[Kreweoftruth] Breaking Story: Radioactive, toxic material found--Lakeshore residents want action

[kreweoftruth at kreweoftruth.net]

Breaking Story by St. Tammany News Reporter David Freese



Through independent studies, “fly ash,” a substance known to contain radioactive material and toxic metals, has been discovered in airborne dust, which continues to contaminate homes in Lakeshore Estates.
It’s been less than two months since a press conference was held in the backyard of Mike and Michelle Appleton, residents of Lakeshore Estates subdivision, regarding concerns about a concrete operation across the waterway.
The problems did not begin right away, but years ago when Kevin Davis was parish president. His administration released an executive order in late 2009 zoning the land just east of Lakeshore Estates for the purpose of holding and demolishing concrete. Davis had no idea that years later a giant 60-foot-tall mound of shattered concrete would emerge, ultimately leading up to a litigation between nearby residents, Tammany Holding Company, NASDI and Bertucci Contracting Company.
Attorneys Mike Stag and John Fontenot are representing more than 60 property owners from not just Lakeshore Estates but Pirate’s Harbor, Treasure Isle, Rigolets’ Estate and Salt Bayou subdivisions.
The property owners have complained to Bob Torres, whom they seem to be most agitated with, on numerous occasions. Torres owns land in Lakeshore Estates and the land where concrete is being demolished, according to Mike Appleton.
“The only one not complying is Torres,” said Appleton in January.
The residents have made it clear that they are not against upgrading the city’s floodwalls, but are against the location of the project, which has sent dust into their homes, contaminating their air conditioning, coating their cars with muck and creating excessive noise.
“It was poor planning by putting it here,” Appleton said.
“The noise level is outrageous and the fact is that it keeps happening through all hours of the night,” said Shirley Wagner, Appleton’s neighbor.
Since that time, not much has changed.
Toxicologists from Toxicology Consultants and Assessment Specialists LLC, and engineers have assessed the materials floating from the concrete operation into the backyards of Lakeshore homes where children swim in pools and enjoy waterfront living.
“The toxic dust confirmed by independent scientists doesn’t belong in a setting where children can be exposed,” said Stag.
“Homes within the neighborhood of Slidell, Louisiana in proximity to the Tammany Holding Company concrete reclamation operation are currently being contaminated with crystalline silica and fly ash-related toxic contaminants,” said toxicologist for TCAS William R. Sawyer.
“According to clean air laws, the crushing operations are required to perform discharge calculations to comply. No such calculations have been performed; and therefore, the companies, the State Department of Environmental Quality, and local residents have absolutely no idea what has been discharged from the site,” said Marco Kaltophen, an environmental engineer.
Independent studies reveal the material is in fact hazardous and not suitable for its current location.
According to Wagner, a lead plaintiff in the case, the DEQ refuses to “make the operators comply with the law.”
Residents have since put together documentation that shows that the concrete crushing operation is occurring at least six days a week, starting as early as daybreak and continuing well past 6 p.m.
“Inappropriate and excessive noise levels which violate the St. Tammany noise ordinance have been measured,” said Arno Bommer of ASTI, an acoustical engineering firm.
Attorneys Stag and Fontenot has said that no serious dialogue has occurred between the plaintiffs and the defendants over the last few weeks, but will join in court on March 20.
The concrete operation contract had a completion date originally set for March 2013, but that may change. Residents want action now.
“It started to get progressively worse and it needs to stop,” said Wagner.
We haven’t got anywhere with our complaints and we’re finally going to court,” said Stag, who thought the operation would halt upon the threat of suing, but didn’t happen.


cheron brylski
the brylski company
3418 coliseum street
new orleans, louisiana 70115
cbrylski at aol.com
504.897.6110
504.460.1468 cell
504.897.0778 fax
www.brylskicompany.com

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