HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING: A HOW TO MANUAL FOR ACTIVISTS TO TAKE SOIL SAMPLES REFUSED BY AUTHORITIES

1. Find a dirty polluter ................................................................... 2. Pinpoint on a map where soil samples have been taken .................................................................................................... 3. Look carefully where there are zero soil samples taken ..................................................................................................... 4. Look for both known and unknown contaminant pathways such as surface flow, ground water flow and even far flung burial sites .......................................................................................................................... 5. Read all reports possible and again note both obvious areas and contaminant pathways that are ignored and unsampled .............................................................................................................. 6. Take soil samples ....................................................................................................... If only it was that easy. Scouting ahead of time is required. Consultation with experts regarding methodology, containers, depths, accredited labs, costs, storage and transportation of samples are all necessary. Timing is important. Timing of day, location of sun, weather etc. Decades ago I took photographs of gross sub-surface contamination of soils and groundwater at the back of the former Breslube (now Safety-Kleen) site in Breslau. I did this despite ongoing remediation (excavations) plus staff being present. How was this possible? Timing. I walked in from the natural area behind (i.e. west side) the plant late in the afternoon with the bright summer sun directly at my back. No one was looking directly into the sun and even if they did they could see nothing. Yes the photographs went to the appropriate authorities and were ignored. ................................................................................................................... 7. Look for corridors that can cover your entrance and exit into secret, contaminated lands .................................................................................................. 8. If possible have an alternate exit pathway in case you are spotted either going in or while sampling ......................................................................................................... 9. Understand that liars lie. It's what they do because it works as long as the authorities are in their pockets. Your lab results will be disputed because after all if the authorities were going to insist upon proper environmental remediation in the first place then those samples would have been ordered taken and analyzed literally years and decdaes previously. GOOD LUCK!