Lawmakers: 'We have waited long enough' on Raytheon

Two local lawmakers are calling on the state's top environmental watchdog to take immediate action on the Raytheon pollution plume in St. Petersburg.

"We have waited long enough for action to be taken,'' state Sen. Charlie Justice wrote in a letter sent today to Michael Sole, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection. "To be told that we will have to wait generations for our neighborhoods to be safe is unacceptable."

State Rep. Rick Kriseman also wrote to Sole: "Too many people have suffered for too long. ... Your department's leadership is desperately needed in order to expedite this cleanup."

Both men are St. Petersburg Democrats.

The call to action comes in response to a News Channel 8 report this week that Raytheon now predicts it will take as long as 78 years to clean up industrial waste that has been spreading underground for decades.

Raytheon's environmental consultant, Arcadis, plans to pump and treat the waste at 15 different points around the Raytheon site, 1501 72nd St. N.

Arcadis predicts eight years will be the shortest time at any well to complete the removal of toxic chemicals in groundwater under the now-closed Raytheon plant and surrounding neighborhoods.

Arcadis' timetable ranges upward from there, with a third of the wells taking at least 36 years.

Late today, Raytheon spokesman Jon Kasle responded to the lawmakers concerns with a statement that said, "The majority of the local properties will be cleaned in approximately 10 years, and 90 percent will be cleaned within 20 years."

Kasle also wrote that "Raytheon remains committed to working openly with the community, Florida DEP and other government officials."

Justice said he hopes to attend a meeting Thursday of those homeowners affected by the contamination; it is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Azalea Baptist Church on 22nd Avenue.

This afternoon, DEP spokeswoman Ana Gibbs issued a statement saying the DEP "is committed to working closely with the Offices of Senator Charlie Justice and Representative Rick Kriseman along with the community to address their concerns."

In his letter, Justice said, "We cannot let this go on another day."