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Philip Wittek, Director of the Johnson County Environmental Department, sent me the following letter (I have transcribed it for this article, so any typos are mine). A link to my response follows the letter.
Mr. Bob Phillips
16315 Dearborn
Stilwell, Kansas 66085
Re: Metcalf Autobody
Dear Mr. Phillips:
On May 22, 1998, information was posted on your NeighborhoodNet website under the headline: "AUTOBODY PAINTSHOP POLLUTANTS Material Safety Data Sheets Now Available". In this article, you stated several times that the Johnson County Environmental Department (JCED) is withholding information regarding the type and amount of chemicals being emitted from Metcalf Autobody's facility. Taken verbatim from your message: "Johnson County will not release the quantity of these pollutants being emitted". Additionally, on June 8, 1998, department staff received another e-mail message from your website. Within the various articles in the message was one concerning Metcalf Autobody. The message reads: "The list of toxic chemicals emitted by Metcalf Autobody are now available. Johnson County will not release amounts emitted. Earlier study implies concentrations not dangerous (study did not model these chemicals)."
I can assure you that this department is not withholding any information from your inquiries. These implications and statements posted in your e-mail messages and on your website are misleading and incorrect and furthermore can be very easily misconstrued if taken out of context and not fully clarified.
Department staff has spent considerable time and effort in providing you with the best information available on Metcalf Autobody and has provided you with all the information you ask for regarding the company. The manufacturer of the paint, Spies-Hecker, has patented certain chemical formulations for their paints and is legally entitled to list some ingredients as "proprietary" in order to protect their business. Spies-Hecker provided complete information for the paints upon our request. After the information was reviewed by JCED and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the information was returned to the manufacturer and no copies were made. As was stated earlier in a letter to you dated May 21, 1998, from this Department, Metcalf Autobody is legally exempt from reporting the amount of paints and solvents it has on-site as their usage is below reporting thresholds. Because the company is not required to report, the JCED does not have access to the information. If Metcalf Autobody were required to report the quantities stored at their site, the information would be made available to you. Also, please note that on-site storage does not necessarily equate to emissions.
I respectfully request that a correction be made to your website and e-mail messages to reflect this information. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Philip J. Wittek, Director
c: Douglas L. Smith, Development Services Director
Betsy Betros, Director, Pollution Control Division
Mike Boothe, Air Quality Program Manager
Environmental Department
Southlake Tech Center Bldg. #4
11180 Thompson Ave.
Lenexa, KS 66219
(913) 492-0402
Fax (913) 492-0142
See Response from Bob Phillips, NeighborhoodNet