Salem mother pushes for answers in rare cancer cluster
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SALEM, Ore. -- Lenette Bultema’s son, Randy, died in July after a bitter battle with Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
The peculiar part of his story: He’s one of seven kids who have been diagnosed with the disease and one of three who have died. They all live in a three-mile radius in Salem.
"You spend your time, and I can speak for a couple other parents, you watch them die. Parents shouldn't have to do that (and) that’s tough,” Bultema said. “I don’t want any other parent to do that."
The cancer cluster and Bultema’s story prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to begin investigating the trend.
The agency released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying it is reviewing data and contacting federal and state health officials for more background on the community’s concerns.
“Our first goal is to hear from the community, get a clearer picture of what’s happening local, and, determine the best approach and the right tools to assess local environmental factors,” the agency said.
Bultema said she’s relieved the agency is stepping in and taking a closer look. She feels a strong pull to speak up and push for answers.
“If there’s something there, let's figure out what it is, let's clean it up ... so nobody else gets sick, that’s what I can do – that’s for Randy – because that’s what Randy would want,” she said.
A search for answers may not result in anything definitive, but for the sake of others, she said she has to try.
But if the EPA doesn't come back with an answer, Bultema said she'll have done what she could.
“But to do nothing, what kind of person would I be?” she said.
People seem to forget about the huge Superfund site in Salem, Teledyne Wah Chang (EPA ID: ORD050955848). There was radioactive contamination of rivers. I remember back in 1992 going to a news conference on how Teledyne buried radioactive sponge had been buried in sludge ponds on the property.
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(quotes below from http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/rods/fulltext/r1095125.pdf)
"Beginning in 1957, waste materials from TWCA's processes were placed in unlined ponds on the facility. Examples of unlined ponds used for disposal of waste sludges and other materials in the past include the V-2 Pond, Schmidt Lake, and the Lower River Solids Pond (LRSP) (Figure 3-1). From 1972 until 1978 chlorinator residues from TWCA's sand chlorinator process were placed in a separate pile north of Schmidt Lake. This practice was discontinued in 1978, when the contents of the pile were removed and transported off Site to a permitted low level radioactive waste disposal facility ...
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Solid residues generated during the development and operation of nonferrous metals manufacturing processes at the plant site were placed in a resource and recovery pile. The major material placed in the pile was magnesium chloride. From 1983 through 1988 TWCA recovered material from this pile to produce magnesium oxide for use in its ongoing processes...
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The V-2 Pond was used for temporary storage and pretreatment of primarily hydrous metal precipitate and unreacted lime solids. The use of this pond was discontinued in 1979. The V-2 Pond was emptied in 1989. Confirmatory soil sampling of the pond was conducted in late 1991 and early 1992.
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The unlined sludge ponds have attracted the attention of regulatory agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and the public for many years, particularly because of the presence of radioactive materials, which was first confirmed by the Oregon State Health Division in 1977. Waste sludges (lime solids) generated prior to 1979 were contained in the LRSP, Schmidt Lake, Arrowhead Lake, and the V2 Pond. Much of the public concern has focused on the LRSP and Schmidt Lake because of their proximity to the Willamette River.
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Under an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality permit, some of the solids generated prior to 1976 were used as a beneficial soil amendment on land in the Farm Ponds Area (the Soil Amendment Area). In 1978 TWCA changed its production process which reduced the amount of radioactive materials in the lime solids. Lime solids generated after 1979 are now contained in 4 ponds located in the Farm Ponds Area.
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Concerns that the unlined sludge ponds were located in the Willamette River floodplain, and that hazardous materials from the sludge ponds would migrate to soil, surface water, and groundwater, led to the TWCA facility being proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL) in December of 1982. The TWCA Site was placed on the NPL in October 1983.
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In 1991, EPA received information provided by a former TWCA employee that radioactive materials had been buried in Schmidt Lake in the 1970's. These radioactive materials were buried in drums which were allegedly located below the sludges that had been the subject of the operable unit remedial action. Based on this information, EPA requested that TWCA conduct additional geophysical investigations in this area. In 1992, pursuant to the additional work provision of the RI/FS Consent Order with EPA, TWCA conducted an electromagnetic survey in this area. The electromagnetic survey identified potential additional source materials in and around Schmidt Lake. These source materials included several corroded metal drums containing sands with elevated amounts of thorium and uranium, and an underground storage tank containing liquid petroleum product.
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In December 1992, as part of an action referred to as the Schmidt Lake Excavation Project (SLEP), 2,016 cubic yards of materials containing zircon sands with elevated levels of thorium and uranium were removed from Schmidt Lake and transported by TWCA to the U.S. Ecology low-level radioactive waste site in Washington for disposal.
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http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=1000421
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http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.CleanupActs&id=1000421
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http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/9f3c21896330b4898825687b007a0f33/0558cc5558c6316b8825651c006ca7b0/$FILE/TWC5YEA2.pdf
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I also wondered about this plant? Keizer Salem also was found to have 13 schools with Gym mats emmitting Mercury and Busses with high levels of toxins. Please also check out OR Health Authority,( Data on top-go to safe drinking water-Inventory- Place in County and check all than start surfing water tests in your areas. Look in Chemicals or Coliform than you can also see alerts or if anything was done). My family was under household number to qualify for testing but according to this info, no one seems to care if its one or thousands. They keep pumping dangerous water to our communities. Our well tested positive for total coliform which indicates something is wrong. My youngest daughter contracted 3 forms of protozoa , the treatment caused life long damage to her.We need to ask what are we doing and find those who care. I live in Toledo Oregon where the Mill dumps 11 million gals of effluent into Newports Ocean daily. Unlined ponds and spills in wetlands no one cares.
My error, the plant was in Millersburg, Oregon, upstream of Salem. It was part of the huge stinky complex that bordered I-5 just outside of Albany.
I hope it does get checked out! Thats alot of kids in one school,to have this rare disease! I do not trust the EPA,either! Hopefully,they will do what needs to be done.My heart goes out to the families,and the ones that are still sick,and under going treatment!
Sounds a lot like the Downwinders's case against Hanford. My Dad was part of that. Sadly, they settled this past year and the people got screwed over...as usual. Government at it's best. *sarcasm* I sincerely hope that, if there is something found that is causing this cancer, the families will be taken care of whether it be medically, emotionally, or financially. My Dad waited 15 years to get a pittance that doesn't even cover his medical bills for a year not to mention the loss of quality of life. Am I bitter? You betcha!
 @Kymberlie2873 My fathers To Infamous sayings are "WOOPS was really a WOOPS" and To many Damn chiefs and not enough Indians ( not meant as a racial thing) I am feeling that the "Chiefs thought they new it all when it came to this area in which the clusters are found.
What factories are in this area?
Usually the EPA does a good job if Romney had gotten in he wanted to get rid of it . That would have left no way of chasing the problem down who doesn't want to get to the bottom of a problem like this? The ones who have to pay for it.
Sad truth of EPA and DEQ they are asleep at the wheel. This has become acceptable .11 million gallons of effluent into the ocean everyday from Toledo Georgia Pacific Mill. That is every day.
My heart goes out to the family and friends and those who continue to battle.
Had an eerie feeling come over me when I read that story. I agree it needs to be looked into. I also would not trust the EPA. Make this a national story if need be.
 @wondering love canal all over again?
I don't trust the EPA....remember when they said the air at ground zero on 9/11 was safe to breathe even though they knew otherwise and just said so to not panic people!
 @B Smizzle Yup, and all lawsuits that started strangely went quiet?
Probability theory may have something to do with this. I know people like to connect the dots in cases like this, but if there is no connection, that's all there is: probability.
 @jpk Due diligence requires it be checked out. Better safe than sorry ...esp. the kind of sorry that costs people their health and lives.
Sounds like this mom could be the next Erin Brockovich. Come to think of it, they should call her. Isn't she still working to see if there are issues like these? I too find it strange these people all live very close to each other. I wish them all luck and health going through this.Â
Erin is battling the same toxic water she fought 20 years ago. It has continued to grow and now is effecting the families who moved. We all need to be the Erins in our neighborhoods. EPA,DEQ and Safe drinking water act is just rules with out justice