Azure Gilman

Hi Brad, One more question: where has Liane Shekter Smith been reassigned to? Ms. Shekter Smith has been assigned to other dufies within the department until the Governor's third-party, afler action review fearn completes lis work. Best, Azure

Hi Brad, Some follow up questions to the DEC news release about Hint drinking water earlier today: 1. How would the protocol have been different if the MDEQ followed the correct federal regulations of a city for 100,000 people? There’s @ provision in the federal rule based on popuwialion: When a water provider serving a population of more than 50,000 people adapts a new water source, the operator must continue full corrosion control even as the water system is put through two rounds of 6-month lead and capper surveillance testing. On systerns that serve populations less than 50k, this is noi a requirernent. Water systems in the siste are fairly well established. None of cur staff had ever worked on @ source change for a system serving more than 50,000 secole. 2. Many citizens in Flint have said that 100 water kits should have been tested instead of 69. Does this fall under the category of correct federal regulations? This was done correctly. Census deta indicated incorporaied al the end of 2014 indicated Flint’s ponulation had dropped beicewy 100,000 neapie, and the lead testing is based on population size. The city was required to provide 60 sarnpies in the January / July 2015 sarnpling round. They produced So samples. xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b271_1098_1099_1 3. When did the MDEQ become aware that the proper federal regulations were not followed? \e've been conducting an internal review over the pasi several weeks, even as we're mohilizing a large, mulll-agency effort to irmlement the governor's olan to disiribute itters, test and inspect the schools, encourage parents to get kids tested and encourages concerned residents to have their water tesied for free. The internal review has included reviewing cormmunications with city and federal pariners, and diacussing the situation with pragram staff. With respect to the corrosion orotacol, the picture became increasingly clear for department leadership over ine past week. Best, Azure Gilman Uman®. xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b271_1098_1099_2

Sent from my iPhone Hello, My name is Azure Gilman, and |’m a digital reporter from Al Jazeera America. I have a few questions about the water in Flint, Michigan. 1. LeeAnne Walters says that when the water in her house was tested by the city and the MDEQ found to have high lead levels, city officials consistently said that her house was an exception, and that this was not a widespread problem. Can you comment on this? Our staff have been informed that this homeowner had an unusually long lead service line which appears to have contributed to her situation. However, this question is better addressed by the city. They looked into it and eventually replaced it for the resident. 2. Why did the MDEQ lower the total number of water samples required for Flint to test from 100 to 60? Sample requirements are based on population. Updated census data received in 2015 showed Flint's population dropped below 100,000. 3. Were the same houses tested in both the first and the second round of water testing by the city? Not in every case, but that is not an absolute requirement. This program relies on voluntary participation by residents. The city sent 200 sample bottles to residents with lead service lines (requirement for eligibility) in January 2015, and got 60 samples back by June. Participation has historically been a well-documented challenge in Flint. 4. Why were two water samples in the second round of water testing? xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b230_0659_0660_1 I'll presume you meant to say why were two samples dropped from the count? Eligibility. The lead and copper tule requires the system operator to get samples from homes with lead service lines. No businesses. No homes with filters. And participants have to follow a specific screening protocol. When those things don't happen, the samples unfortunately must be dropped from the results. 5. Does the MDEQ have any official comment about the safety of drinking water in the City of Flint, particularly in terms of lead levels, at this time? The city, the state and the U.S. EPA are taking necessary steps to address lead concerns in Flint. Free lead filters for all flint residents are a precautionary step to ensure public health while we look more closely at exposure concerns. Flint residents who have concerns about lead exposure should take advantage of free water testing and blood lead level testing for children. Best, Azure Gilman @aljazeerane 310.493.9657 Bed ondy fet bared xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b230_0659_0660_2

Hello, My name is Azure Gilman, and I’m a digital reporter from Al Jazeera America. I have a few questions about the water in Flint, Michigan. 1. LeeAnne Walters says that when the water in her house was tested by the city and the MDEQ found to have high lead levels, city officials consistently said that her house was an exception, and that this was not a widespread problem. Can you comment on this? 2. Why did the MDEQ lower the total number of water samples required for Flint to test from 100 to 60? 3. Were the same houses tested in both the first and the second round of water testing by the city? 4. Why were two water samples in the second round of water testing? 5. Does the MDEQ have any official comment about the safety of drinking water in the City of Flint, particularly in terms of lead levels, at this time? Best, Azure Gilman azure giiman@alazeera net 310.493.9657 xxxEND_PAGE:deq14_b0640_2061_2061_1