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Pocono News Section
New Clean-up Plan for West Hazleton Neighborhood
New Clean-up Plan for West Hazleton Neighborhood - Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 9:00PM EST
WEST HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY- People living in a Luzerne County neighborhood contaminated with chemicals are learning more about a clean-up plan. The EPA is detailing their latest efforts to rid the West Hazleton neighborhood of cancer-causing chemicals. People have been dealing with this for about 25 years.
The EPA has been taking steps to make it safer. In fact they placed it on their “Superfund” list in 2001, but some neighbors say just get it done.
It is a quiet neighborhood along Deer Run Road in West Hazleton. But ground water runs deep with T. C.E., a cancer-causing chemical discovered 25 years ago.
At the time people complained about burning eyes and noses when they showered. Others developed health problems. The EPA discovered a nearby factory called Chromatex, which is now closed, spilled the chemicals into the groundwater.
A public water line was installed to ensure safe drinking water, but the contamination remained. Neighbors like Dolores Makara are tired of living in fear. "It’s just seeing it dragging on forever and they should finally do something about it, clean it up," she told Eyewitness News.
The EPA is presenting its clean-up plan that they say will neutralize the cancer causing chemicals. But Dolores has heard that before. "Every time we have a meeting they choose their method, how they’re going to do it, the old way wasn't as good... We'll have to see at tonight's meeting," she added.
Environmental activist Phil Kaufman has been fighting for a clean-up since day one. "There is no such thing as a clean-up. It's impossible to get down into the ground to clean this up. The EPA knows it and they are just trying to appease the people," he says. | | |
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