South Asheville Resident Approaches CTS Board of Directors; Calls on Immediate Cleanup
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–
In an unprecedented move a South Asheville resident, who attributes his children’s cancers to trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure from the CTS of Asheville site, drove nearly 700 miles to Illinois and approached CTS executives in person at their annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, May 21.
In an effort to gain access to decision makers at the highest level of the company, Patrick Dunn had previously purchased a minimum amount of CTS stock. He made the long trip unannounced, but as a shareholder was hoping for the opportunity to speak about the importance of CTS cooperating with immediate removal measures at the highly contaminated Superfund Site.
Upon his arrival, Dunn was greeted cordially by the company’s general counsel, who offered him a two-minute audience with the shareholders and board of directors.
Dunn revealed information on the newly discovered and unconfined plume of contamination, composed of a floating petroleum product and up to 30 percent of dissolved TCE. He expressed concerns about potential human exposures because this toxic source material is just 10-15 feet from the ground surface and is likely migrating from the site in groundwater.
Dunn asked that the company cooperate in implementing an immediate cleanup in order to protect the residents of South Asheville from real, present and ongoing harm.
Determined not to leave without offering solutions, Dunn presented recommendations from the professional technical advisor hired by POWER Action Group, a grassroots organization pushing for a full-scale cleanup of the site. He shared some of the proven technologies, such as dual phase extraction, that have been widely used to clean up this type of contamination at other sites throughout the country.
Dunn distributed CTS Fact Sheets (attached) produced by POWER’s technical advisor, and offered to follow-up with board members. According to Dunn, board members seemed genuinely concerned, and appreciative of his long trek to talk with them.
“We are calling on CTS to take responsibility for its past actions and cooperate in implementing a full-scale cleanup in order to protect the residents of South Asheville,” Dunn stated after his visit. “Therefore, we believe all available resources should be brought to bear on getting these contaminants out of the ground as soon as possible.”
This report was submitted by POWER, a citizens group active in addressing the contamination problems associated with the former CTS plant on Mills Gap Road.
