California chromium 6 goal gets lower
Recently colleague James Tyree and I wrote a series of stories regarding chromium 6 in drinking water.
James wrote about a recent survey that listed Norman has having a high quantity of chromium 6 in it’s drinking water and local experts take on the study and the risk of chromium 6.
I wrote about how Debate has raged on the risk posed by chromium 6 since the 1990s, when legal clerk Erin Brockovich discovered evidence of the carcinogen in the groundwater in Hinkley, Calif.
And I wrote about the contentious battle going on in California over a proposed goal to limit the amount of the chromium 6 that can be in public drinking water.
Now that battle could get even more contentious as the California agency in charge with coming up with the goal released a new draft document on New Year’s Eve that lowered the already stringent proposed standard.
When the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the California agency in charge of developing the Public Health Goal, first offered a standard, it proposed limiting chromium 6 in drinking water to 0.06 parts per billion. Such a reading is 215 times less than the 12.9 ppb found in Norman’s drinking water by the survey conducted by the Environmental Working Group.
The revised draft public health goal — which you can read here in it’s 150-page glory — lowers the proposed standard to 0.02 ppb. For those keeping score, that’s 645 times less than the amount of chromium 6 found in Norman’s drinking water. It’s also about 29,000 times less than the up to 580 ppb measured in Hinkley’s drinking water in the 1990s.
The new proposal is sure to ratchet up the support from environmental groups and objections that many water utilities and business interests voiced in 2009 with the release of the 0.06 ppb proposal.
Many environmental groups and legislators are looking at California as a test case on how much to limit and how feasible it is to limit chromium 6 in drinking water.
It will be interesting to see if those groups also adopt the 0.02 ppb proposal, a standard based on a one-in-a-million-lifetime-cancer-risk level — or the expectation that for every million people who drink tap water with 0.02 ppb of chromium each day for 70 years there would be only one additional case of cancer from exposure to the carcinogen.
But, even with all the focus on California, it should be noted that the state is a long way off from adopting an enforceable standard. The Public Health Goal will only serve as guidance for the California Department of Public Health when it develops the nation’s first drinking water standard for chromium 6. And the adoption of such a standard is likely four to five years away.
The Harry Coates affair — reporting the right way
Thanks to Oklahoma’s Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish
On Thursday baseball star Cal McLish, 84, died. McLish pitched 15 seasons in the majors and coached many more. And than as a scout and instructor, likely gave many players a start in their careers.
And while he probably never knew, McLish was my first journalistic interview. It was back in sixth or seventh grade and we probably had some type of assignment to interview somebody noteworthy. I believe it was for English class, but those details are vague in my mind.
Cal McClish during his playing days.
What I do remember is thinking how much I didn’t want to interview somebody. That was until my dad suggested McLish. My dad, and also my little league baseball coach, knew I was baseball crazy. And he knew McLish from the golf course.
I don’t remember everything McLish told me during that interview, but I do remember how he made a wide-eyed, baseball-crazy boy feel at ease.
I remember what he told me when I asked him how he pitched Ted Williams: “Throw him low fastballs and hope he just got a single.”
I remember thinking how hard it was going to be to spell his whole name, Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish.
- Cal McLish poses for a portrait, July 30, 2009, in Edmond. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
I remember him telling me how he pitched in an all-star game and retired Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ernie Banks, among others.
I remember making an “A” on the report.
And I remember what a nice man he was. I’m pretty sure I left with his autograph that day.
I probably would have gotten into journalism even if I hadn’t interviewed McLish all those years ago.
But what I do know is that when I’m getting ready to do a difficult interview, I often flashback to that first one. And for a moment I smile.
So, thanks Mr. McLish for making a young boy an experience he never forgot.
Anti-bullying vigil at Oklahoma Capitol show power of students
On Tuesday I attended the “Stand for the Silent” anti-bullying vigil at the state Capitol. I was doing so as part journalist/part father.
I’ve covered this story for more than four months, since I first wrote about the May 13 death of 11-year-old Ty Field. Ty reportedly committed suicide after being bullied at his school in Perkins.
So even though I had no plans to write about the event, I felt a strong enough connection to want to attend and see what was going to happen. I figured I could shot some video and probably blog about the event later.
When I told my wife about my plans to attend, she was quick to want to go and take our 10-year-old daughter. I don’t usually take my family along when I’m doing work. In this case, I felt it was OK to make an exception. My wife truly wanted to show her support for the anti-bullying effort and thought it could be a learning experience for our daughter. I couldn’t argue.
When we arrived I was happy to see about 500 people at the vigil. It’s been amazing to see how this group of high school students have grown this “Stand for the Silent” movement. For anybody that questions the youth of today, they should take a hard look at the passion this group has shown in fighting for this cause.
Similar anti-bullying vigils were conducted Tuesday in at least 21 states and six foreign countries after students involved in the program promoted it over Facebook, organizers said. The idea of “Stand for the Silent” was formed earlier this summer during an Upward Bound summer session at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, a college preparation program for first-generation college-bound students. The 60 students in the program were inspired after hearing of Ty’s story.
Kirk Smalley, the dad of Ty Field, gets a hug from Alexis Cedillo, a Putnam City West High School student during a "Stand for the Silent" event at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
At the vigil, Ty’s dad, Kirk Smalley said he was going to take a step back and work on healing along with his wife, Laura. Mr. Smalley said he always considered himself a private person and wants to retreat somewhat and take some time to be with family. Mr. Smalley said he is confident that the Upward Bound students have a good handle on spreading the word. Mr. Smalley’s courage in fighting for reform in schools and spreading the anti-bullying word is certainly amazing. He and his family have certainly earned a break.
And to judge by the turnout on Tuesday and the students who have helped grow “Stand for the Silent,” I certainly think the movement Mr. Smalley has spurred forward by telling the heart-wrenching story of Ty’s death is left in good hands.
Jeffrey Matthews’ execution and “Absence of Malice”
Update: On Tuesday, Aug. 17, a federal judge granted a third stay of execution for Jeffrey Matthews. This time the stay was based on a substitute sedative being used in Oklahoma’s lethal injection method.
A hearing has been set for Oct. 15 and a new execution date, if one is allowed, will be determined after that hearing.
In Thursday’s (Aug. 12) Oklahoman, I had an article on a clemency request of death-row inmate Jeffrey David Matthews, who is set for lethal injection on Tuesday. Since then the request for an unprecedented second clemency hearing has been denied. The state Attorney General’s Office laid out their argument against such a hearing in a letter to the pardon and parole board.
I first wrote about Matthews’ case in July with the article “Los Angeles actress, model fights for Oklahoma death row inmate’s freedom.” That article has links to many videos and documents that can give you background on the case, as well as a link to Victoria Redstall’s website. I have not been in touch with Redstall since that article.
But, I have received numerous inquiries from national media outlets about the case. I’ve been happy to help other journalist cover this story. I’m a firm believer that an execution must be covered. It’s the highest form of punishment the law allows and should receive the media’s full attention.
An unexpected response to that first article came from the condemned man himself. In a letter, “response to article by Michael Baker of Oklahoman,” sent to both The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World, Matthews compares himself to the tag line for the movie “Absence of Malice,” “Supposed you picked up this morning’s newspaper and your life was a front page headline… And everything they said was accurate… But none of it was true.”
I guess this comparison would make me Sally Field. Hmmm… Maybe we shouldn’t take the comparison too far.
If you read his letter, linked to above, you should make sure you also read the AG’s letter to the pardon and parole board and a letter the prosecutors sent to the Gov. Brad Henry. And remember the the two victims, Otis Short and his wife, Minnie, whose throat was slashed during the robbery and was forced to lay motionless next to her dead husband as her home was robbed.
I think as citizens, and certainly as a journalist, it’s important to know as much as possible about a case before the state’s harshest punishment is carried out.
Jail statistics questioned, for good reason
Fellow watchdog reporter Vallery Brown and I wrote a couple of days ago about statistics published by the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Those numbers showed real clearly that the Oklahoma County jail had the highest homicide rate. What the methodology of the study did not show is how the rate was determined. The formula — deaths/average daily population X 100,000 skewed the numbers a bit for smaller jails, even the study’s author admitted.
Since then, even more problems have surfaced with the study. Today, The Tennessean in Nashville offered a story about how authorities in Davidson County, Tenn., and San Diego County, Calif., also believe the numbers are not only skewed but just plain wrong.
Those two counties have similar complaints of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department published in The Oklahoman and NewsOK.
Part of the problem, from a reporter’s standpoint and for just about anyone else interested, is that when the DOJ released the results of its number crunching it did not also release the raw data it crunched. Nobody wants to replicate the whole study, but it certainly would be good to be able to verify the parts were interested in reporting.
Perkins family’s fight to end bullying getting noticed
Kirk and Laura Smalley are starting to make waves in their fight to prevent bullying in schools.
The Perkins couple believe their son, Ty Field, who committed suicide on May 13, was being bullied at school and that it contributed to his decision to end his life.
And while the Perkins-Tyron school district has said there was no indication Ty was being bullied at school, the district has requested bullying-prevention training for school personnel.
The Smalleys are also meeting with state legislators to discuss needed amendments to the School Bullying Prevention Act, which was adopted in 2002. The law currently mandates that schools have policies, but doesn’t go to much further in requiring training. Several state legislators have pledged support to help pass amendments to the law and strengthen the act, according to Mark Brennaman, whose groups Education Advocacy Group is helping the Smalleys.
Out of their greatest tragedy, the courageous Smalleys are making a difference.
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A death in Perkins and school bullies
Recently I’ve been writing about an 11-year-old boy who committed suicide. His parents say the boy, Ty Field, was being bullied at school. The school district denies that Ty was being bullied.
Ty’s parents, Kirk and Laura Smalley, are determined to find some sort of good from their son’s tragic death. They are putting all they have into bringing awareness to bullying problems in schools.
It’s those rare moments when a reporter finds such an incredibly gracious and brave man as Kirk Smalley. In what is certainly the greatest tragedy of his and his wife’s life, he found the strength the share Ty’s story with the readers of The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com.
As a father myself I can’t imagine the pain and suffering Ty’s parents are experiencing. The pain in Kirk Smalley’s eyes is enough to break any other parents heart.
On Saturday, more than 30 people met at the Smalleys’ Perkins home to talk about what they could do to prevent bullying in schools. Many in attendance vowed to keep attending Perkins-Tyron Public School meetings until changes happen. No one representing the school district was at the Smalley’s home, according to Mark Brennaman, whose organization Education Advocacy Group is helping fight bullying in schools.
After Sunday’s article was published, Kirk Smalley said he has been talking with several state legislators and received calls of support from as far away as Australia.
I hope that Kirk Smalley’s mission to find something good out of this tragedy does not fail. I hope that some day the Smalleys find peace.
Bullies do not belong in our schools.
-Michael Baker
Restricted tornado damage areas in Oklahoma City
As a reporter, whenever a government agency tries to restrict my access to a public place, my first instinct is to want to go there.
After tornadoes damaged several Oklahoma City neighborhoods on Monday, police restricted access to four neighborhoods: Heritage Estates, Deerfield Estates, Deerfield West and Liberty Creek.
As I drove around looking for stories on Tuesday to give to readers, I took a left turn onto a residential street and unbeknown until later to me and the photographer we wound up in Deerfield Estates.
We found tremendous destruction, people picking up the pieces, neighbors helping neighbors, friends lending hands and support. What we also found was several people who wanted and maybe even needed to tell their stories of survival. These were hopeful stories that a community healing from such devastation needs to hear. They are stories that we would not have been able to give readers if we hadn’t accidentally stumbled into the restricted area.
I left the neighborhood wondering why the media’s access was being completely shut out. I can understand the need to have proper controls to make sure clean up efforts are not hindered and streets clogged with television crews.
But I wish law enforcement would work with us and not immediately shut us out of such situations. There must be some middle ground between allowing recovery to occur without hindrance and completely shutting the public out and not allowing those doing to recovery to tell their stories.
-Michael Baker, 475-3384
EPA’s secret briefings
On Tuesday, I participated in a news conference held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding new rule proposals for coal ash.
It was for a follow-up to an article on residents in the eastern Oklahoma town of Bokoshe fighting to close down a coal ash disposal site near their town of about 460 people.
The topic and the EPA’s action is somewhat complicated, but what surprised me about the whole Washington news conference — reporters could call in and listen and ask questions at the end — was that although I was hearing EPA experts speak, I was told in a news release issued just shortly before the conference to quote them only as “senior EPA officials” and not by name. Journalists were to quote only EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson by name.
This was a first for me. I’m not an environmental reporter by trade and haven’t participated in too many telephone news conferences with federal agencies. But, I was offended and I thought our readers probably would be too.
I was also torn as to if I should participate. As journalists, we’re duty bound to provide information to our readers on topics of interest, but at the same time we shouldn’t encourage government officials to operate behind a veil of secrecy. Plus, I don’t think our readers want a whole bunch of stories quoting nameless bureaucratic sources. It’s hard to trust that information. In the end, I phoned in to listen to the conference but decided not to use information from anybody that I could only say was a “senior EPA official.”
Turns out that this wasn’t the first time the EPA had done something like this. On Wednesday, I read a blog by Robert McClure on InvestigateWest about how the EPA had done this before. McClure makes some excellent points.
I won’t say never again, absolute statements like that can come back to bite you and it could be just a big enough story that it has to happen, but I will discourage my editors and fellow reporters from participating in a news conference under such conditions.
Colleagues John Estus and Bryan Dean wrote an article in March on the dangers of allowing government to hide behind such carefully-controlled and filtered messages. It’s a growing concern how many agencies are trying to control the story.
As journalists we want the information as unfiltered as we can get it, and we believe our readers want and deserve the same.
Michael Baker
(405) 475-3384
