NCD980602163_19970805_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Memo from Pat Williamson to Secretary McDevitt re Breifing on recent events-OCR

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Solid Waste Management
James B. Hunt, Jr ., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
William L. Meyer, Director
NA
DEHNR
August 5, 1997
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Secretary Wayne McDevitt
Pat William~r Bill Meyer
SUBJECT: Briefing on recent events concerning the PCB Landfill
■ On July 29, Deputy Director Mike Kelly notified the PCB Working Group
and the two science advisors of EPA's plans to conduct some air
sampling at the PCB landfill on August 4.
■ On August 1, Ken Ferruccio faxed the news media and the Division of
Waste Management a 4-page statement basically indicating that there
would be a conflict at the landfill involving EPA officials and citizens. He
said that citizens would occupy the site and refuse to allow EPA to
conduct any testing until funds were provided (by the state) "to ensure
the scientific integrity of the sampling procedures and data."
■ Mike Kelly notified EPA of this potential conflict, and it was decided to
postpone the sampling event until August 5.
■ Mike arrived at the PCB landfill around 8 am Tuesday to unlock the
gates for EPA officials. Shortly after, Ken Ferruccio arrived and tried to
push past Mike, who was closing the gate. Mike urged Ken not to do
this, but Ken climbed over the chainlink fence and barbed wire to enter
the landfill. Mike called the Highway Patrol and an officer arrested Ken
for trespassing on state property. Ken refused bail and chose to remain
in jail.
■ EPA officials resumed their work.
■ A few hours later, Deborah Ferruccio arrived at the landfill. Despite
encouragement by Mike Kelly to leave the landfill and not take this
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course of action, Deborah climbed over the gate to the landfill. She was
also arrested for trespassing on state property. Deborah was taken to
jail, and she also refused bail.
■ Henry Lancaster asked Pat Williamson to prepare a press release on
behalf of the Working Group and to include the goals of the group, a brief
description of the sampling event in the spring of 1997, the expected
selection of a technology late this fall to detoxify the landfill, and that the
Working Group does not support the action by an individual that is not
in line with the group's detoxification goal, nor any direct action that has
not been brought before the working group. Dollie Burwell, one of the
co-chairs of the Working Group, made a few changes and approved the
release. The release was sent to the Public Affairs office for distribution
to the Capital Press Corps and news media in Warren and Henderson
counties on Tuesday evening.
■ The Working Group had a conference call at 6 pm on August 5 and
reiterated their support for the goals of the group, as well as their lack of
support for those who take action not in keeping with the group's goals.
■ Bill Meyer and division staff are doing everything they can to deal with
the situation. Bill and staff member Larry Perry are spending Tuesday
night at the PCB landfill to ensure that the equipment is not vandalized
and testing is not disturbed. Bill or Mike will be at the landfill on
Wednesday until EPA finishes the air sampling.