Federal Bureau of Investigation joins probe of Flint, Michigan’s lead contaminated water

Federal officials are continuing to urge Flint residents to use filters on their tap water. He called that a mistake.

Stabenow said she would block further work on the energy bill until Republicans agree to move forward on the package for Flint.

Once a bustling industrial city, Flint has fallen on hard times in recent years. So a household that pays $150 a month could get a $46 monthly credit, or about $1,100 for 24 months of having water that has had a host of problems, not just lead-related. That includes the 18-month period during which the city switched its water source while under state financial management until it reconnected to Detroits system because of lead contamination blamed on state regulatory failures.

How does EPA receive information about and monitor decisions made by state or local officials to alter their drinking water supplies or water treatment systems or processes?

On Thursday, Snyder’s office also said the governor has requested an economic disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Flint and Genesee County.

Count lifelong Flint resident Gladyes Williamson among those who’ve lost trust.

“We were here last week with really concerning news, and it’s great to be able to come back this week with better news”, said Dr. Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats on the committee, led by representative Elijah Cummings, pressed the issue Wednesday, insisting that the committee call upon Snyder to appear. During his testimony, he provided a February 2015 memo from MDEQ that informed the EPA that Flint had an optimized corrosion control program to protect against lead contamination when they did not.

City officials did not follow proper protocol in conducting lead sampling of homes, Creagh said, and the EPA “did not display the sense of urgency that the situation demanded”.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the oversight panel, said EPA should have acted on its own to warn the public about water problems in Flint.

While Snyder OK’d $28 million in state funds and there’s a bill before the U.S. Congress to provide much more, Wednesday’s House Oversight Committee hearing was not focused on paying to fix Flint’s water crisis.

Bolden had told the Free Press on Tuesday night that he refused the subpoena because neither he nor Earley had time to prepare but said he would accept another subpoena as long as it isn’t issued on such short notice. A separate FBI criminal investigation remains ongoing. Some children’s blood has tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioural problems.

OR: “A federal grand jury has indicted 16 people in connection with their roles in the OR wildlife refuge standoff, charging them all with a count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States”.

But he also cast blame on the EPA, saying it turned “a blind eye” on communities who aren’t following the federal Lead and Copper Rule, the nationwide standard for safe levels of lead and copper in water.

But many Republicans said they would not support the bill, which is nearing a final vote in the Senate, if it included the money for the Flint water crisis.