RAMP IT UP, GUYS! EPA NEWS

Today I had an informative conversation with a Dallas EPA representative and had some of my burning questions answers-questions about Mt Creek Lake and the Dallas Naval Air Station, of course. The good news is that the Navy plans to clean up a few
"hot spots" in the lake where toxic sediment has accumulated. Bad news is they've taken back their promise to clean groundwater at the Dallas NAS to residential standards. I wonder if they'll really get away with this in the end. Seems unfair and illegal to me...
Though many science professionals disagree, the contact I spoke with did not seem to think the lake itself was terribly polluted. The problem, he thinks, is Cottonwood Bay, which I knew was a dumping-ground disaster. He also was more positive about the compromised aquifer (which he previously said was ruined), now saying it wouldn't produce much water. (Since it's clogged with VOCs and TCE, maybe that's a good thing!!!) Do aquifers change? Can they recover, or do we change the way we think about them and the PR we give out? I wonder, but don't know.
Then, I specifically asked about natural gas drilling at the station/Hensley Field. He said it hadn't happened yet but that on-site oil and gas development was in the area's future, just as I thought. Googled articles are such a goldmine!
However, if drilling is attempted through contaminated areas, safety regulations must be followed. But, how would we or anyone know? Would a law-breaking driller turn himself in? (As I re-read this post, I have to re-evaluate the EPA spokesperson's statement. Do the ideas of safe drilling and contaminated areas really fit together?)

Moving on, the biggest concern EPA has now is vapor intrusion from the TCE plumes in groundwater. The Navy is not interested in air monitoring, and buildings are atop the plumes. Monitoring must be done if people occupy the buildings-no choice; which is proof the plumes need remediation. EPA has suggested the Navy monitor air.

If you work in a building over these plumes, this is a workers' rights issue!!

Thanks EPA for watching out for Dallas. May your new director toughen things up for polluters. We only have one earth and people have only one pair of lungs.