Tribes State FMC Health Assessment Study is Flawed

Fort Hall, Idaho- The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes continue their work to ensure Tribal members and all residents living on the Fort Hall Reservation are protected from unnecessary environmental exposures. A health study called, SEP 14 entitled, ‘Fort Hall Environmental Health Assessment’ was recently completed and the findings presented at two (2) public presentations on November 9, 2016 (6-8:00PM) and November 10, 2016 (10AM-12’noon) at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center in the Chief Racehorse room. The Tribes have valid concerns and state the study is flawed.

History:
FMC’s Power County operation known as the Eastern Michaud Flats contamination is ranked on EPA’s National Priority List as one of the worst contamination sites in the nation. Additionally, the EPA website lists the site as a contaminated groundwater status as ‘not under control.

On July 13, 1999, a Consent Decree between FMC Corporation (FMC) and the Unites States was entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. The Consent Decree resolved alleged FMC violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery (RCRA) at what then was its operating elemental phosphorus facility near Pocatello, Idaho. The Consent Decree included a set of 14 Supplemental Environmental Projects {SEP’s) whose cost mitigated a civil penalty.

According to the Fort Hall Business Council, “FMC controlled the ‘purse strings’ of this study and at every juncture hampered efforts our Doctors believed necessary to obtain information. It’s unfortunate we still have no study identifying how the health of our reservation residents was impacted by the emissions coming from the FMC facility­ emissions that were in violation of environmental laws for decades.” Chairman Blaine Edmo states, “this study is a sham and we do not endorse the health assessment as a valid study.” According the study, it would evaluate both direct human exposure pathways including air, water, and soils and indirect pathways including food, plants, fish and animals. The results of the study were to provide diagnostic, preventative and/or remedial components. The Tribes contend the Study did not meet the requirements of the Consent Decree nor the Work plan designed by the Study Design Panel Doctors. FMC refused to allow recommendations of the Study Design Panel, who are a group of physicians hired to design the study. FMC also refused to allow additional environmental samplings to identify contaminants for the indirect pathways. Rather, FMC used health data using local physicians and records and National registries. To receive a copy of this Health Assessment contact Kelly Wright, Environmental Waste Management Program Manager or Virginia Monsisco at 208-236-1049. ###

Contact:
Ms. Randy’L Teton
Public Affairs Manager rteton@sbtribes.com
T: (208) 478-3818

Mr. Kelly Wright Environmental Waste Management
kwright@sbtribes.com
T: (208) 236-1049