Inward Gradient (2024) is an Environmental Protest Song to commemorate the July 8 2022 Anniversary Date of Congresswoman Debbie Dingells Press Release calling on USEPA and EGLE to conduct "Swift Actions" at BASF NorthWorks to prevent the continued release of Toxic and Hazardous Waste into the Detroit River and into the Critical Assessment Zone of the Wyandotte Public Drinking Water Intake.
"Knowing that the City of Wyandotte’s water intakeis immediately downstream of the source of these ongoing BASF releases, I urge EPA to escalate enforcement to protect Wyandotte residents immediately. Additionally, we need to be able to assure the citizens of Wyandotte that their drinking water is safe, while also staying focused on completing the important work to remediate the Detroit River and protect the Great Lakes for everyone in the region. EPA should develop a robust community outreach program and a website to better inform the public about the corrective action order, testing results, and timeline of this contamination.
BASF has been under an EPA Corrective Action Order to prevent contaminated groundwater from reaching the Detroit River since 1994.
If BASF is not complying with the order and contaminated groundwater continues to enter the Detroit River, swift enforcement actions must be taken by the EPA and the EPA should develop resources to better inform public."
-July 08, 2022 Debbie Dingell Press Release to Citizens and Letter to USEPA (LINK)
Note: The State of Michigan is a "RCRA Authorized State", thus, EPA RCRA sites such as BASF, in Michigan, are beholden to, and MUST MEET, State of Michigan Environmental Statutes such as Act 451 Part 111, Part 31, Part 201, and Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as existing State of Michigan Orders on those EPA-led RCRA Facilities.
Under Michigan's Constitution, EGLE is the State Department ultimately responsible for Protection of Waters of the State, and must hold facilities and USEPA RCRA Lead Sites accountable to the Environmental Laws and Orders of the State of Michigan.
QUIT THE FINGER POINTING - The STATE is the Ultimate Authority under Michigan's Constitution for Waters of the State !
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Inward Gradient - The Song intends to memorialize the continued indecency of Toxic Hazardous Waste being venting to the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River by a Multi National Conglomerate Chemical Company that uses the Public's Natural Resource as its own personal Toxic Waste Dump, sending gross contamination at 3000 gallons per hour to downstream communities and the Michigan nearshore waters of Lake Erie.
The USEPA and EGLE are the Agencies assigned to protect the Public Trust and Waters of the State, yet they continue to shuffle paper, reports, and documents back and forth under the guise of "Working with the Company". They have conducted no enforcement actions or set a date for actual BASF compliance with stipulated penalties.
After over 40 years since the first of three Court Orders was signed with the Chemical Company, there is no sign of the Toxic Hazardous Waste pollution stopping. The Citizens of Michigan Expect and Deserve much better than this from EGLE and USEPA.
More Information at: (https://sites.google.com/view/foias-basf-dtr/home)
Listen Here: INWARD GRADIENT (LINK)
Request on all music streaming services and your local DownRiver Radio Stations.
Video Production is underway and will be posted much sooner than BASF NorthWorks remediation of the Toxic Groundwater
Lyrics:
The Pollution vents from underground
They cover it up to not be found
Citizens look at your EPA
Taking 30 years to make no headway
Wake up your Zombie State
Since 85 they just sit and wait
They've given themselves all a prize
Yet all they've done is close their eyes, to an
IN- WARD GRAD-IENT
There's Never Been any Enforcement
We got a Felony in the CAZ
With a venting full of Mercury
We will not relent
Until we get our Inward Gradient
All these Orders and Decrees
Have done nothing to appeas
The release of Toxic Waste
While the Public Trust has been disgraced
The Exceedances are sky high
Yet RCRA doesn't blink an eye
And all EGLE does is forsake
Its too late if it gets in the Intake
IN- WARD GRAD-IENT
There's Never Been any Enforcement
We got a Felony in the CAZ
With a venting full of Naphthalene
But we will not relent
Until we get our Inward Gradient
The Feds dont notice
The State dont care
They've let them pollute for 50 years
If no one notices
and no one cares
Then they'll pollute another 50 years
In 2009 the Sediments
Were Imminent and Substantial Endangerments
The channel is lined with caustic soda
Killing all of the biota
You're "Compliant" with your AOC
Yet your pH is 13.3
And though you get no Mixing Zone
You somehow manage to postpone your
IN- WARD GRAD-IENT
There's Never Been any Enforcement
We got a Felony in the CAZ
With a venting greater than FAV (Final Acute Value)
But we will not relent
Until We Get Our Inward Gradient
QUIT POLLUTING OUR RIVER !