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Letter to Ohio Gov. Bob Taft: Evacuate River Valley Schools

February 15, 1999 Governor Bob Taft Riffe Center, 30th Floor Columbus, OH 43266-0601 Dear Governor Taft, 850 children at the River Valley School in Marion, Ohio are in imminent danger. Their school is located adjacent to a munitions dump where 312 times the acceptable levels of the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) and 228 times the amount of acceptable polychlorinated byphenols (PCBS) have been found. Toxic waste has also been detected on 41 acres of the 78 acre school campus. These chemicals present an imminent threat to humans because of the high potential that they could ingest, touch, or breath them. Already an unusually high number of leukemia cases have been found among River Valley graduates and students. In addition to the existing leukemia cases, we are also gravely concerned about increased cancer risk from exposure to these known carcinogens. We, the undersigned are writing to support Concerned River Valley Parents who want River Valley School evacuated. Children should not be canaries in the coal mine. As the guardians of future generations, we must act on the side of human health. This school and its grounds are contaminated. Children should not be on this site while further studies are being done. Further studies and clean-up needs to be accomplished after the closure of the school. To responsibly protect the children of Marion, the State of Ohio needs to -- Implement the immediate evacuation of the River Valley Schools Close the River Valley Schools, and Substantively involve citizens in the decision making body of the clean-up plan for the site. We would appreciate a prompt response. We consider this a critical issue. Please contact representatives of Concerned River Valley Families, Roxanne or Kent Krumanaker, at (740)-389-6656 to schedule an immediate meeting. Representatives from our organizations will contact your office tomorrow to follow up on the status of the meeting. Sincerely, Teresa Mills, Buckeye Environmental Network Harvey Wasserman, Citizens Protection Ohio Linda Linder, Concerned Citizens of Bellevue Bruce Cornett, Greene Environmental Coalition Pauline Leboda, Lorain County Neighbors Protecting Our Environment Cheryl Patzer, Neighbors Protecting Our Environment Marilyn Wall, Ohio Chapter Sierra Club Conservation Chair David Scott, Ohio Chapter Sierra Club Executive Committee Chair Noreen Warnock, Ohio Citizen Action Amy Simpson, Ohio Public Interest Research Group Susan Studer, Ohio Environmental Council Heather Cantino, Rural Action Glenn Landers, Sierra Club Great Lakes Program Terry Swearingen, Tri State Environmental Council