EQ Ad Downplays EPA Pollution Findings

In case you missed it, EQ Industrial Services ran a full-page ad in yesterday's News & Observer -- a letter from EQ President David Lusk to the citizens of Apex, N.C., where one of the Michigan-based company's hazmat handling facilities burned earlier this month. Lusk doesn't say outright that he's sorry for the incident, which forced the evacuation of thousands of people and closure of businesses in nearby neighborhoods, but he does express regret:

"We recognize that many of you have been inconvenienced by this event, including those who had to evacuate their homes. We empathize with you and understand the concerns raised by this unfortunate situation."

In an effort to assure Apex residents they needn't worry about environmental contamination, Lusk cites the findings of U.S EPA's Airborne Spectral Photographic Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) airplane. Lusk writes:

"US EPA's advanced monitoring aircraft conducted extensive testing in the surrounding area on Friday, October 6 and found no evidence of contaminants from the fire."

But that's not exactly true: According to an EPA Region 4 press release dated Oct. 7, ASPECT detected in the plume the presence of chlorinated ethanes and benzenes -- both carcinogens. EPA describes the concentrations as "trace-level" but doesn't offer details.