explosive environmental conditions at Onondaga Nation

Bernadette Johnson (onondag1@nysernet.org)
Tue, 11 Oct 1994 12:28:11 -0400

On Saturday October 8th while an Onondaga man was digging for water to provide
for his family he was over come by gaseous fumes. On Sunday it was found that
the soil was heavily saturated with gasoline. A D.E.C. representative stated
"the gasoline fumes in the air have been detected at 500 parts per million
standard construction evacuation can be implemented at only 15 parts per
million. This situation is extremely dangerous because of the possibility of
explosion.

The Nedrow Volunteer Fire Department can enact a preplan that would evacuate a
1/2 mile radius of the site if warrented. The extent of the leakage is unknown
at this time but the D.E.C. will be conducting additional testing to evaluate
the number of gallons within the pool and its source.

About 1,000 feet from the contaminated well are several gas tanks put in the
ground without the permission of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs or the people
of the Onondaga Nation.

These illegal tanks could be the source of the gasoline leakage. Residents
surrounding communities and travelers need to be aware of the potential
danger of toxic fumes and the possibility of explosion. This latest issue is
just one of many lawless actions of the banished business owners at Onondaga
Nation Nation residents are outraged at the former businessmen's lack of
concern for our families and our environment. One spokesmen stated "The
purity of our precious land and water once contaminated can never be
reclaimed.

>From the People of the Onondaga Nation
Contact 492-1440 tel. & fax Jeanne Shenandoah at Onondaga Nation. or
Bernadette Johnson - onondag1@nysernet.org