In the midst of crisis this message surfaced.
Things continued to percolate in the Flint water crisis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cmpels Michigan to take “immediate action to address serious and ongoing concerns” with Flint’s drinking water system," Jim Lynch and Melissa Nann Burke report for The Detroit News.
At the same time, President Obama said that about $80 million should be headed to Flint next week, according to the Detroit Free Press. Also, it was announced that EPA Regional Director Susan Hedman will resign effective Feb. 1.
The News reports that the EPA has authority to compel action when “an immediate and substantial endangerment exists” and “local authorities are inadequate to protect public health.”
“EPA has determined that the City of Flint’s and the State of Michigan’s responses to the drinking water crisis in Flint have been inadequate to protect the public health and that these failures continue,” the EPA order reads, according to the News.
.EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressed concern about “continuing delays and lack of transparency.”
The News reports:
The EPA order directs the state to fully implement EPA task force recommendations on sampling, with prompt and regular reporting to the federal agency and the public, ensuring Flint has all of the professional assistance necessary to operate its water system safely; soliciting, through a transparent public process, the input of “nationally recognized experts” on safe water treatment, sampling and distribution.
Also: Ensuring the city has the “technical, managerial and financial capacity” to safely transition from its current water source, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the newly formed Karegnondi Water Authority some time later this year.
