Email to the State Attorney General: Investigation into cleaning up the Gasoline in the Mississippi River
January 17, 2011
The Father Hennepin Public Art Project and Advocacy for the Mississippi River continues:
Gasoline in the Mississippi River in Father Hennepin Park 1/09/2011
I just sent out this email to the Attorney General and cc’ed the Mayor of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, and other stakeholders whose job it is to protect the waters of the Mississippi River in Father Hennepin Park.
To: Lori Swanson, Minnesota Attorney General
From: Peter L. Johnson, eco-artist
My name is Peter L. Johnson. I am an eco-artist, for the past two and half years I have witnessed and documented the ongoing threat to the health of the public and the waters of the Mississippi River in Father Hennepin Park (FHP). Gasoline continues to bubble up and flow into the River from land owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). Attached are two photographs that I took on Sunday January 9th, 2011 showing some of the gasoline I have witnessed. Over the years I have collected samples of this gasoline and have often needed to use a respirator to do my work with the River. One sample I collected was taken to Ramsey County where it was deemed hazardous waste. I am asking your office to investigate the source of this pollution so proper steps can be taken for a complete clean up.
I believe that this toxic material was buried right in the River years ago, as was common practice in the 60′s and 70′s. The City of Minneapolis has tested the water and determined it is old gasoline that contains lead. I have been told that the “standards” used in this test determine this is not actionable. So this lead based gasoline continues to pollute. If our standards allow for lead based gasoline to poison the Mississippi River at what point do we investigate the standards? Are these standards really protecting our public health, the safety of the water for us to use, and all the species leaving downstream? I have talked to a MPRB Commissioner and she says that they will continue to monitor it. Since they can not seem to find the source there is nothing for them to do. Another stakeholder is the Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation. Their focus is restoring a water falls in FHP rather than cleaning up the ecosystem. The City of Minneapolis says simply this lead based gasoline is not a problem that needs to be cleaned up at this time. I would like to know what agency can be held responsible to initiate the clean up of this ongoing neglect of the Mississippi River?
I would be glad to provide evidence and/or testify what I have seen and know about this continuing abuse of the Father of Waters in the Great State of Minnesota.
Thanks for your time and consideration on this matter.
Sincerely,
Peter L. Johnson
Gasoline in the Mississippi River in Father Hennepin Park #165
“Before we can fix our troubled relationship with nature, we must be willing to look at it.” Derrick Jensen
Peter L. Johnson
Web: http://www.peterljohnson.com/
Working Process: http://peterljohnsonatwork.com/
