Dear Editor:

As the individual who publicized the water contamination issue, I offer the following clarifications.

1. CLM statement about the 'isolated incident' contradicts all photographs and eyewitness accounts. Our letter stated that an employee was observed unscrewing his paint sprayer and emptying the bucket of paint in the drain. Any claimed incidents of washing rollers and brushes are additional. Photos of the drain in question (a few of which are available at http://tecopahotsprings.net) show many colors of paint used at the site were layered over each other over the entire grate surface, very thickly, not in diluted form as stated. From visual observation of the painting process, this involved weeks of cumulative pollution incidents. Since CLM staff immediately scrubbed the grate with regional staff present (also photographed) and waited five days before responding to press or county inquiries, the deception seems deliberate. Please also note that this grate is in full view of the office, so scapegoating one employee won’t wash. While the rate of water flow may have diluted the level of contaminants in the wetlands, toxic dumping is still an illegal act, compounded by deliberate deception of the community and responsible government agencies by CLM administration.

2. Initially, we did not report our concerns to regulatory agencies, but gave CLM and Inyo County CA a chance to address the problem. Since the CLM response was a coverup which insults the intelligence of anyone who has reviewed the evidence, we are now reporting it to all water quality control agencies, with a CD of dated photographs.

3. As Ms. Hazlett stated, our foremost concern is for the protection of the healing waters, and for the traditions and practices that have kept them pure since time immemorial. Most people who are now boycotting payment to CLM had pledged far more than $150/year to assist with community maintenance of the facility. In just 3 weeks, signed pledges of more than $15,000 were submitted to our office. We will continue with our vigilance and prayers, in thankfulness for these waters that have given us so much, even though they are kept from us at this time.