Title
Resolution to Acknowledge and Commend Roger Rayle and the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) for Longstanding Public Service to Monitor and Protect Residents of Ann Arbor from Exposure to Harmful Chemicals in Ann Arbor Freshwater Sources
Body
Whereas, The Environmental Commission advises the Ann Arbor City Council on issues related to environmental policy, environmental issues and environmental implications of all City programs and proposals on the air, water, land and public health;
Whereas, Roger Rayle first became a citizen volunteer watching over the Gelman dioxane contamination site as a member of a series of citizen advocacy groups concerned about the Gelman 1,4-dioxane;
Whereas, Roger Rayle was a founding member and officer of Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization set up in 1995 to inform and educate area residents on state of groundwater pollution in our area and provide information systems support for other stakeholder groups;
Whereas, Roger Rayle was a citizen member of the Intergovernmental Partnership Committee (IPC) consisting of local government officials and citizens, convened from time to time as needed to provide a coordinated response to Gelman cleanup plans;
Whereas, Roger Rayle was a founding member of the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) that superseded the IPC in 2006 through resolutions of all affected local governments to more proactively address the Gelman dioxane problem for all area stakeholders;
Whereas, Roger Rayle has been chairperson of CARD since the spring of 2017 when CARD was more formalized with bylaws and an elected board;
Whereas, Roger Rayle and members of CARD have held monthly meetings to educate and organize members of the community about the threat of 1,4-dioxane in the groundwater;
Whereas, Roger Rayle has collected data, analyzed and shared detailed information, and encouraged members of the community to learn about the risks to water quality in Ann Arbor, Scio Township, and Ann Arbor Township;
Whereas, Roger Rayle has provided support to members of the community, local, state and national elected officials, via CARD and SRSW, with respect to addressing 1,4-dioxane cleanup processes;
Whereas, Roger Rayle and members of CARD have advocated for remediation of the 1,4-dioxane plume by the Environmental Protection Agency;
Whereas, Meetings of CARD have routinely provided a forum for review of data on the 1,4-dioxane plume, tracking trends, and communication with staff of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality / Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MDEQ/EGLE);
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Environmental Commission commends Roger Rayle and members of CARD for their long service to the community through professional activism and the use of scientific modeling;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Environmental Commission requests that the Ann Arbor City Council provide a coordinating resolution of appreciation and respect to Roger Rayle and members of CARD for their service; and
RESOLVED: That the City of Ann Arbor commends Roger Rayle and members of CARD for their service; and
RESOLVED: That the City of Ann Arbor send the commendation of Roger Rayle and members of CARD for decades-long service to the leadership of Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the Director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Region Administrator - United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region V, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Griswold, Disch, Hayner and Ramlawi