After watching Erin Brockovich and then researching the waste fallout from Pacific Gas & Electric, I am in an internally-restrained position of being irate.
The citizens were poisoned, and the top executives willfully and with full intent decided to attempt "damage control" by purchasing that land under the table; they also simultaneously were taking advantage of the locals' ignorance of the law.
According to OneEarth, the total for the 1996 damages to Hinkley California residents was $333million. This information was provided by the original Erin Brochovich herself.
http://www.onearth.org/blog/chromium-6-still-threatens-californias-drinking-water
The most worrisome information? PG&E still continues to leak Chromium 6 (hexavalent chromium) in multiple water sources within the last two years. The fine this time is only 3.6 million by State to PG&E due to "litigation costs", reduced from 5.4 million.
http://www.paintsquare.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=7099
My central question: Why, after two significant and related events, is the state of California showing any leniency whatsoever to PG&E when they have clearly violated basic environmental laws?
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