By narrowing its focus to a single, distant source, the EPA effectively eliminated more than a dozen local industries from closer scrutiny in the case even though Bliss also accepted liquid waste from them. Wildwood residents originally voted to approve the creation of the municipality to control development, thereby ensuring that greenspace would be preserved. Offers were based solely on square footage, which angered the owners of newer, nicer houses. April 28 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman won a $300,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket just three years after winning a $250,000 lottery jackpot. Remedial action is mandated by the EPA in a residential setting at one ppb or higher. Those same officials are now siding with the developers, claiming that the once highly contaminated land is no longer a threat to human health, that it is now safe enough for backyard swingsets and tomato patches. The citys nearly 2,500 residents were divided about what to do next, whether to stay or to ask for a buyout of their property through the EPAs Superfund. Monsanto refused to consider the governors appeal, even though before a federal ban on the chemical the company had been the sole producer of PCBs in North America. I guess Wildwood is just going to have to look at it from a credibility standpoint, says Shea. I would move back in a second., After the flood, he and his brothers began rebuilding immediately. He simply has questions, questions that he believes were left unanswered by the EPAs reluctance to be forthcoming. A trio joggers run past them. It appears that it is possible that certain leads werent followed up on because they didnt fit their theory of where this waste came from.. He arrives wearing the uniform of politics: a blue suit, white shirt, tie, cuff links. In the short term, the federal agency has settled for containment and fencing off the contaminated areas. He's mopped up the mud and moved back into his mobile home at the Easy Living Trailer Park with his wife and 5-year-old son. Three parties Jean Callahan, Kisco Co. and Bliss refused to pay for the cleanup. 67115. WebJerry-Russell Bliss, Inc. v. Hazardous Waste Management Comm'n. I dont know his real name, because he never did say it, Copeland says. Were hesitant to give this information to an agency that we feel is corrupt. Those who returned were instructed to leave, and anyone who hadnt was told to stay away. The EPA intends to cap that area with soil and sod to limit human exposure and soil erosion. The EPA has taken all those necessary steps and there are no problems relative to any exposures to the public at this point. During the past few months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken more than 2,000 soil samples from the park, which is located near the North St. Louis County municipality of St. Ann. If theres any dioxin left, it doesnt seem to bother the wildlife. As these families were being made their offers, they were taking the money and running, Leistner says. Bliss has accounted for spreading at least 7,000 gallons of dioxin-contaminated oil across the state, but officials fear there was much more. S.C. woman wins $300,000 lottery prize -- her second jackpot in 3 years. Bliss son still lives on a Strecker Road property once owned by his father, from which the EPA only a few years ago finally removed more than 900 The citys mayor, Joe Capstick, didnt like the sound of PCBs, and he needed to look out for his family, so he resigned and left. The bulk of the park is down below, across the river. The paper had purchased the land from a farmer and rebranded it as a resort, a place for doctors from St. Louis to relax or catch a few fish on the weekend. The biggest fish appears to have either slipped off or broken the line, however. William Powell was St. Louis Magazine's senior editor from September 2012July 2016. The waste oil salvagers list of clients included: Monsanto, Wagner Electric, Union Electric, Carter Carburetor, American Can and the now-defunct Lianco Container Corp., a can manufacturer jointly owned by Libby, McNeil and Libby and Anheuser- Busch Inc. Monsanto created dioxin as a waste byproduct in its chemical manufacturing processes and also exclusively made toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its Krummrich plant in Sauget, Ill. until 1977. Every morning, Bunch would come to the donut shop. Some streets here measured 100 parts per billion--100 times higher than the level the CDC considers dangerous. One year on Halloween, while the men were playing cards, the ladies sneaked away and toilet-papered the chief of polices house. "You win a battle, you stick up a flag," said the Chrysler assembly line worker. Petitioner asserts: denial deprived petitioner of due process Some even refused to shake his hand. Just little bullshit. We feel confident that our investigations were thorough, that we have followed up on every lead that weve been made aware of. She traveled the country to countless rodeos, barrel races, and team ropings, often with her husband and daughter by her side. Some were rescued in boats. But the fire was rekindled, and the remaining soil was burned. Some folks arent sure its even there. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began warning people in low-lying areas that a severe flood was coming. The discovery followed an announcement earlier last year of another suburban dioxin site in Ellisville on Lemar Drive. It's a free country. As Leistner describes it, Times Beach was idyllic. Now officials worry that they may never find the 87 places reportedly used for dumping of dioxin-contaminated waste oil. In the center of the park is a large mound where the contaminated houses were buried, since only soil was burned. It was nearly a week before people could return to begin the daunting task of rebuilding. Taylor is a man called to causes. He faced a maximum of nine years in prison. "We had no authority to do anything until the Superfund law passed in 1980," Hedeman said. But nobody from the federal agency has bothered to walk across the street and inform her about the purpose of these actions. Ironically, one of the sources of dioxin is incineration itself. Dioxin, its silent, unseen. People here tend to talk about the flood more than the dioxin. Instead, she has learned the little she knows from the scant newspaper coverage afforded the subject. There was an appeals process that could net disgruntled residents a few extra dollars. Marilyn Leistner lives in a sturdy brick house on the top of a hill. Russell Bliss was accused of picking up chemical waste from a plant in Verona in the early 70s, mixing it with used motor oil from service stations, and selling the toxic elixir to horse farms, churches, and small towns as a dust suppressant. Bob Feild, who headed the EPAs clean up at Times Beach, says the agency is currently following up on several leads it received recently regarding other potential hazardous waste sites in the St. Louis area. Taylor thought that sounded like a bad idea, so he co-founded the Times Beach Action Group to oppose the incinerator. Evening Standard/Getty Images. Its important for people to know what happened, to remember. The bank that stood between the town and the river was steep and tall. But now, she turns indignant, her jaw tightening and eyes narrowing, seething at the people who dare to argue that dioxin never hurt anyone in Missouri. Bliss has said he had no idea that toxic chemicals were involved. Anyone can read what you share. She had a knack for finding the best ice cream shops and loved Dr. Pepper. WebIn his early life, Jerry Hicks had been a circus acrobat for two years in Cuba, and then, beginning in 1948, had toured for 20 years as a musician, master of ceremonies, and comedian. In doing so, Taylor argues, the agency ignored the various other priority pollutants present in the soil, including PCBs, some of which might not have originated at the Verona plant. The rabbits died. He was 87 years old. The dispute pitted neighbors, even relatives, against one another, eroding the citys greatest asset, its family atmosphere. The whole family chewed tobacco. Officials blame their inaction on scientists who once believed dioxin decays faster than it does. Of 15 confirmed dioxin sites in Missouri, five were contaminated by waste oil laced with dioxin from a southwest Missouri chemical plant for which Mr. Bliss hauled wastes in 1971. I believe that the whole area there is littered with contamination pockets, she says. "Under no circumstances would I want to raise a family in Times Beach," said Dr. Gary Stein, a CDC epidemiologist. The town is gone, but the people remain. "There are too many unknowns at this point.". Ive been to Monsanto maybe twenty times, Rollins said. In addition to the oil that he picked up at lube joints, he also hauled sludge from industrial facilities. Then came a 7-Eleven. Jordan, who has lived in her home for 43 years, recalls the late Odie Greenspon, once operated a breeding farm for trotters at the location of the present park.. What Im going to ask is that they provide the citizens with some level of accountability, because we certainly arent getting it from the EPA and we shouldnt have to depend on the developer to provide it.. Bliss That paved the way for final approval of the buyout. Natalie faced her 20-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis with bravery, grace, and dignity. State and federal officials ignored the Centers for Disease Control when it confirmed that dioxin had contaminated an Imperial, Mo., subdivision and urged in 1975 that the dirt be moved to protect residents. Look at the record of decision. Back in 1982, she called Bliss and asked him, point-blank, whether he had sprayed Times Beach with dioxin. The only request: wash down the trailers first. CNN Chicago: Toxic Town: Bliss Transcript Despite evidence of erosion, the EPAs investigation concluded that the fill area of the Callahan subsite was not contaminated (and) that the original objectives of the remedial action had either been achieved through natural processes, or were no longer considered necessary due to the preference expressed by the site owner., Aside from groundwater contamination, the most serious threat to human health posed by the contamination at the Callahan site was airborne migration, according to the EPA. The full-page advertisements boasted that the sweltering heat and discomfort of the city are unknown at Times Beach.. is jerry russell bliss still alive There are so many bad stories that I cheated people out of their money, Leistner says, her tone turning sharp. He was 80. This site that was discovered over in Ellisville was completely new information, he adds. The rugged land has resisted development for a long time, so a rural atmosphere still clings to these verdant hills, despite the encroachment of affluent subdivisions on the remaining ridgetop farms. She confronted Bliss, but he insisted he had used only crankcase oil. Her children helped walk the horses and worked in the stables, she says. Bliss, 49, is believed responsible for spreading much of the dioxin that contaminated at least 31 sites in central and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis suburb of Times Beach. So she took matters into her own hands. The other St. Louis companies used PCBs or other hazardous substances for different purposes.. At the Lemar site, the dioxin levels are even higher. If the city approves their respective developments, Wurm and Byrne hope to avoid this legal pitfall by having buyers sign a disclosure form saying that they were told in advance of the lands history. A part-owner of a stable where 62 horses died after dioxin-tainted oil was sprayed testified today before the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Commssion that the man who sprayed the oil had told her it contained a special fly-killing ingredient. In Taylors view, the EPA was more interested in making Syntex legally responsible for the cleanup than exploring the full scope of the contamination. Again, it showed that the incinerator was safe, and again, Taylor found flaws in the testing procedure. She stayed, married, and had two daughters. The door was locked, and Burford stood in a second-floor conference room. But the company itself would still pay Russell (Bliss). Bliss disposed of this waste in various ways. Bliss worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft as well before being promoted to the Sales Operation Lead position at Nayamode. The only reference to Times Beach is a single display in a corner of the museum. The single cell was only large enough for one, so the boys had to take turns doing their hard time. While the CDC warned residents to evacuate and stay out to avoid dioxin exposure, the jury is still out on its long-term effect on humans, as well as the extent of contamination. However, we dont have any information that would suggest there would be. "Why, if it's so dangerous, did the government wait 10 years to warn us?" Bunch lived at Cape Cod, a little motel on the edge of town. People doubted that the water would even make it to Riverside Drive. For one, Houk made his oft-quoted statement in the early 90s at a convention sponsored by Syntex, the company responsible for the dioxin that Bliss dumped in Times Beach. It's been 30 years since dioxin contamination was discovered in Times Beach, in one of the largest environmental disasters in our nation's history. She sent a petition with hundreds of signatures to President Ronald Reagan, asking for a buyout. But he also makes some important omissions. she asked. Congress created the nation's first major program to clean up hazardous waste dumps only two years ago. Taylors overarching complaint is that the EPAs focus was too narrow. It remains a priority. So why were they in such a rush to get the barrels off the Callahan property? asks Shea. You want to make sure you do it right, and, in the process of doing it, safeguard the public. It was safe. Last Saturday morning, Steve Taylor heard a tapping at his apartment door, a gentle rapping that he hopes to hear no more. It would set up a mobile incinerator, a massive metal jungle gym with a giant furnace and a single tall smokestack. Eventually, they moved into a place of their own and started a family. Her house had been ravaged. This time Teasdale made the plea with the TV news cameras rolling. By 1982, the Missouri attorney generals office had entered negotiations with two other firms, American Can and GK Technologies. Parents in nearby towns wince when Karen Adams, a Times Beach school bus driver, picks up their kids. Bliss has refused to cooperate, Lafser said. The park is nice enough. Jerry Bliss, 26, said he should not be penalized for the actions of his father. Meanwhile, Faron Rowden, a beefy bartender, is among 300 locals fed up with waiting for answers. More than 150 beverages delivered to woman's home without explanation. Copeland didnt know it then, but he had inadvertently contributed to wiping the entire town off the map. Is Kurt Russell still alive or dead? 2023 - Vim Buzz Where are they now? Catching up with Mike Bliss Scientists disagree about how much it takes to put someone at risk. Callahan started working for Bliss in the early 1970s, which would have been around the same time Bliss started hauling hazardous waste. OLeary (at right) came back to her house as soon as she could after the flood. Much to the chagrin of longtime residents, a trailer park opened, followed by a second one. "Hindsight would be wonderful," Lafser said. She wants to let people remember the good times, and she knows that she reminds them of the bad ones. No one can answer the questions the people of Times Beach are asking. Those memories are particularly present today, the final Saturday of September. The chemical companies paid him to take the sludge, and then he turned around and sold it to somebody else. Steve Taylor (at left) never lived in Times Beach, but he did spend time at one of the horse farms where Bliss sprayed. These days, Bliss, whos in his late seventies, is still finding unique ways to make a buck. It went to the rooftop., Boo Sowards, a tall, muscular man wearing a Mizzou T-shirt, jeans, and work boots, grew up in Times Beach. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. He reported a litany of problems: Documents were lost; samples were mislabeled and switched; a chain of custody was not established. The trees are thin, which helps visibility. But despite what McClellan implies, scientists agree that dioxin is dangerous. Thats why just about every physician will tell his or her patient to stop smoking cigarettes, Schecter says. After the flood, 40 residents at one trailer park vowed to go home again. They also had to spend several weeks working on the citys road crew. February 13, 2022 1 Min Read. The mostly pleasant trails run north by the railroad tracks and then take a right along the river. Jerry Springer died Thursday at his home, his family said in a statement shared with Insider. Times Beach officials called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but it said it might be a year before it would be able to test. Using a microphone, Burford announced to the people outside that the Superfund would buy their homes at fair market value. Both locations are suspected to have been contaminated by waste-oil operator Russell Bliss sometime in the early 1970s, according to the EPA. But aside from some resentment toward the park, this is a happy day. TBAG had opposed the project, saying it was unsafe to human health and the environment. The environmental activist, who is too young to remember the Selective Service System, and too poor to be concerned about the Internal Revenue Service, had, nevertheless, received a frightening message from a federal agency. Man, I loved living down here, he says. Shipping the waste to Coffeyville would have been prohibitively expensive even if it had remained an option, according to one local official. McDonnell Park, which is part of the St. Louis County Parks system, is the most recent dioxin site discovered in the metropolitan area. Its a difficult position for the city, says Joe Vujnich, Wildwoods director of parks and planning. When a driver frequently moves from team to team, hes often called a journeyman.. They wanted more money, Leistner says. Businesses were locating there, Leistner says. Bliss sprayed dioxin-contaminated oil on unpaved roads, parking lots, truck terminals and horse arenas as a dust suppressant. She had cancer in her female organs that had metastasized to her blood, Leistner says. Mr. Bliss contends he was not warned the dioxin wastes were hazardous and that his license has been denied unfairly because of past practices that were legal and ", Larry Collier pledges to hoist an American flag in his yard as a symbol of defiance. When everybody was scrambling, because we lived almost to Blakey [Road], farthest away, we didnt think the water was going to come up to us, Purler says. Worst of all, Piatts two young daughters, who played in the arena as if it were a sandbox, fell ill. Doctors and veterinarians were stumped, but Piatt suspected the spraying was to blame. If the city allows W.J. Exposure can cause cancer, immunodeficiency, endocrine disorders, and reproductive and developmental issues, says Dr. Arnold Schecter, a professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and one of the worlds foremost experts on dioxin. She had a brand-new leather jacket that had gotten dirty in the flood. But as you see, Bliss drivers consistently stated that Monsanto was a client.. She pleaded for action. Authorities were tipped in November to the spraying in Times Beach, much as they were tipped off earlier to 15 other contaminated Missouri sites.
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