• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1990-01-29_Vol55_No13_01

Serving the students and the Western Carolina University community since 1933 Volume 55, Number 13 Monday, January 29, 1990 Cullowhee, North Carolina Cancer-causing benzene found in water Michael Jones Associate Editor Students at Alpine apartments faced uncertainty this past Wednesday as they learned that officials from the North Carolina Department of Human Resources have declared the water in the complex unfit for human consumption. Alpine tenants should not use the water to drink, prepare food, bathe, or even "brush their teeth," said Joe Beck, director of WCU's Environmental Health Program in a meeting held in Moore Nursing and Health Science Building. Pizza Hut of Cullowhee was also informed by the North Carolina Department of Human Resources that their water was contaminated; however, the level of contamination was much less than Alpine apartments. The action by the N.C. Department of Human Resources stems from a complaint by a local resident in July. The resident noticed a "smell" in the water; and N.C. Department of Human Resources officials made an organic water sampling. Most tenants became aware of the situation when the campus radio station, WWCU-FM, began an investigation of students' complaints concerning a lack of information about the investigation. -Carolinian photo by Jon h'ondow Alpine residents have been supplied with bottled water, free of charge, under the North Carolina Leaking Underground Storage Tank Act. "Alpine tenants should not use the water to drink, prepare food, bathe, \ or brush their teeth." -Joe Beck According to WWCU-FM News Director Bryan Queen, a reliable source first brought to his attention a report of the North Carolina Department of Human Resources. An Aug. 11 th report stated that [Alpine's] water contains a chemical [benzene] that is known to cause cancer [specifically, leukemia] in humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum contaminant level that is considered acceptable for water supplies. Even at this level, there may be some risk of cancer. The level of benzene in this water cannot be predicted from one time or another. The report goes on to say, based on the benzene, this water should not be used for prolonged bathing or showering. Contaminants indicate significant levels of gasoline. And the level of 1.2 dichoroethane are seven times the MCL and combined with 19 fold above MCL level of benzene could lead to an appreciable health risk if water consumption continues. The EPA sets a maximum of five parts for billion for the highest tolerable benzene level. The latest Alpine sample showed 500 parts per billion. According to the N.C. Department of Human Resources, the level of contamination at Pizza Hut "will not cause any severe effect on a short-term basis," but a hearing is scheduled for March 7th to determine whether Pizza Hut will be allowed to remain open. The reason that Pizza Hut is open is specifically because there is no appreciable short term danger with the benzene -contaminated water, says Jackson County Environmental Health Supervisor Jack Denny. County officials, however, have requested the March 7th hearing to suspend Pizza Hut's privilege license in order to force the restaurant to find alternate water supplies . According to Pizza Hut, "We have already started digging new wells." According to residents at Alpine, many of them were not made aware of the health risk until just this week. However, official notification was made to the complexes owner Mr. John Kabboord of Tuckaseegee on Oct. 19th, 1989. During the meeting, officials from Western Carolina University's Department of Environmental Health, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina Department of Human Resources were present to answer Alpine residents' questions. Students seemed primarily concerned with making arrangements for bathing purposes; however, there was some comment about the extra costs that would be incurred by students who would not be able to cook their own food for the next two or three weeks. A temporary water source has been found at Park Place trailer park, and the rights to utilize the supply have been attained, according to officials at the meeting. It will be about two to four weeks before the water lines are installed at Alpine, they said. Kabboord did not personally attend the meeting, opting to send the manager of Alpine, Charlie Meyers, instead. Mr. Meyers said that he is making an effort to work with the tenants and is trying to inform them of the problems. Residents have been supplied with bottled water, free of charge, under North Carolina's Leaking Underground Storage Tank Act. Residents are upset that they were not informed sooner, since Kabboord has known about the contamination for over four months and some are contemplating legal action. One resident created a questionnaire which was placed on the doors of each apartment; however, according to the author of the survey, who asked that she not be identified, they were removed by Mr. Meyers. According to the tenant, Mr. Meyers accused the person of "soliciting." Kabboord requested a "hook-up" to the university water system which is about 1000 feet away from Alpine; however, WCU refused, stating that "university policy and policies of both the general administration of the University of North Carolina and the N.C. Depart- mentof Administration do notpermit new non-university water connections. The source of the contamination is thought to come from approximately eight abandoned underground gasoline storage tanks. According to representatives at Wednesday's meeting, the tanks were not properly drained and secured before they were covered up. Investigators say the tanks are a remnant of the days when Old State of North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resource) Win* Humid nan tunc, C Ntorrin. Governor /^ g, Vidian, W. Cobay. >.. Sccmuy Hrf)onal i.rra secnoi ocsaflar 19. 1W Hi. John Kabboord ■oat Otftca Box 211 Tuclcaaaaaa. 'orth Carotin* 28783 fiaar Ht, Kabboord; Subjact; latitat llab tVnlnaclaa Aiptna Aearcajaaca CrnmdMiir lacldant So. 3139 Jackara. Cooacy. aorta Carolina t nava ancloaad tha Drlnjttnf Watar Ilaalta Hlak Evaluation far Alplna Aaartaanta In Jaakaon County. If yon hava quaatlona ratarolna cba iaf.tr of Ovl. vatar. alaaaa contact Or. Kaanaen Sudo at 919-733-2,10. ■aaa contact aa or Don Link ac t A $M*j/b/&u Diana S. A. takanaay, p. Q. Irdro|telo|tcal Tachnlclan DKAC/fe Enclosure* ce: Jarr- PtMBK Jameson Counc/ laalth Departasnc Uait-ann Mctna. it «wVw fV, Atltfi-ai. NC UK* • Titoa-hon irn-UKm, Morth Carolina Oaoart-aant at tUman aaaourcon Dlvlaion of HmIu. Sarviean Drinking Hatar tt«lU» »Uk Evaluation '« htroliu" Product* A\ln LUOUtOlY HCHM; KM Thia iMtw U probably <»ntn»inacad «l*-» • ■atrolaaa. product, that any > fjaaalllM. fual oil, <t-.rasa.na, or othar. tha aavaaant at «hs*mleala Into aroundwacar la difficult t* pradirt, Uthou*;b thaws raaulti Lndlcata that traea lavaia at contaminantd an nraaanc, thia watar la accapcasLa tar noma. uaa now. tiavavar, iinea Lavaia my lnc.-ss.. or othar ehnpxcaia aiqnc appaar In tha fucura. thij wtll anouLd ha raaamplad in, nanth(a). ifj^Jl n-orcTs an m met t?j-.t :t :a \ xl*w.z mc itavin ?mt/icu3 impls wamr . Tour xat.tr twntaina a ehnaieai (banians, that la known to eauaa •Sanaa- la tnaaana. Wis tl. %. lnvi=^rua»nt>.l Protection Aaaac? baa-pae • amxLmim ex.ntaani.ant laval at 3 utf/l (ppH) for banxana. Thu la tin lava! that la eansidarad acstpeanla foe juai;c watar cupfliaa. Ivan ac this laval. tfcara aa? ba loaw riaa of sancar. Tha Laval at baniana La thia watar cannot ha pradictad item ana tlaa ta anothar. taaad on ihi* baniana Laval, tftla oacar mould not hs uaad for dr.Ah-i.na or cookina. froloaqod hathinoVanoworiao, should ha avoldad. ( ) Ttuj watar La biqhLy aontaavnatad and ahould not ba ussd for tiruikim], oook.ntj. ac bathinq/ahouarino. ( ) This watar aaapLa aon*tai..a aultipla conta*inanc« that aucqaat pat;oi.s«a tsntaainat-on. Sine* tha toxlcltv of aoaia of thaaa aganca la jnjt.-.own or poociy undarstsod. prudanc puaLic haalth policy r«3»«fioi talac ;,ii» watar inould iot ba uisd for dr^nklnq and cook.r.cj. Prolonuad hath:,iq/:ho-a.-l.iq thould ba avoidad. , rt i //•//■■ ui-iU I- ft" ft**"*"1 ""k < *• I npr furthar Infonwtlon. contact Or. Tad Taylor or Or. Kan Kudo, tnv: IpidaaioLotry Jranc.-.. (tltl 73*-.4.3. anvtranawntal ipiJawioioqy tranch Carolinian pfioto copies Top document: An Oct. '89 cover letter to Mr. John Kabboord, Alpine landlord, discussing the complex's health risk evaluation. Bottom document: Evaluation of petroleum products, 107 was the primary entrance to the campus, and the area was the center of activity. When highway 107 was built, several gas stations went out of business and the result was the abandoned tanks. According to Beck, the cost of cleaning up the gasoline contami nated areas will be expensive, and time consuming. A Jackson County commissioner said Superfund money may be used to clean up the mess, and the EPA will assist in finding the responsible parties. Third quarter budget sliced by half-million David Lange Staff Writer The North Carolina Office of Budget and Management has withheld half amillion dollars of Western Carolina University's budget for the third quarter of the 1989-1990 fiscal year. Budgets were cut statewide in order to meet a shortage in tax revenue for the third quarter, said the WCU Office of Business Affairs. The result for WCU was a deficit of $546,000 out of a budget of $ 11.3 million. Though the full budget was approved by the general assembly back in July, the actual appropriations are doled out on a quarterly basis, and this quarter there simply weren't enough taxes to pay for the budget. This has happened before, and from past experiences, the University is planning for similar cuts in the fourth quarter, said Vice- Chancellor of Business Affairs Dr. Joseph C. Carter. Carter told the Carolin- ian that the cuts will fall mostly in the non-salary portion of the budget. This is the part of the budget that covers everything besides the salaries and benefits for the university's employees. Of the total budget of nearly $11.3 million, the salary and benefits budget lost $164,000, and the non-salary budget lost $382,000. Presently, WCU's Business Affairs Office is plan ning a slow down in filling open positions to accommodate the budget cuts called for, while avoiding any active cutbacks. The State Budget and Management Office has not outlined any cuts for the next quarter, but Carter is already planning for a further quarter million dollar cut for the sponsibility of finding non-salary cuts has fallen to each major division director. Dr. Glenn W. Stillion said that the Office of Student Development would be only slightly affected by the cuts. The office's primary concerns are the univer- "Budget cuts will fall mostly in the non- salary portion of the budget. This is the part of the budget that covers everything besides the salaries and benefits for the university's employees." -Joseph Carter spring non-salary budget. There- sity center, Graham Infirmary, and the housing office. All of these concerns are self-sufficient through student fees, and receive no state funding; so will be immune to the cuts. Stillion said that the effected areas of his budget had an unexpected surplus that covered the required cuts. In fact, said Stillion, Student Development was able to contribute $3,500 to a pool of funds to help the other departments. The largest portion of the university's budget goes to the Academic Affairs Department, directed by Vice-Chancellor Dr. John H. Wakeley. Each school is preparing proposals for cuts. However, Wakeley assured the Carolinian that there would be no interrup tion of classes, and the department's primary concern was to protect the quality of instruction. For the most part, the cuts will come in the form of fewer trips to academic conferences and conventions. The only foreseeable cuts to directly affect the students will come in the form of a delay in the replacement of older equipment, according to Wakeley. This means that if the Biology Department were due to replace some microscopes, that replacement might be delayed or only partial. These budget cuts will not affect the reconstruction of the Media Center in Hunter Library, as the money for that project is coming from an insurance setde- ment. PEOPLE / ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS LMP sponsors upcoming events Counselor's Corner 3 4 Intramural basketball begins A look at Michael Hopkins, basketball coach 7 7 Letters to the Editor 2 Student on the Street 2 | Player of the Week

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1990-01-29
  • Date digitized: 2019-09-24
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 10 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1990-01-29_Vol55_No13
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library