Finger Lakes Morning News Spot: Carpenter and Hassig on POPs Exposure Cancer Hazard, 2011-2016 NYS Cancer Plan and Mohawk Action to Force Clean-Up of PCBs at GM Powertrain Superfund Site in St. Lawrence River Valley
David O. Carpenter, MD is an international expert on the subject of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) exposure disease risk. Listen to what Dr. Carpenter and Donald L. Hassig, Director of Cancer Action NY have to say about the drafting of an environmental cancers section for the 2011-2016 New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
Donald Hassig tells listeners of the heroic deeds of Larry Thompson, a primal Mohawk living on Raquette Point on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation. On August 11, 2011 Mohawk Thompson moved a backhoe onto the GM Powertrain Superfund Site located adjacent to and upwind of his homeland. He then commenced to excavate the industrial landfill on that site. GM disposed of PCBs and other hazardous industrial wastes in this illegal landfill over the course of several decades.
Thompson's action has focused public attention on POPs exposure cancer risk, thereby creating the right dynamic for forcing EPA to come to the St. Lawrence River Valley to defend its decision to leave PCBs on the GM Superfund site. This time when EPA comes to the St. Lawrence River Valley, Cancer Action NY will corner EPA on its long history of failures to use scientific knowledge to minimize the harm resultant from POPs contamination of the environment.
Cancer Action NYs Cancer Action News Network Donald L. Hassig, Producer