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LEADWOOD, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
It was contamination in the water in the town of Hinkley, California that spurred a paralegal to take one of the golden state's biggest power companies to task. Erin Brockovich's fight against contamination was immortalized by Julia Roberts on the silver screen but she continues to use her notoriety to shine on spotlight on contamination across the country. On Tuesday, she stopped in Leadwood, Missouri in hopes of speeding up a superfund cleanup there.
"What concerns me is that I went and put my finger in the dyke at Hinkley to stop a flood," says Brockovich, "and a thousand other floods have opened up these types of contaminations exist across the United States." Including the one Erin Brockovich's come to see in Leadwood.
"I think somehow I have toxic stamped on my forehead."
Since Julia Roberts shared her story with millions she has made a living off getting contamination sites cleaned up which is what is happening in Leadwood but not always up to citizens like Christy Briley's satisfaction.
"How bad is my son's asthma going to be aggravated by the dust flying?" questions Briley who lives right next door to the 500 acre tailings pile.
"I'm hoping they get it cleaned up and cleaned up right for our children, says Briley, "I think there have been some corners that have been cut but I have seen some improvement."
The dust and runoff is what Doe Run, with the E.P.A's oversight, is trying to contain with this multi million dollar project to cover dust and dirt with flora and fauna.
"People live here they have concerns about their property their children's health," says Doe Run's John Carter, "the EPA standards are the things that we go by are there to alleviate that and make sure the kids aren't exposed to unacceptable levels of lead."
It's the kids that Brockovich and her partner Bob Bowcock hope to protect with her familiar name and new technology like a hand held lead detector which automatically samples soil for hard metals. While the field at the Middle School was within acceptable levels Bowcock told the fifty or so town's people that gathered at West County High School that other spots around town are not acceptable. Doe Run and even the E.P.A.'s numbers dispute many of their numbers but despite that disagreement both sides see no problem with people being aware and involved.
"All they ever wanted is to be treated fairly to be treated with respect and have it cleaned up," says Brockovich.
"What concerns me is that I went and put my finger in the dyke at Hinkley to stop a flood," says Brockovich, "and a thousand other floods have opened up these types of contaminations exist across the United States." Including the one Erin Brockovich's come to see in Leadwood.
"I think somehow I have toxic stamped on my forehead."
Since Julia Roberts shared her story with millions she has made a living off getting contamination sites cleaned up which is what is happening in Leadwood but not always up to citizens like Christy Briley's satisfaction.
"How bad is my son's asthma going to be aggravated by the dust flying?" questions Briley who lives right next door to the 500 acre tailings pile.
"I'm hoping they get it cleaned up and cleaned up right for our children, says Briley, "I think there have been some corners that have been cut but I have seen some improvement."
The dust and runoff is what Doe Run, with the E.P.A's oversight, is trying to contain with this multi million dollar project to cover dust and dirt with flora and fauna.
"People live here they have concerns about their property their children's health," says Doe Run's John Carter, "the EPA standards are the things that we go by are there to alleviate that and make sure the kids aren't exposed to unacceptable levels of lead."
It's the kids that Brockovich and her partner Bob Bowcock hope to protect with her familiar name and new technology like a hand held lead detector which automatically samples soil for hard metals. While the field at the Middle School was within acceptable levels Bowcock told the fifty or so town's people that gathered at West County High School that other spots around town are not acceptable. Doe Run and even the E.P.A.'s numbers dispute many of their numbers but despite that disagreement both sides see no problem with people being aware and involved.
"All they ever wanted is to be treated fairly to be treated with respect and have it cleaned up," says Brockovich.
