Doctor gains support for arsenic study

A retired McCook physician gained the support Monday morning of Red Willow County commissioners in his crusade against stricter federally-mandated arsenic levels in drinking water.

Dr. John Batty is challenging the federal government's tightening of arsenic levels from 50 parts-per-billion to 10 or fewer parts-per-billion.

Dr. Batty told commissioners he is upset that the federal government is requiring so many cities to spend so much money to comply with stricter arsenic standards.

According to the federal government, Dr. Batty said, arsenic causes bladder cancer.

"Bladder cancer is rare to begin with," he said, explaining that there have been two cases of bladder cancer in Red Willow County since 1997. A study in Taiwan, he said, indicated that the incidence of bladder cancer appears to be the same regardless of arsenic levels.

"Why should we (specifically the city of McCook) spend $11 million to meet EPA standards when we don't even know arsenic caused these cancers?" Dr. Batty said. "It's preposterous!"

Dr. Batty is proposing a study in which hair samples are tested for arsenic levels. Dr. Batty said arsenic leaves the body fairly quickly, within just hours or days, but it remains in the hair.

"Olson's Lab in McCook has agreed to test the hair samples, for $15 each," Dr. Batty said. He at first suggested collecting hair samples from club members of Rotary, to which he belongs, but told commissioners he would really like samples from a broader group.

Dr. Batty will share the results of his study with State Sen. Tom Baker and with Congressman Tom Osborne, who could then present the information to the EPA in challenge of its lower arsenic standards.

Commissioner Steve Downer suggested Dr. Batty work with the system of public health departments that includes all but two Nebraska counties.

The Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department alone covers eight counties, Commission Chairman Earl McNutt told Dr. Batty.

The PHD's may also have access to grants that could help fund such a study, McNutt said.

In other action, commissioners approved the final payment of $56,772 to Figgins Construction of Red Cloud, for the county's summer armor-coating projects.

The board also approved a change order that deducted $3,289 from Figgins's original bid of $60,0012. This deduction included $1,540 for oil not used and $1,184 for mineral aggregate not used.

In addition to these deductions from the Figgins bid, commissioners saved about $3,500 by the county purchasing the oil and aggregate, rather than purchasing it through the contractor, and completing some road patching before the contractor arrived.

The total 2004 armor-coating project cost $128,993.98.

Commissioners authorized highway/road supervisor Gary Dicenta to participate in a Nebraska Department of Roads group purchase of GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers.

Dicenta said the state have received $8,000 from the Federal Highway Administration for the purchase of GPS receivers. If the state receives requests for 40 or fewer of the $200 handheld receivers, the cost to the counties will be minimal, if any.

If more than 40 receivers are requested, each receiver could cost the county up to $120.

Commissioners agreed to request one receiver.