Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2015
2007-10-09 12:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
The Brockovich Report Takes on Greece
how-toVZCZCXRO4339 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTH #2015 2821204 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091204Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0470 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS ATHENS 002015
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV
E.O. 12858: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR SOCI TBIO EIND GR
SUBJECT: The Brockovich Report Takes on Greece
UNCLAS ATHENS 002015
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV
E.O. 12858: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR SOCI TBIO EIND GR
SUBJECT: The Brockovich Report Takes on Greece
1. Summary. On September 21, Post began receiving
thousands of messages from U.S. citizens requesting Post
raise with the GoG the issue of industrial waste in the
Asopos River, located 40km north of Athens. Econ
identified an article on Erin BrockovichQs website from
August 25 that highlighted the problem,
(www.brockovichblog.com/2007/08/pollution) and claimed
that the Mayor of Oinofyta had requested her help to
address the issue internationally. Similar reports
appeared in the local media soon thereafter, culminating
in Minister of Environment, Town Planning and Public
Works (PEXODE) George SoufliasQs public address on
Sept 27th in which he said that the GoG would address
Asopos clean up and regulation, and public health issues.
Post will investigate and further report on the issue, as we
expect a high-profile visit by Ms. Brockovich, and as the
number of internet inquiries is over three thousand. End
Summary.
2. Press reports and casual conversation with people on
the street reveals wide ranging theories behind the Asopos
River pollution, but the common thread is that of decades
of use, either official or unofficial, as an industrial
dumping ground. Since the late 1960s, upwards of 300
companies and industries set up in the region. While all
were required to obtain permits and licenses, these were
obtained at the local level and the credibility of the
approval process has been subject of such public concern
that Minister Souflias recently ordered that all permits be
QreconsideredQ by local authorities.
3. Econ Off met with Secretary General Evangelos Baltas of
the Ministry of Environment on October 1 to discuss the
recent findings. In response to local activism and reports
of significant increases in rates of disease and other
medical issues, the GoG recently conducted tests on
groundwater beneath the Asopos River. On August 10th, the
first results came back indicating the presence of
hexavalent chromium. Baltas stated that, to date, the
Ministry has conducted seven additional water tests and
twenty four inspections of local industries, identifying
those industries whose activities relate to chromium.
Baltas stated that as of September 27, intensive work to
clean the area has been under way as well as efforts to
stop further dumping and to punish those who have broken
the law. According to Baltas, at least seven inspectors
will remain on location, day and night, until the
investigation is complete.
--------------
Chromium and the Local Area
--------------
4. Activist and recent media reports indicate the
potential existence of nickel, cadmium, and arsenic in the
liquid waste dumped into the river, however the Ministry
has focused on Chromium, and specifically Hexavalent
Chromium. (Note: Hexavalent chromium is the same substance
highlighted in the film QErin Brockovich.Q According to
the national environment authority of Australia -
http://www.npi.gv.au/database/substance-
info/profiles/24.html - it has a high chronic toxicity to
aquatic life, however no data is available on either the
short-term or long-term effects of chromium to plants,
birds, or land animals. End note.) Baltas explained that
while he is unaware of any in-depth study on the effects of
this pollution on the ecology in the area, he did not
believe that the river was the primary source of local
drinking water. He emphasized however, that while his
Ministry is responsible for investigating the pollution,
the Ministry of Health is responsible for the quality of
drinking water.
5. Comment. Post plans a more detailed review on this
issue following meeting with local officials and residents
in the coming week, and is working on a draft response to
the emails. The general stance from the GoG is that it was
not aware of the problem until early August, when the first
traces of chromium were identified. Multiple ministries
are already involved, including Environment, Health,
Agriculture, and Development, although to what degree is
unclear. We will follow up with Ministries as appropriate.
End Comment.
COUNTRYMAN
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV
E.O. 12858: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR SOCI TBIO EIND GR
SUBJECT: The Brockovich Report Takes on Greece
1. Summary. On September 21, Post began receiving
thousands of messages from U.S. citizens requesting Post
raise with the GoG the issue of industrial waste in the
Asopos River, located 40km north of Athens. Econ
identified an article on Erin BrockovichQs website from
August 25 that highlighted the problem,
(www.brockovichblog.com/2007/08/pollution) and claimed
that the Mayor of Oinofyta had requested her help to
address the issue internationally. Similar reports
appeared in the local media soon thereafter, culminating
in Minister of Environment, Town Planning and Public
Works (PEXODE) George SoufliasQs public address on
Sept 27th in which he said that the GoG would address
Asopos clean up and regulation, and public health issues.
Post will investigate and further report on the issue, as we
expect a high-profile visit by Ms. Brockovich, and as the
number of internet inquiries is over three thousand. End
Summary.
2. Press reports and casual conversation with people on
the street reveals wide ranging theories behind the Asopos
River pollution, but the common thread is that of decades
of use, either official or unofficial, as an industrial
dumping ground. Since the late 1960s, upwards of 300
companies and industries set up in the region. While all
were required to obtain permits and licenses, these were
obtained at the local level and the credibility of the
approval process has been subject of such public concern
that Minister Souflias recently ordered that all permits be
QreconsideredQ by local authorities.
3. Econ Off met with Secretary General Evangelos Baltas of
the Ministry of Environment on October 1 to discuss the
recent findings. In response to local activism and reports
of significant increases in rates of disease and other
medical issues, the GoG recently conducted tests on
groundwater beneath the Asopos River. On August 10th, the
first results came back indicating the presence of
hexavalent chromium. Baltas stated that, to date, the
Ministry has conducted seven additional water tests and
twenty four inspections of local industries, identifying
those industries whose activities relate to chromium.
Baltas stated that as of September 27, intensive work to
clean the area has been under way as well as efforts to
stop further dumping and to punish those who have broken
the law. According to Baltas, at least seven inspectors
will remain on location, day and night, until the
investigation is complete.
--------------
Chromium and the Local Area
--------------
4. Activist and recent media reports indicate the
potential existence of nickel, cadmium, and arsenic in the
liquid waste dumped into the river, however the Ministry
has focused on Chromium, and specifically Hexavalent
Chromium. (Note: Hexavalent chromium is the same substance
highlighted in the film QErin Brockovich.Q According to
the national environment authority of Australia -
http://www.npi.gv.au/database/substance-
info/profiles/24.html - it has a high chronic toxicity to
aquatic life, however no data is available on either the
short-term or long-term effects of chromium to plants,
birds, or land animals. End note.) Baltas explained that
while he is unaware of any in-depth study on the effects of
this pollution on the ecology in the area, he did not
believe that the river was the primary source of local
drinking water. He emphasized however, that while his
Ministry is responsible for investigating the pollution,
the Ministry of Health is responsible for the quality of
drinking water.
5. Comment. Post plans a more detailed review on this
issue following meeting with local officials and residents
in the coming week, and is working on a draft response to
the emails. The general stance from the GoG is that it was
not aware of the problem until early August, when the first
traces of chromium were identified. Multiple ministries
are already involved, including Environment, Health,
Agriculture, and Development, although to what degree is
unclear. We will follow up with Ministries as appropriate.
End Comment.
COUNTRYMAN