LEO BYFORD
5244 SOUTH IRVINGTON PLACE
TULSA, OKLAHOMA
PHONE 1-918-622-7066
CELL 1-918-902-5730
FAX 1-918-622-7066
NOVEMBER 16, 2008
MAKE A CALL
SERIES OF LETTERS
PAGE 13
In the Tulsa World (TW), published November 15, 2008, a report written by Jim Myers addressed recent statements by Senator Jim Inhofe, Congressman Dan Boren and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. My immediate thought was that this report needs to be clarified and information added to what is happening at this Superfund Site. There are many remaining concerns and unanswered questions. I want to make it perfectly clear, that I have been and continue to be in favor of the buyout and I feel that it should have happened decades ago, because of both health related and subsidence issues.
Several questions, in my opinion, that I think are in need of immediate answers follow:
Why has the buyout changed from health related issues to non health related issues?
Why is there now “light at the end of the tunnel“?
Why does government not want to support jobs and tax basis?
Why does government not want to restore the land back to useful purpose?
What exactly does this mean as it pertains to residents, the environment and the ongoing impact on the air, land, and waters which will apparently be subjected to fluctuating amounts of adverse impacts from millions of remaining tons of hazardous waste, with no apparent remedial permanent solution ever approaching the intent of Congressional promulgated Laws, including the use of the word permanent? “The light at the end of the tunnel” does not mean the selling of hazardous waste to be used in sandblasting, roads, or other similar uses where hazardous materials waste exist, which is untreated and tax dollars used unwisely or maybe illegally, is being used under the disguise as a permanent solution and is not a permanent solution under CERCLA Law. This decision by government to allow this is not what the CERCLA laws says, nor is it in anyway protecting the health of the people, IT ONLY SPREADS THE HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTAMINATION, geographically and perhaps for all time
What may be of more interest is, how many workers that handle these hazardous waste materials have the training and certification to handle this hazardous material waste? Why has OSHA apparently has not been included? Maybe the workers are not important under OSHA guidelines at superfund sites or hazardous waste sites? Maybe there is not guidelines or requirements for workers to follow at superfund’s sites.
According to the TW report, Senator Inhofe said “Through my leadership position on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have been able to secure essential funding to bring the cleanup of Tar Creek near completion. Because of the successful collaboration between myself, Congressman Boren and Governor Henry, the finish line is now in sight.” I did not understand if the cleanup is now in sight as a result of the buyout, result of OU 4 (Operate Unit 4) or after future continuing series of what OU 4 provides and how does another 25 years of the same actions or inactions at Tar Creek provide an end in sight statement. Maybe I should be asking, does this mean that Tar Creek is at the end of any cleanup or remediation, because “the finish line is now in sight“? If all three of these elected officials consider this as an end in site to the mess at Tar Creek, I think this makes a very clear statement as to why this country is in the mess that it is today. Someone forgot what leadership means. To clarify this even more, I have provided these elected officials and other elected officials many letters as to what federal, state, tribal laws and treaties, and Presidential executive orders have been violated. Furthermore have supplied documented sources where to find the Laws and even filed a Federal Law suit, concerning many of these violations. You may be asking yourself about my tenacity with superfund sites and hazardous waste issues. The future of this country and the future of our children and family’s health and safety is at stake.
If you have read any of my other MAKE A CALL SERIES OF LETTERS you will see that I have repeatedly taken government agencies and officials to task. One of the reasons for this continuous pressure and persistence, there is in place a Presidential Order that requires Service Disabled Veteran Owned Companies to be afforded opportunities, relationships, and presents in government and private contracts, I happen to be a service related disabled veteran.
When I was in the Marine Corps, you operated by completing your assigned mission, failure was not included in your mission. After my retirement from a successful career, I made identifying, creating and protecting permanent solutions to superfund sites and permanent solutions to hazardous waste associated, whether listed or National Priorities sites (NPL) listed, that our government has decide to not comply with laws and totally ignored the laws in place. My mission now is to protect my family, neighbors and this country.
During the last few years of continuous professional and innovative intellectual property development efforts, I personally and others have seen government (thru premeditated actions in association with their partners) deliberately try to deceitfully steal my environmental processes, from this disabled veteran, that will, when employed, permanently resolve superfund issues and sites. I have seen government endorsing people’s co-existence with hazardous waste (TAR CREEK) as well as other hazardous waste sites. I have seen government supported and endorsed attempts to infringe on patent processes. I do not know why our government or elected officials do not want to enforce the laws written by Congress or why they do not want this service related disabled veteran and my company to be a part of the process to finally eliminate and correct many of our environmental issues, and bring these issues to permanent closure. I have also seen a federal court say that this Disable Veteran does not have standing in the federal court. I would only say that if the Veteran (whether disable or not) does not have standing in a federal court to protect this country, WHO DOES?
History has shown what Veterans have done to protect this country and as a result of their efforts and sacrifices have preserved the way of life that we have grow to enjoy. I would hate to think that this (attempted permanent foot-dragging) is nothing but greed and the financial situation and the environmental issues we are now enduring may be explained just as simple as, NOTHING BUT GREED. The answer may be just as simple, get the politics out of decisions that effect our daily lives and preserve this country and our way of life. Want someone that cares about this country and does not care about the politics. Take action, talk to a VETERAN.
MAKE A CALL
　
　
LEO BYFORD
Owner of ETSI (SDVOSB)