Cleaning Up Contaminated Drinking Water Supplies
Citizens in Aberdeen, Maryland, had been working with U.S. Army officials to deal with unsettling levels of the rocket fuel perchlorate found in the community's drinking water supplies. Army officials and community groups were sharing maps of drinking water wells to help track the location of the chemical and gauge citizens' exposure. After 9/11, however, the Army had a change of heart. Citing national security, it suddenly stopped drawing maps showing the locations of wells. What lawyers for citizens called a productive process has turned into a legal fight over public access to government maps and records, stalling plans to protect Aberdeen's citizens from a toxic chemical. Resources: