Federal Officials

At the federal level, governmental involvement in Pascoag's water contamination was limited. However, some support came in the form of funds from the EPA, the efforts of United States Senators Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and attention from the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency's first action in response to Pascoag was to authorize the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to redirect a $400,000 grant to address the needs of Pascoag. The money was a preexisting grant from the EPA LUST Trust fund, and initially it was not specifically earmarked for Pascoag. This led to confusion among some community members and officials who were angry that the money was "held hostage" by DEM and not spent quickly enough.

In May, the EPA announced a $1 million grant to fund the Pascoag clean-up efforts. In addition, the EPA has been assisting the DEM by conducting lab analyses of test well samples.

ATSDR
Officials from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) came to Pascoag in March of 2002 to meet with residents and compile data for a modeling study that they plan to complete in the fall of 2002.

Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Senator Chafee became involved early in the contamination, visiting Pascoag and touring the contamination site in late September.

PUD general manager Ted Garille and Senator Chafee standing in the building housing the contaminated wells during the senator's tour of the area. Well 3A is shown in the foreground. (Photo courtesy of http://chafee.senate.gov/gallery2.htm)

On December 19, 2001, the senator introduced S 1850, the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2001 (for the text of this bill, click here). The goals of the bill are to help prevent groundwater contamination from underground storage tanks, as occurred in Pascoag, and to provide federal funds for cleanup efforts in dealing with contamination events of this kind. Senator Chafee also called a field hearing held at the PUD garage on February 25, 2002 and heard testimony from various officials and residents.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
According to Sen. Reed's Director of Policy Nancy Langrall, the Senator believed it was very important that the health concerns of Pascoag residents be addressed. He brought the situation to the attention of the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR, which is currently conducting a modeling study of exposure to MTBE in Pascoag. The senator attended Senator Chafee's field hearing in Pascoag on February 25, 2002. His office has also been involved in trying to find funds or an appropriate government program to assist a Pascoag family, the Waltzes, who have abandoned their home due to indoor air issues associated with the contamination.

Cong. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI, 1st district)
Throughout the contamination event, Congressman Kennedy was a vocal supporter of residents' concerns. He was credited by some with promoting the use of the Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Fund to cover the costs of relief and aid to Pascoag. A heated situation arose between Kennedy and DEM Director Jan Reitsma regarding of a total of $400,000 granted to DEM by the EPA in 1997 and 1999; though not originally earmarked specifically for Pascoag, Kennedy and others believed that DEM was slow to commit the money to Pascaog. Congressman Kennedy also sought funds for Pascoag at the federal level by placing Pascoag on a list of projects eligible for Department of Agriculture funds. The Congressman appeared at the Pascoag field hearing on February 25, 2001 called by Senator Chafee.