Correspondence between

Date: Thursday, January 08, 2015 8:58:24 AM Thank you Richard. Sounds like DEQ has performed its function admirably under difficult circumstances. John C. Scherbarth

Jona No, i don’t see any reason why it should not be shared. It was ar attachment to a notice provided by our district staff ta DEQ rianagement to inform thern about a rnedia contact. itis certainly available under FOIA, out even if if wasn't, | don’t see ary reason not to share it. lathended a resting late yesterday at the newly elected Representative Sheidon Neeley's office with Representative Phil Phelps also present. The purpose was to explain the problern te them. Mike Prysby from our Lansing district office recapped what the city of Flint and we have been doing since this problem became evident last summer. We also explained why the public notiteation requirements dic not start until the city aiteined sufficient data to determina that they were going to be in violation of the drinking water standard for these disinfection byproducts (it's a running annual average of quarterly results}, Apparently some have questioned why it was so lang bahween initially seeing results that were high and the putlic being notified of this fact. A single set of high results do not require public notification. However, they did trigger the requiremant for the city to initiate an investigation and evaluate options to reduce these concentrations, which Flint has done admirably. in fact, the results were remarkably lower in the latest round. But even if they continue at these lower levels, it will take a while for the running average to be reduced below the standard. Until then, the violation notice will need te be repeated until the running annual average at aif compliance monitoring points once again meets the standard. Richard Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief Field Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-8512

Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 5:31:00 PM John No, | don’t see any reason why it should not be shared. It was an attachment to a notice provided by our district staff to DEQ management to inform them about a media contact. It is certainly available under FOIA, but even if it wasn’t, | don’t see any reason not to share it. | attended a meeting late yesterday at the newly elected Representative Sheldon Neeley’s office with Representative Phil Phelps also present. The purpose was to explain the problem to them. Mike Prysby from our Lansing district office recapped what the city of Flint and we have been doing since this problem became evident last summer. We also explained why the public notification requirements did not start until the city obtained sufficient data to determine that they were going to be in violation of the drinking water standard for these disinfection byproducts (it’s a running annual average of quarterly results). Apparently some have questioned why it was so long between initially seeing results that were high and the public being notified of this fact. A single set of high results do not require public notification. However, they did trigger the requirement for the city to initiate an investigation and evaluate options to reduce these concentrations, which Flint has done admirably. In fact, the results were remarkably lower in the latest round. But even if they continue at these lower levels, it will take a while for the running average to be reduced below the standard. Until then, the violation notice will need to be repeated until the running annual average at all compliance monitoring points once again meets the standard. Richard Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief Field Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-6512

Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 4:03:12 PM Richard I shared the information that you provided to me with an attorney in my office impacted by the Flint water issue. She has asked me as you can see whether she can share the information that you provided to me with others. Since it is public knowledge, I see no reason why she cannot share it. Can you? John C. Scherbarth

Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 4:03:12 PM Richard I shared the information that you provided to me with an attorney in my office impacted by the Flint water issue. She has asked me as you can see whether she can share the information that you provided to me with others. Since it is public knowledge, I see no reason why she cannot share it. Can you? John C. Scherbarth

xxxEND_PAGE:deq21_b487_1365_1367_1 Richard i shaved the information that you provided to me with an attorney in ry office impacted by the Wint water is c asked me as you Can soe can share the information that you provided te re with others. Since if is pubhe knowledge, | see no reasen why she cannot share it. Can you? dobn C. Scherharth

Date: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 3:01:33 PM Thanks so much. John C. Scherbarth

John, Michael Prysby is the district engineer that has been working with Flint for the past 25 years. Steve Busch is the District Supervisor who aiso has knowledge about this subject. Mike's telephone nurnber is (617) 290- 8817. Steve's number is (517) 642-2314. i have also atlached a surnmary of a recent media contact that Mike Prysby hac earlier today that provides some background information and explains what is being done to address this issue. In addition to the measures Mike describes in his media contact, you should know that the city of Flint is relying upon the Flint River temporarily unt the pipeline from Lake Huron is completed, hopefully sometime in mid- 2018. The lower organic content of Lake Huron water should slanificantly reduce the TTHM formation that occurs from disinfection of the Flint River, and TTHM levels should retum to the levels experienced in Flint when they received Lake Huron water from the Detroit Water & Sewerage Departrnent. Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief xxxEND_PAGE:deq21_b487_1365_1367_2 Fieid Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-6512

Richard Who may | contact at DEQ to discuss the City of Flint water system which recently sent a notice to its citizens regarding an exceedance of TTHMs? John C. Scherbarth Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division Michigan Department of Attorney General P.O. Box 30755 Lansing, MI 48909 Telephone: 517-373-7540 Fax: 517-241-3473 xxxEND_PAGE:deq21_b487_1365_1367_3

Date: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 12:06:16 PM Richard Who may I contact at DEQ to discuss the City of Flint water system which recently sent a notice to its citizens regarding an exceedance of TTHMs? John C. Scherbarth Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division Michigan Department of Attorney General P.O. Box 30755 Lansing, MI 48909 Telephone: 517-373-7540 Fax: 517-241-3473 xxxEND_PAGE:deq01_b083_3628_3628_1