story anyone believe government capable basic addition even though news everyone see leave continue use crisis opportunity try pin gross negligence epa republican governor michigan flint mi democrat rule crime ride poverty stricken hell-hole stay tune environmental injustice narrative obama soon push wait right time demand federal fund funnel democrat rule fail cities across america know prevent environmental crises know blacklivesmatter would already someone able pin rich white republican governor mi u.s. environmental protection agency top midwest official say department know early april lack corrosion control flint water supply situation likely put residents risk lead contamination say hand tie bring information public.starting inquiries make february federal agency battle michigan department environmental quality behind scenes least six months whether flint need use chemical treatments keep lead line plumb connections leach drink water epa publicize concern flint residents health jeopardize state insistence control require law.instead move quickly verify concern take preventative measure federal officials opt prod deq act epa region administrator susan hedman tell detroit news week hedman say seek legal opinion whether epa could force action complete november.the state agree apply corrosion control late july publicly concede october erroneously apply federal lead copper rule oversee water quality.an epa water expert miguel del toral identify potential problems flint drink water february confirm suspicions april summarize loom problem june internal memo state decide october change flint drink water source corrosive flint river back detroit water system.critics charge hedman attempt keep memo information in-house downplay significance.as soon lack corrosion control become apparent state federal officials act protect public say virginia tech researcher marc edwards whose water analysis 2015 help uncover flint lead contamination point smoke three-alarm fire respond immediately say edwards along american civil liberties union michigan obtain dozens key document relate flint crisis public record request sense urgency relevant agencies obvious exception miguel del toral silence discredit five months alert lack corrosion control researcher hurley medical center flint begin august detect high level lead bloodwork city children lead poison cause learn disabilities high level may lead seizures coma death accord federal center disease control prevention.hedman defend agency handle flint water situation say water quality staff repeatedly work convince deq corrosion control need avail let clear recommendation deq regard need corrosion control occur high high level time period hedman say detroit news interview answer keep come back deq go make decision see test result michigan governor rick snyder announce yesterday 10 people die legionnaire disease flint mich. eighty-seven case legionnaire disease find around flint past 18 months.flint long-running water problems drink water shake michigan government lead last month resignation deq director dan wyant last week state declaration emergency city independent task force appoint gov rick snyder review situation place bulk blame flint crisis deq.the federal government action worth explore say chris kolb co-chairman task force make request speak number epa employees say kolb president michigan environmental council former democratic state representative.flint water crisis gain national profile past week president barack obama chief staff say sunday white house concern monitor situation closely former obama secretary state hillary clinton democratic presidential hopeful call administration tuesday step assistance flint well expedite review city water infrastructure.deq-epa battledeq epa staffers loggerheads duel interpretations lead copper rule 25-year-old regulation design protect drink water metal contamination interpretation rule prove crucial city snyder-appointed emergency managers switch lake huron water provide detroit system flint river water cost-saving move spring 2014.following switch deq officials argue water test include two six-month periods sample need complete make decision need corrosion control epa officials accord hedman want control implement immediately concern public health.if know flint lack corrosion measure would likely result lead reach drink water june test would show epa officials inform public deq fail act hedman say federal law clearly lay state federal responsibilities oversee safe drink water epa role establish treatment standards monitor techniques provide technical assistance say state act primary regulator water operations important understand clear roles hedman say communication lead drink water health impact associate role dhhs county health department drink water utility addition epa officials argue sufficient early evidence sweep step taken.hedman say epa talk legal counsel authority compel action question straighten months interim say agency urge michigan department health human service provide information precautions residents.epa lack urgencybut critics edwards contend hedman act urgency even behind scenes week june 24 memo circulate email exchange hedman then-flint mayor dayne wall show sense alarm threat public health concern procedure preliminary draft report release outside agency hedman write july email report revise fully vet epa management find recommendations share city deq responsible follow city revise vet memo release four months late november edwards describe del toral original memo 100 percent accurate assessment loom problem.flint drink water ills lead resignations last month wyant deq spokesman brad wurfel also cause october reassignment liane shekter smith chief deq office drink water municipal assistance crisis prompt snyder switch flint back detroit water system mid-october new regional water authority use lake huron source complete late year.despite move officials warn unfiltered flint water still safe drink.there fallout federal environmental officials failure level accurately assess scale public health crisis flint problem ongoing say state senate minority leader jim ananich d-flint however epa miguel del toral excellent work try expose disaster anyone read memo fail act hold accountable full extent law congressman dan kildee d-flint township stress lion share responsibility flint situation lie state deq.yet question lead copper rule ostensibly safeguard public may contribute epa response change necessary want make legitimate concern epa performance term alert public kildee say frankly member congress want know potential health crisis district via detroit news know federal government know flint mi water poison keep hidden…10 already die