Blair told to leave sham public hearing by Indiana DNR

John Blair is told to leave an unorthodox public hearing which allowed the hearing officer to deny your testimony if you wished only to express your opinion.

The hearing concerned a "bond release" under federal surface mining laws. Alcoa is seeking to get their bond returned although they have admitted dumping tons of hazardous waste at the site with permission from the State of Indiana. Usually such public hearings do not allow for the hearing officer to stop testimony on the basis that it is opinion instead of established scientific fact.

Hearing officer, Adam Warnke, who serves as DNR Legal Counsel, would not allow anyone to offer their opinions about the possible contamination of the site caused when Alcoa dumped huge volumes of toxic chemicals there in the 1970s.

At one time, the site was on EPA's "priority" list for clean up under Superfund but Alcoa was able to get it delisted using their influence with state and federal government.

Blair, who is a veteran of hundreds of public hearings in his thirty years of environmental health advocacy was shocked at the hostile nature what amounted to interruptions and cross examination of witnesses who questioned the release of Alcoa's bond.

Videography: Jessica Boyd

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Toxic
• Waste
• John
• Blair
• Environment
• UMWA
• Free
• Speech
• SMACRA
• Alcoa

[JJavenger1988]

Why shouldn't I leave I sham!?!?!

[iac6969]

who in the fuck is the dick head withthe beard?

[JJavenger1988]

"I'll leave because this is a sham."

Yes!