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PRESS RELEASE
Schwartz Requests Greater Federal Cooperation In Investigation of WASA Lead Contamination MatterAlso Seeks Independent Analysis of Lead Levels in D. C. Water And Expansion of Council Committee's Investigative AuthorityDC Councilmember Carol Schwartz, Chair of the Committee on Public Works and the Environment and Co-chair of Interagency Task Force on Lead in Water, today asked President Bush to ensure that relevant federal agencies become actively involved in solving the problem of high levels of lead found in some District residents' tap water. Also, in a letter today to Senator James Inhofe, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ms. Schwartz and Mayor Anthony Williams requested that hearings on the lead issue be held in the Senate. Ms. Schwartz pointed out that both local and federal entities are involved in providing water for the District, "so both should be involved in solving this problem." Congressman Tom Davis, Chair of the House Committee on Government Reform, received a similar request from Councilmember Schwartz and the Mayor two weeks ago and has scheduled hearings in the House for March 5. "This is a serious matter involving the health of our residents, particularly our very young people," Ms. Schwartz said. "The federal government built most of our water delivery system and is in charge of the aqueduct that provides us with our water. If ever there was time that we should be working together to solve a problem, this is that time." The Water and Sewer Authority is a quasi-independent District government agency with some direct oversight by the city. On the federal side, there is the Washington Aqueduct, which is responsible for collecting, purifying and pumping the potable water utilized by WASA, as well as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which has overall jurisdiction of water quality in the District. In addition to her requests of the federal government, Ms. Schwartz said today that she is seeking an independent analysis of the lead levels in District water, as well as special resources from the Chairman of the Council to support broadening the investigative work being conducted by the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. "This matter is far too important to simply rely on WASA's internal analysis of the problem. We must have an outside independent analysis so we know exactly what we are dealing with," Ms. Schwartz said. Ms. Schwartz added that she felt it was "in the best interest of the health and peace of mind of our citizens that the Committee continues its thorough oversight, and that this problem be solved promptly and completely so that we never have a repeat of the events that got us to this point." "People have lost faith in WASA, and based on the circumstances of this issue, that is understandable," Ms. Schwartz said. "It is going to take a lot to restore credibility to the agency and to restore citizens' confidence in their tap water, but that is what we are going to try to accomplish, through this independent analysis and our thorough investigations." GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA February 27, 2004 The Honorable James M. Inhofe Dear Senator Inhofe: We write today concerning the problem with unacceptable levels of lead in some District residents' drinking water. On Wednesday, February 11, we established the Interagency Task Force on Lead in Drinking Water. It has been meeting weekly to look into ways the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) can reduce lead in water, ensure that high-risk populations receive priority lead pipe replacement, identify funding sources to help pay for replacements and make certain WASA and the DC Department of Health communicate critical information to citizens promptly and clearly. Because there are two essential components to this matter, we feel it is important that each component be investigated by the appropriate entity. On the local side, WASA is a quasiindependent District government agency with direct oversight by the city. On the federal side, there is the Washington Aqueduct, which is responsible for collecting, purifying and pumping the potable water utilized by WASA and is a division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although the Council's Committee on Public Works and the Environment has had the Washington Aqueduct present and testifying at its hearings, and it is a member of our Task Force, we think it is important to have an additional forum where officials from federal entities, such as the Washington Aqueduct and EPA, could be questioned by a body with appropriate legislative oversight authority. The House of Representatives, partly in response to a letter of request from us, has scheduled a hearing for March 5, 2004. We feel that Senate involvement would also complement and expedite that work, as well as the work of the Council's Committee and the Task Force we co-chair. Therefore, we are respectfully requesting that you, as Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, hold hearings on this topic. We look forward; to your response to our request.
Sincerely, Carol Schwartz Council of the District of Columbia
February 27, 2004 The Honorable George W. Bush Dear President Bush: I write today concerning the problem with unacceptable levels of lead in some District residents' drinking water. On Wednesday, February 11, I, along with the Mayor, established the Interagency Task Force on Lead in Drinking Water. It has been meeting weekly to look into ways the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) can reduce lead in water, ensure that high-risk populations receive priority lead pipe replacement, identify funding sources to help pay for replacements and make certain WASA and the DC Department of Health communicate critical information to citizens promptly and clearly. Because there are two essential components to this matter, we feel it is important that each component be investigated by the appropriate entity. On the local side, WASA is a quasiindependent District government agency with direct oversight by the city. On the federal side, there is the Washington Aqueduct, which is responsible for collecting, purifying and pumping the potable water utilized by WASA and is a division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although, the Committee on Public Works and the Environment has assembled the relevant District agencies to address this matter, I think it is important for the appropriate federal entities to also become actively involved in solving this crisis, which would complement and expedite the work of the Council's Committee, and the Task Force. The House of Representatives, partly in response to a letter of request from the Mayor and me, has scheduled a hearing for March 5, 2004. Today, the Mayor and I requested that the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hold hearings as well. Therefore, I respectfully request that you instruct the pertinent federal agencies to become actively involved in addressing this issue. I look forward to your response to our request.
Sincerely, |
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