More than 150 people crowded into a standing room only ballroom at the Embassy Suites on Oct. 21, 1997 to learn more about ASARCO cleanup options. The Missouri Valley Group of the Sierra Club hosted an informational forum to allow citizens to learn more about current plans to clean up the lead smelter site in downtown Omaha. Panelists included Dennis Heltmann and Annette Kovar, from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality; Adi Pour, state toxicologist from the Nebraska Health and Human Services Dept.; Rick Galusha, chair of the Missouri Valley Group; and environmental attorney David Rees of Denver, Co.

Audience members questioned NDEQ about plans to move ahead with an ASARCO-drafted plan. They pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency had suggested more studies be done regarding the extent of existing pollution before moving forward. Dr. Pour addressed the public health issues surrounding lead pollution, noting that very low levels of lead can lower the IQ of children and harm unborn babies. New studies have shown that the level of lead causing harm to people is lower than what has been calculated previously. Children are those at greatest risk of lead poisoning.

Many audience members were concerned about liability issues and wanted to know if Mr. Rees had plans to sue the city if it was to take title to the site. “If the city takes title to the property, then I or some other environmental lawyer seeking to clean up the site would have to sue the city,” Mr. Rees replied. “The property owner is the liable party.”

Mary Green, organizer of the event, expressed her dismay that neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor Mayor Daub, who supports the plan, chose to participate in the panel discussion. “There’s obviously a lot of interest in this issue; people are really concerned,” she said, referring to the large crowd that filled the room. “It is our responsibility as citizens to educate ourselves on this issue, to get involved in the process. And it is the responsibility of the EPA and our elected officials to respond to those concerns.”