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Poisoned Well

What was contaminating our drinking water? Who knows - Dade officials stopped looking.

A A A Comments (9) By Isaiah Thompson Thursday, Mar 20 2008

Asked why DERM never required the rock miners to account for the benzene that was likely coming from their property, Espinosa said, "If we were going to sit there and argue with the rock miners and their lawyers ... [when] there really wasn't data that you could point to as a smoking gun, what do you do? If we determine that it is the rock miners, then we will go and recover the cost."

With the investigation officially concluded, though, that doesn't seem likely.

Jeffrey Delannoy

The benzene contamination came to light only after activist Barbara Lange (pictured with attorney Paul Schwiep) stumbled upon it while leafing through a public records request.

Jeffrey Delannoy

On his radio show, Miami Lakes councilman and attorney Mike Pizzi has made it his mission to go after WASD head John Renfrow (right).

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Espinosa is undoubtedly right about one thing: Crossing the rock miners, and their lawyers, is no simple task. The mining companies immediately appealed Hoeveler's decision, and the matter is still in litigation. Meanwhile, they've already applied for permits to resume blasting.

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Cesar Gomez 05/19/2009 4:52:00 AM

KEEP FLORIDA ROCKIN ......ROCK MINING

Hearing Both Sides 01/04/2009 5:03:00 AM

The water has been poisoned for over 30 years. This needs a more serious investigation. The links trace to many other politicians and agencies than what was mentioned.

Arlene 04/20/2008 1:38:00 AM

Thank you for taking the time to research and write this article. I can't believe we are slowly being poisoned by our own water and no one is doing anything about it. Please keep bringing this and other such issues to light and tell us what we can do to help stop this madness.

villa 04/09/2008 6:50:00 PM

It's hard to say just like the GLBT problem. I have some friends on the site BiLoves, they also feel hard in real life.

Justicia 03/25/2008 1:53:00 AM

I know both directors, Renfow and Bill Brant. I worked with both of them. I am not a fan of Bill, in fact I did not like him but I truly believe his testimony. More people should look for the truth and find out if we still have benzene in our drinking water before it is too late.

Skip Van Cel 03/24/2008 9:00:00 PM

It is incredible to me that New Times would take an article as well researched, written and important to the citizenry of Miami-Dade County as Isaiah Thompsons' Poisoned Well and bury it inside the Winter Music Conference issue. This story should have been front and center. It is obvious Thompson worked his ass off on this story and from the few comments posted online the issue of water quality is a lot more important than what the latest dance craze might be. I'm sure the politicos and officials currently at the helm breathed a sigh of relief knowing that you buried this article.Couldn't you have waited a week and put it on the front cover? You can redeem yourself by printing it again only this time give the story its front page due. Skip Van Cel

Skip Van Cel 03/24/2008 9:00:00 PM

Frank Ferris 03/21/2008 11:45:00 PM

I designed the irrigation for the south florida reception center on nw 41 street in 1983.In 1999 I was an inmate for a dui at that facility and when I repaired the ten horsepower pump and started pumping two hundred gallons a minute out of the four inch well I noticed large amounts of petroleum floating on top of the water in the valve boxes. I told the captain and the female warden about my discoveries. They stated that it was none of my concern and if I wanted to stay there to say nothing. I still live in Miami Dade county and was told about illegal burials of toxic waste from when the painted the prison's bus fleet and the bull dozer had blown a hose and dumped fifty gallons of hydrolic oil on the ground which they covered up with dirt.If you want to know where the poison is coming from that would be a good spot to test.I only drink bottle water now

Liz Gibson 03/20/2008 9:23:00 PM

I applaud you for writing this. It has been a matter of great concern for all of us who reside in this politically corrupt community. I personally know of one Engineer who was asked to resign after 30 years of loyal service, because he tried to stop such contamination of the wellfields. I was employed by WASD for over 26 years and was forced to resign because of my actions to attempt to stop illegal activities. Some of which were matters similar to those mentioned in this article. Although I am not a fan of Bill Brant, I know that he was very much concerned about the contamination. It is a truly sad state of affairs when they have the fox watch the henhouse.

Poisoned Well

What was contaminating our drinking water? Who knows - Dade officials stopped looking.

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