SOS! ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CRISIS IN GAINESVILLE, FL- ROGUE EPA?

DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA,

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO FINALLY PUT AN END TO THE LONG-TERM, ONGOING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEBACLE IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, HOME OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND OF THE LETHAL CABOT-KOPPERS SUPERFUND SITE:

ON JUNE 17, 2011, THE ALACHUA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SENT A LETTER TO YOU ASKING FOR EXECUTIVE INTERVENTION TO EXPEDITE THE RELOCATION OF AFFECTED RESIDENTS FROM EXTREMELY CONTAMINATED HOMES AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY.  RECEIVING NO REPLY, THE COMMISSION SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON OCTOBER 5, 2011.  DID YOU RECEIVE OUR COUNTY'S CALLS FOR HELP SENT ON BEHALF OF SICK AND DYING RESIDENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN?

SADLY, US EPA HEAD LISA JACKSON AND HER STAFF REPEATEDLY IGNORE LETTERS SENT TO THEM BY SUFFERING RESIDENTS PLEADING FOR RELOCATION FROM HIGHLY TOXIC HOMES AND AUTHENTIC, EFFECTIVE REMEDIATION OF THE KOPPERS SITE.  FURTHER, THE MOST IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED RESIDENTS NEVER RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM EPA DESPITE HAVING GIVEN THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION TO EPA STAFF MANY TIMES OVER.  WHO IS THE  US EPA ACCOUNTABLE TO?

YOUR PROMISES OF A NEW ERA OF TRANSPARENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ARE NOT BEING HONORED HERE, WHERE THE FAMILIES MOST AFFECTED BY KOPPERS DIOXINS CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED, MARGINALIZED, DISENFRANCHISED, AND EVEN BULLIED AT ALL LEVELS BY A CORRUPT SYSTEM THAT ACTIVELY PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OF THE FOREIGN-OWNED POLLUTING ENTITY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AMERICAN CHILDREN. 

UNCOUNTABLE LIVES HAVE BEEN IRREPARABLY DAMAGED HERE, WITH FAR TOO MANY CUT TRAGICALLY SHORT:  AS OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS UNJUST, UNAMERICAN STATE OF AFFAIRS TO CONTINUE.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY IN DISTRESS.  CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE DYING FROM KOPPERS TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA WHILE REPRESENTATIVES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT LOOK AWAY.

PLEASE RESTORE OUR FAITH IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION- OUR CHILDREN DESPERATELY NEED YOUR INTERVENTION!

SINCERELY,

SANDRA