FRANKLIN, Ind.–The contamination narrative continues for the city of Franklin. A letter was sent by the mayor’s office to top officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, requesting a plan of action by August 17.
The letter preceded a Friday night meeting between residents and officials to discuss the situation. Many constituents in attendance feared the contamination and a perceived lack of appropriate response had led to an unexplained rise in pediatric cancer and auto-immune disorders in Franklin. Despite officials’ assurances that contaminants have been found to be well below regulatory levels, audience members remained skeptical.
The residents said they had funded the independent study by the Edison Wetlands Association that had detected two of 14 homes to have levels of contaminants present that were above regulatory norms. The government agencies involved requested to conduct their own testing at the 14 sites, but have not been given the physical addresses of the homes.