen support has made a difference! You can help:

• Write to Director Harding to urge him to support the lower discharge limits.
  
• Contribute to the SRSW legal fund to allow attorneys and citizens to continue pressuring P/GSI to clean up the pollution.
  
• Come the SRSW meetings to discuss what additional actions concerned citizens can take right now and over the coming months to protect our water supplies.
  

Scio Residents for Safe Water, Inc.
P.O. Box 97
Dexter, MI 48130