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Article
published June 2, 2001
Readers
Forum
Brush Wellman incident properly
handled
Your May 18 editorial concerning the
incident that occurred at Brush Wellman on Feb. 15 is woefully off
the mark, and provides definitive proof of who really "doesn’t get
it."
The incident that occurred at our plant was
unacceptable, as we have said from the outset. Nevertheless, we are
proud of Brush Wellman’s emergency response team. Brush Wellman
acted in the most professional manner possible throughout this
incident, placing the safety of the public above all
else.
This was confirmed in a letter from the Ottawa County
Commissioners, of which you have had a copy for two months. The
commissioners commended Brush’s "prompt notification of off-site
agencies, their actions in recommending a precautionary evacuation
of some residents near the plant, and their cooperation with local
officials during this incident."
One has to wonder where the
true "sophistry" lies. While Brush Wellman does contest whether the
barrel contained "waste" as defined under EPA regulations, it has
never contended that the incident posed no potential hazards. In
addition, Brush Wellman has begun to proactively address each of the
EPA items listed in the notice of violation. The incident was
treated as a hazardous materials response at all times, and any
implication to the contrary is true "sophistry."
It is a
disservice to the reading public that The Blade continually forces
its opinion onto the editorial page without carefully examining the
information it already has in its possession. By doing so, it
unfairly attacks the nearly 900 men and women who work for Brush
Wellman and know firsthand the company’s commitment to emergency
response.
HAROLD A. WIEGARD
Plant Manager
Brush
Wellman
Elmore
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