In response to your Saturday editorial,
“Perchlorate Lawsuits Way Out of Line,” I can only think that
you must not be living in San Martin or your view of the lawsuits
would be vastly different. Since the discovery of the plume over
three years ago, homeowners have been held hostage to their homes
and Olin’s contamination. Many who
wished to move out could not, and others who found it necessary
to move have had to take a loss on their property.
Olin should pay for perchlorate contamination
Dear Editor,
In response to your Saturday editorial, “Perchlorate Lawsuits Way Out of Line,” I can only think that you must not be living in San Martin or your view of the lawsuits would be vastly different.
Since the discovery of the plume over three years ago, homeowners have been held hostage to their homes and Olin’s contamination. Many who wished to move out could not, and others who found it necessary to move have had to take a loss on their property.
Many of the homeowners know full well that the perchlorate has been suspect in the deaths of livestock due to thyroid problems. Everyone on well water will now be shackled with maintenance of well –head treatment systems (assuming Olin has the common decency and sense to provide this alternative) for the next 20 years. Others on so-called “community water” are locked into paying “city” rates to companies such as West San Martin Water Co. because the installation of a well on their property is now impossible. We are obligated to use city water to water livestock and landscaping, making pasture irrigation also out of the question.
Perhaps the Editor can advise this homeowner in San Martin what we were supposed to do? Wait 20 years for Olin to clean up their mess? Well, yes, that’s exactly what we have to do. And in the meantime, Olin and other manufacturing companies can continue to believe that all they have to do is clean it up. Well, that’s great. But it is the homeowners in San Martin who have to pay for Olin’s negligence and carelessness for the next 20 years. Maybe Olin should pay too.
Kim Molyneux, San Martin
