04/19/2012:

There was a great turnout for the EPA meeting last night, April 18, 2012. Representatives from ATSDR, ADHA, and U of A were on hand to explain what they do and to answer questions. Many of the topics were addressing the how contaminants can affect us and what the exposures are. The EPA spoke about the addendum to the Remedial Investigation, which means they are still in the process of sampling more areas (yards) for soil contaminate levels. A question had been brought up that the EPA has not done enough to inform the public as to what these levels are. [The answer I have to that is; those of you who have had your soil tested, should have obtained your levels of contamination in a report sent to your address. The fact that there has not been an area wide report, is due to the fact that not all the data are in. The EPA is still investigating, and until all data are in, I, for one would feel it would be irresponsible to put out a report on levels consisting of the entire area unless it was complete.] I hope the meeting was beneficial to those who came, and that most of your concerns were answered

As per a discussion between the Technical Advisor, myself and an EPA representitive, we are working on getting information to the TAG prior to the EPA's implementation of upcoming events, or projects. The EPA is aware of the concerns of non-communication, and are trying to establish a better line of communication with the TAG in order to keep the community informed. The TAG wants to keep the community informed as well as stay involved with the community needs and concerns as much as possible, so we encourage those of you to write your concerns or needs in the forum provided in this website. Anything that you present to the TAG, the Technical Advisor will be able to answer most, if not all your questions to the best of his knowledge. So please use this forum to voice your concerns or needs of the community.

The ATSDR and the ADHS has been informed of the municipal water sampling that took place through Gardenroots. Some levels were particularly high. ADEQ is responsible for overseeing the municipal water from the source to the homes. I posted a report earlier regarding their findings of the municipal source itself, but to date, I have not received any return notification on any testing of tap water in homes that presented with high levels. I am hoping that in getting the ATSDR and ADHS involved that we will soon have answers to our questions.

In the meantime, upon the completion of the amended Remedial Investigation report, Wayne Johnson, Technical Advisor, will again read the RI and put his findings in a report. As soon as his report is complete, I will post it this website.

02/07/2012:

I wanted to make the community aware that some of us took part in the Gardenroots soil, vegetable and water testing. Most of the attendants were on well water, but there were some who are on the municipal water. It is to those of whom I would like to address this to. The water tested came back high for Arsenic. I strongly advise anyone who receives water through the municipal water supply to have your water tested by a certified lab. CCODH is in the process of working with the EPA, ADEQ and others to see why the water reported so high. I received an email today from the EPA stating that, "The 2010 Consumer Confidence Report is included in your water bill. Based on their previous monitoring events with ADEQ, they are in compliance with the Arsenic standard. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Office is now working with ADEQ's Drinking Water Office to figure out the reason for your and other's results from the University of Arizona Study. As this issue continues to move forward, feel free to contact your water supplier directly with any questions or concerns." Please inform CCODH via email if you have any questions or concerns regarding your water, and I will do my best to find answers and keep you informed. If you would like you may also contact the ADEQ and the EPA on your own, but please inform us any information that you receive. Thank you.

02/06/2012:

We had our first TAG meeting on Janurary 27th. I want to thank those of you who came and participated in the Q&A forum for the Tecnical Advisor, Wayne Fuller. Everyone had great questions, and many of you voiced your concerns. I hope that we were able to answer your questions and help you understand more about what we, in the community, are living in, on and with. I took the liberty of recording the meeting and added it to our website for your convenience. Please be aware that it is a little long. I chose not to edit it so that those who were undable to come can hear the meeting in it's entirety. Click here.

10/3/2011:

To date we have had the EPA public meeting where the Community Coalition was introduced as well as the Technical Advisor for the TAG. We are awaiting the TA's finalization of the RI and FS research so that we can move forward with a community meeting. I am hoping to plan for a late October meeting; and perhaps we can coincide with the EPA, ADEQ and other local, state and federal partipcants.

The EPA has been doing some clean up on local properties near the Humboldt Smelter and at Iron King Mine. I can say from my experience as a home owner on the Smelter site, it has been a noisy inconvenience, but the results should prove beneficial. The EPA is cutting into the earth at 1 foot and testing. They are finding that the soil is testing at, or around 160 ppm at the 1 foot level. Which, if you have been keeping up, the backgroud for this area is 39 ppm. They are continuing to the depth of 2.5 feet, putting a barrier down and back filling with clean soil.

As a community, we still have to consider the Smelter property, and the property at Iron King Mine. All input and inquiries are welcome. Please feel free to discuss in our forum, or call 928-632-5586 with your questions and/or concerns, and we will be as helpful as possible to addressing the community as best we can.

5/10/2011:

We have signed Ninyo & Moore, a Geotechnical and Environmental Sciences Consultant Firm, to be our Technical Advisor Group. Bob Jones will be the liaison. The Coalition would like to welcome Ninyo & Moore to the TAG and to our community.

5/03/2011:

The Coalition has chosen a firm for the Technical Advisor position. As it stands, we are in the midst of signing a contract. The community, as a whole, will be notified as to the Technical Advisor and Firm chosen as soon as all aspects are finalized.

3/02/11:

We are in the process of receiving and reviewing Technical Advisor applications for the Technical Assistant Grant we received from the EPA. We expect to have an Advisor in place by the end of March. We met with representatives from the EPA and ADEQ today and discussed the progress of CCODH. Many of you in the community ask questions regarding health concerns and the short term and long term effects of exposure, I have been given names of those whom, you may contact regarding your concerns. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. More names will be added as they become available. Please be patient as we are doing our best to keep you informed.

9/5/2010:

I am proud to announce that The Community Coalition of Dewey-Humboldt has taken on the challenge to obtain the Technical Assistance Grant offered by the EPA. They are currently looking for volunteers to help organize the TAG grant. Should you be interested, you can contact them via email at dhsmelter@gmail.com, or call 928-632-5586. Any volunteer help is appreciated.

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done "

-Justice Louis Brandeis