Leaders call on Crist to get Raytheon to act

Angry that legislation they proposed on the issue was killed, two state representatives on Saturday called on Gov. Charlie Crist to become personally involved in the proposed cleanup of contaminated groundwater under a now-closed Raytheon plant and surrounding neighborhoods.

State Sen. Charlie Justice and state Rep. Rick Kriseman sponsored legislation that would require companies to notify nearby property owners and public officials about pollutants. The bill was designed so no one would be kept in the dark about such contaminants, as residents near the Raytheon plant believe they have been.

At a news conference in the Azalea neighborhood in St. Petersburg, Justice said the legislation was killed because of "roadblocks put up by industry lobbyists." He also blamed foot-dragging by government agencies.

The two politicians expressed frustration with the back-and-forth between the Department of Environmental Protection and Raytheon over a proposal to clean up the toxic plume, an effort that is expected to take 78 years. They suggested the DEP bring some pressure to bear on the corporation to get the cleanup going.

"The time for foot-dragging is over," Justice said, as he was flanked by other state representatives, the Azalea Neighborhood Association president and a representative from the Sierra Club. "We're calling on Gov. Charlie Crist to become more personally involved."

Kriseman likened the situation to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which has spurred "universal disdain" for BP, the company responsible for the spill, and for what he called the lack of government regulatory oversight.

Tim Eaton, who lives at 7301 10th Ave. N., said he can't sell his house because of the groundwater plume. If any prospective buyer comes along, Eaton says he has to tell him about the contamination, and that the buyer, as a result, can't use the irrigation system it cost Eaton $2,000 to install.

[footer]WFLA news photographer Indira Levine contributed to this report. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.