How Could Regulators Fail?

By Amanda Daley

Reading the section of “Toxic Legacy” on how regulators failed to clean up the land simply blows my mind. How could the US Environmental Protection Agency and clean-up crews miss all that was left behind after the first clean up? It doesn’t make any sense.

I think that the first time Ford went to clean up the land they should have been accompanied by a member of the EPA to see that all of it was actually being cleaned. Also the fact that the EPA approved the least costly testing of the area for Ford should have been a red flag that they were going to do a half way job. And since there were already so many problems with Ford cleaning up their mess they should have denied it.

f this mess was cleaned up right the first time then Ford wouldn’t have had to spend as much money as they did on a subsequent clean-up because they tried to skimp on it the first time around. The harsher laws for dumping should have gone into effect before Ford started dumping in the middle of the woods. I think that the EPA and Ford should be held more responsible for what has been happening to these people rather then just brushing it off their shoulders like it’s nothing.

It should be illegal to dump in wooded areas anyway. Not only is this sludge dangerous to people but it’s dangerous to animals as well.  I think that Ford’s dumping should have been thoroughly investigated way before the “Toxic Legacy” series came out. All the information that is being uncovered that was either missed or brushed off should not be coming up. Ford should not have been able to get away with as much as they did.  Also Ford shouldn’t hide and say they have no statement about what they did because they know what they did is wrong, and they need to own up to it.

I don’t blame these people for suing Ford Motor Companies as well as the EPA because this is all stuff that should have been taken care of in the first place rather than putting it off for years until someone decided to investigate more. Ford should take responsibility for the damage that they have caused.