Former EPA official Blasted for Poor Handling of Flint Water Crisis

Congressman Steve Russell and others on a House oversight committee grilled former EPA official Susan Hedman this week about not responding quickly enough to the lead-poisoning crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Russell sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that already had held two hearings into the controversial water problem and plans yet another hearing on Thursday.

Susan Hedman is the former EPA regional director and defended her actions.

“I don’t think E.P.A. did anything wrong, but I do believe we could have gone more,” she told the committee. But as the New York Times reported, the committee members were furious about her answers and explanation.

“There’s a special place in hell for actions like this,” said Rep. Earl L. Carter, a Republican from Georgia. He pointed out how the Environmental Protection Agency regional office under Hedman’s direction, months after learning about the lack of corrosion control in Flint failed to warn Flint residents.

Hedman also drew criticism from Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech professor who helped unveil the lead-poisoning in Flint and testified at the hearing.

“I don’t know the law, but as a human being, she should have told people immediately.”

California Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat was also angered by Hedman’s lack of response when she was the regional director.

“Why, in July or August, didn’t you just stand up and scream, stop this? To me, this is negligence bordering on deliberate indifference.”

Read more in the New York Times.

New York Times