Pentacholophenol - It's the Canary in the Coal Mine!

Yesterday, Long Island Businesses For Responsible Energy, Inc. (LIBFRE) received a final report from our expert hydrogeologist witness who examined the soil around the utility poles used by PSEG-LI to string overhead high-tension lines along the 6.2 mile transmission line running from East Hampton to Amagansett. The report has confirmed our worst fears. Irving Like, our legal counsel, stated, "It's akin to the canary in the coal mine - warning us of danger." Peter Dermody, a geologist and environmental scientist with Dermody Consulting, sampled soil and gas-off vapors from three different poles along the 6.2 mile route. "The results indicate that significantly elevated concentrations of penta were detected in the soil at both shallow and deep location at two of the three poles. The use of penta has been banned in 26 countries. It was widely used in the United States until it was banned for public use by the EPA in 1987. Its use in the United States is now limited to wood preservation of utility poles and utility ties. The presence of penta on the poles and in the soil in the vicinity of the poles appears to represent a significant risk to human health and the environment." Why would the EPA allow Pentacholophenol to be used on poles less that 25 feet from people's homes? Who is responsible for oversight with regards to the electric upgrade on Long Island? Where is Governor Cuomo? Shame on him!  He has failed to serve and protect  the people of Long Island and of this great state of New York and should therefore be removed from office.  If he has his way, New York State will have NO CLEAN WATER to drink. Between the fracking he is considering and the hiring of PSEG-LI, he's sold us out. Based on his findings, Peter suggests that the following steps be taken to protect human health and the environment: ". An attorney should be provided with this report to determine if the release of penta to the subsurface represents a reportable contaminant release to the NYSDEC as per 6 NYCRR 613.8. . The saturated and other highly stained soil around the poles should be removed as soon as possible to attempt to reduce the potential for exposure and groundwater contamination. . Residences in the area hydraulically downgradient of these new poles should be evaluated to determine if these homes use private drinking water wells. Private well users risk ingestion of penta through contaminated groundwater. Residents in these areas should be advised to have frequent water sample analyses and may wish to consider drinking bottled water until it can be demonstrated that penta is not, and cannot reasonably be expected to impact their drinking water. The EPA drinking water standard for penta is 1 part per billion. . Since this recently-applied and extremely toxic chemical coats the surface of the poles and can easily be transferred to the skin through dermal contact, safety fencing should be installed around the poles to prevent incidental contact with the poles by children or to other persons, pets, and wildlife. In addition, placards should be placed on each new pole to warn residents not to touch or otherwise make contact with the pole or the soil in its vicinity. . Residents in the area should be notified of the potential hazard associated with the new poles and they should be instructed to avoid the poles so that they do not inhale or ingest penta (penta can be ingested by dermal contact with the pole or contaminated soil, and then transferred by touching the eyes, nose, or mouth)." The picture below was taken by my son, Michael. This particular pole is located on Town Lane in Amagansett - a road that is officially considered a significant scenic vista. The brown substance at the bottom of the pole is the chemical Pentacholophenol that has leeched out during wet events. A member of LIBFRE approached a PSEG-LI worker and asked if he knew what kind of chemical he was working with. The worker had no gloves on and no mask to cover his nose and mouth. When she showed him Peter's report he freaked, stopped  working, and contacted his union.  Why were these workers not informed of the hazardous chemicals they were being exposed to? It's time this country put its foot down and say NO to big business. It's time for the people to revolt and demand that the government hold these big companies accountable for the damaging effects to our health, safety, devaluation of property values, contamination of our environment, soil, and groundwater. These poles are a travesty that has negatively effected our beauty, historical, and scenic vistas. As Bob Marley wrote, "It's time to get up, stand up, stand up for our rights; get up, stand up, don't give up the fight!"