2006.01.27 – WATER TESTING REQUESTED FOR STILL CREEK RESERVOIR

By Richard W. Funk, rfunk@tnonline.com
The Times News, © 2006

January 27, 2006

Rush Township is supporting its neighbor to the south in asking that a study be conducted on the water contained in Still Creek Reservoir, which is the water supply for the Borough of Tamaqua.

That came during Wednesday night’s meeting of the board of supervisors, where Marion Lazur said the township should support Tamaqua Mayor Christian P. Morrison in his quest to have extensive testing conducted at the reservoir.

“The residents of our township derseve a complete and comprehensive report on why cancer is so prevalent in the township,” Lazur said.

In addition to testing the water, the township is also supporting testing of fish found there.

Recently, Dr. Peter Baddick presented evidence to the Pennsylvania Department of Health that a fish taken from the reservoir had cancer of the liver. Other fish, Baddick said, had tumors.

Many people believe the problems are coming from the former McAdoo Associates toxic waste site, but two other Superfund sites are also nearby.

The supervisors unanimously agreed to send a letter of support to Morrison.