We would like to thank the Iowa State Daily and specifically Pete Karagianis and Judah Melton for the “ISU waste disposal” article on May 20.

Our neighborhood association has been working on this issue for 10 months and it was the first time Iowa State’s responsibility was brought into the light of public scrutiny.

For the first time ever, Iowa State disposed 25,000 tons of fly ash locally in Boone County. Iowa State’s fly ash was tested for and contains 18 heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury.

Normally, this toxic material is taken to Davenport and placed in regulated underground mine pits. For the last 10 months, it went into an open pit and the air two miles south of Ledges State Park, a quarter mile from the Des Moines River and a little over a football field length from the nearest house.

Our ordeal during the last 10 months has included over 80 desperate contacts with public officials including Iowa State, Boone County and the Department of Natural Resources in the search for justice.

We were finally awarded our first public meeting on May 19 because a video of the toxic cloud was placed on the governor’s desk and lawyers were involved.

We began contacting Iowa State, specifically Jeff Witt, in August of 2003 to express our concerns about the violations of public safety and our personal rights.

Clouds of heavy metals were being deposited in our yards, lungs, and the river, the source of Des Moines’ drinking water. We were told everything was legal and would continue.

In January, Dave Miller of Iowa State assured us they had looked into our complaints and everything was legal.

We responded by stating, “We interpret your response as, ‘Iowa State refuses to take responsibility for the clear violations of our rights and the Clean Air Act.'”

Some in our neighborhood have attended Iowa State, graduated, worked at, have children attending, taught classes, provided services for, given financial support and care for its future.

All of us care for the future of our community, natural resources and country. We don’t feel hauling 25,000 tons of toxic heavy metals over to the river and dumping it into the soil, water, and air is a very educated or responsible solution.

We have become very concerned and confused as to why Iowa State, Boone County, and the DNR would ignore the numerous complaints and possible alternatives until they were forced to answer publicly.

We realize we are all responsible for producing part of the fly ash waste either directly or indirectly as we all benefit from coal produced energy.

We also know a better solution can be found if we could have some accountability and public discussion.

After the pit was closed, our neighborhood reviewed our observations. Our consensus is the public agencies and representatives feel the matter has been addressed as the pit is now closed, they blamed each other, and none of them took any responsibility. We feel nothing was resolved and are now left to lawyers and lengthy lives of sadness and doubt.

How will the last 10 months affect our health and quality of life along with the health of one of the most beautiful biological corridors in Iowa?

Will we regain our trust in our public officials? How can we assure this doesn’t happen again in our neighborhood or elsewhere?

How will Iowa State take responsibility for their actions?

With a free press, we are asking for another public meeting. We believe our questions should be answered openly without needing lawyers.

We believe ISU waste improvements can be found through involving the neighborhood where the waste is produced and not just where it ends up.