Fraasch reads to commissioners UPDATED

Albert Turfstein has added another video. He writes:

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch goes through some of the hazards listed in the artificial turf MSDS sheets as well as uncovers the fact that the Zinc levels will be ABOVE state of California limits in contradiction to what Commissioner Linfante says. The "expert" in the room doesn't know how much zinc is in grass, doesn't know if flame retardants will be used and doesn't know if chemicals will be used to lessen static issues. Commissioner Silverman likens turf zinc to lozenges you might take for a cold. Really?

Watch Dave Bumfield. He is the only one who doesn't follow along while Kelly Fraasch reads the warnings from the MSDS data. He has never seen anything negative concerning artificial turf because he refuses!





Link to video: http://youtu.be/DWWSNKOJpZU

Updated November 6, 2014 9:30 AM Albert Turfstein has uploaded another video. In this video, Gateway's Dan Deiseroth discusses the non-issue of runoff. He also states that the NPDES permit will be in hand by Friday, July 11, 2014.

Note: With all the revisions to stormwater management required by the DEP, the NPDES permit was finally granted on October 16, 2014. No word from the commissioners on how many millions of dollars will be added to the cost of the project for these mandatory upgrades. Thank you to all of the public commenters, or else the ACCD would have not taken this seriously. The ACCD forwarded it to the DEP for review.




Link to video: http://youtu.be/aV3SOz878YI When the video is embedded into a blog posting, the actual views are not tallied on YouTube. The number listed on YouTube is always less than the actual amount of views of any video.

Hope to see you at the protest on Saturday!

UPDATE November 7, 2014 5:49 PM Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for artificial turf mentioned above

Notice

NOTICE

Anti-Artificial Turf Project Rally

Knowledgeable residents will speak on the issues of health, the environment, the decision process and the costs of this project to our community. 

When: Saturday, November 8, 10:00 AM, Rain or Shine 

Where:  Clearview Common in Uptown Mt. Lebanon 

Note:      Clearview Common is located at the corner of Washington Road and Alfred Street in the heart of Mt. Lebanon, just a few feet from the Denis Theatre. Garage parking is available. 

Please come to show your support, and bring other concerned residents along. Your participation does matter. Hope to see you there! 

Hope to see you!

From: Charlotte Stephenson
Date: November 5, 2014 3:25:30 AM EST
To: Charlotte Stephenson

Cc: Daniel Miller <repmiller@pahouse.net>, senatorsmith@pasenate.com, Congressman Murphy <murphy@mail.house.gov>, sue.means@alleghenycounty.us

Subject: Hope to see you!

Dear Fellow Resident, 

I am a Mt. Lebanon resident who does not believe that the decision of our Commission majority to install artificial hazardous waste tire crumb-based turf on the Middle and Wildcat Fields is the right decision for our community. I have communicated my concerns with the Commission at the meetings and asked them to respond to my written inquiries about the turf project. In spite of the health-related concerns, issues with the decision process involved and questions regarding the financial burden of this project in perpetuity that I have raised, their responses have been completely inadequate. What has your experience been? 

Until the final phase of the installation is complete there can be a change in direction if the public demand for an alternate solution is resoundingly clear. I recently requested that Representative Dan Miller, Senator Matt Smith and Congressman Tim Murphy engage in the dialogue regarding this matter. So far, I have heard from Dan Miller and Tim Murphy’s assistant. I have recently asked for assistance from Sue Means of the Allegheny County Council. 

Commissioner John Bendel will be the first pro-turf Commissioner to run for re-election in May. I understand that there are plans underway to install artificial turf in other community facilities. A turnover in Commission leadership at every possible election will be one step toward improved governance in OUR community. The dialogue between residents and agenda-driven Commissioners broke apart a long time ago on this matter. You see, this was a methodical exclusive process that grew legs once the right Commissioners were in place.  

On this coming Saturday, November 8 there will be an Anti-Artificial Turf Project Rally, a public demonstration regarding the Commission’s decision in this matter. Knowledgeable residents will speak on the issues of health, the environment, the decision process and the costs of this project to our community. 

When:            Saturday, November 8, 10:00 AM, Rain or Shine 

Where:           Clearview Common in Uptown Mt. Lebanon 

Note:               Clearview Common is located at the corner of Washington Road and Alfred Street in the heart of Mt. Lebanon, just a few feet from the Denis Theatre. Garage parking is available. 

Please come to show your support, and bring other concerned residents along. Your participation does matter. Hope to see you there! 

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO YOU THINK CARES ABOUT THIS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND! 

Sincerely, 

Charlotte Stephenson

Keep these in mind for Saturday UPDATED again

What a monumental task! Going through a list of Google Docs, I have tried to list significant documents obtained either through Right To Knows at various government levels or emails. I hope it is helpful for those attending Saturday's Anti-Turf Project Protest.

*November 19, 2013, Linfante announces to a turf supporter that it will pass with 3 votes
and again here 3 votes plus White going after Fraasch again

Nobody wants organic infill according to Deiseroth

Gateway donates to turf project

White mocks ESB and "diffuse Kelly F"

Linfante battles with Fraasch

Linfante/Hrabovsky and igniting/ignoring

Darren Gill, VP of FieldTurf contacts Elaine Gillen

Technical deficiencies, including proposed zinc treatment system, identified by the Allegheny County Conservation District

Franklin's research papers including 2009 Ridgewood Park, NJ study ---> April 2011 Ridgewood repairs turf after flooding  ---> August 2014 Ridgewood repairs artificial turf fields after costly flooding

Deiseroth requests infill with the least amount of lead

Franklin "rain on the organic parade"

Turf Project Task Force Presentation Spin Initial contributions and annual contributions

Deiseroth not billing us for his time spent fundraising

Addresses for April 24, 2014 "neighborhood meeting about the turf project"

McGill no Planning Board recommendation required for turf project

*Parks Advisory Board pushes back

* Environmental Sustainability Board's statement to the Commission concerning artificial turf and an audio montage of Linfante lying about the ESB's position on artificial turf

Fundraising updates, ESB reviews, Planning Board review - none occurred

McNitt "neutral third party to the project"

Bendel vetting McNitt

McNitt fee Not from Penn State, but from his own business

Morgans instructs McNitt - don't discuss potential harmful effects of artificial turf

ESB NOT cosponsoring McNitt presentation

McNitt's rehearsed answers for Q and A before presentation

Turf donation checks including $50,000 from Mt. Lebanon Baseball and $50,000 from Mt. Lebanon Soccer Gateway and other corporate donors are not identified by the Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment.

Silverman's economic plan

Deiseroth's future turf replacement cost estimate based on 108,000 sq. ft.

Evans misrepresenting himself to GeoTurf, Silverman contacted about hazardous materials in turf, Franklin berating Fraasch, Notes from initial Turf Project Task Force meeting

Application for NPDES Permit

Post Construction Stormwater Management Report

Department of Environmental Protection Responses and authorizing NPDES permit

Almanac Commissioners hear flooding and financial concerns

It never floods. Cedar Blvd. Closed due to Flooding

Fraasch on artificial turf

Update November 3, 2014 3:19 PM In addition to the videos that Albert Turfstein provided, please view the October 3, 2013 Sports Advisory Board Meeting. Click on Turf Project and watch Tim White say, "Mr. Bendel pissed away all the money we had."

*added at 9:51 PM 

Update November 4, 2014 12:56 PM The Sports Advisory Board Meeting Agenda is available here. Comments are limited to five minutes. They are allocating ten minutes for Citizen Comments.

Update November 7, 2014 5:43 PM The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the Middle and Wildcat Fields artificial turf project 

Anti-Artificial Turf Protest Planned for Saturday

Momentum is building. Word is getting out and many more Mt. Lebanon residents are questioning the use of artificial turf, not only from the health and safety aspect, but also the inappropriate use of taxpayers' tax dollars, and the lack of transparency within our local government and sports organizations. I have been asked to post the following details:

• Anti-Artificial Turf Project Protest 
• Saturday, November 8 10:00 AM 
• Clearview Common in Uptown Mt. Lebanon on Washington Road 
• Garage parking available 

The commissioners dug up this...

For this. High School Turf that is four years old.

Commissioner Brumfield on Artificial Turf

This is the one I was waiting for. Thank you, Mr. Turfstein. NBC should see this. Coach Amy Griffin should see this. Every parent in Mt. Lebanon needs to see this.

Link to YouTube video - Commissioner Brumfield on Artificial Turf 

Commissioner Linfante- Zinc is not harmful to humans

I received a link to a YouTube video from a man by the name of Albert Turfstein. It is a clip of Commission President Kristen Linfante claiming that zinc is not harmful to humans.

According to the CDC:

Taking too much zinc into the body through food, water, or dietary supplements can also affect health. The levels of zinc that produce adverse health effects are much higher than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for zinc of 11 mg/day for men and 8 mg/day for women. If large doses of zinc (10-15 times higher than the RDA) are taken by mouth even for a short time, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Ingesting high levels of zinc for several months may cause anemia, damage the pancreas, and decrease levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. 

Eating food containing very large amounts of zinc (1,000 times higher than the RDA) for several months caused many health effects in rats, mice, and ferrets, including anemia and injury to the pancreas and kidney. Rats that ate very large amounts of zinc became infertile. Rats that ate very large amounts of zinc after becoming pregnant had smaller babies. Putting low levels of certain zinc compounds, such as zinc acetate and zinc chloride, on the skin of rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice caused skin irritation. Skin irritation from exposure to these chemicals would probably occur in humans. EPA has determined that because of lack of information, zinc is not classifiable as to its human carcinogenicity.

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  4770 Buford Hwy NE
  Atlanta, GA 30341
• 800-CDC-INFO
  (800-232-4636)
  TTY: (888) 232-6348
• New Hours of Operation
  8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
  Closed Holidays
  Contact CDC-INFO

The commissioners have "done all the research." Artificial turf is safe. Zinc is not harmful to humans. The link to the video is above. Additionally, I am adding it to this post. Feel free to share with family and friends. Send it to government agencies. I hope it goes viral.

Mr. Turfstein, I am looking forward to a video of Dave Brumfield next. Thank you for sharing this.

Link to the YouTube video

There's talk of a massive protest

Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, Charlotte Stephenson asked me to post this email.

From: Charlotte Stephenson 

Date: October 29, 2014 3:35:05 PM EDT

To: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>, "Daniel S. Deiseroth" <ddeiseroth@gatewayengineers.com>, Daniel Miller <danielmillerpa@gmail.com>, senatorsmith@pasenate.com, Congressman Murphy <murphy@mail.house.gov>

Cc: Matthew Santoni <msantoni@tribweb.com>, Jon Delano <jon.delano@verizon.net>, tjohnson@thealmanac.net, agoldstein@post-gazette.com, nicholaslewandowski@gmail.com

Subject: Mt. Lebanon Community Governance and Artificial Turf Issue

Dear Mt. Lebanon Commissioners, Gateway Project Engineer Daniel Deiseroth, State Representative Miller, State Senator Smith and Congressman Murphy,

Please be advised that opposition to the initiative of the Mt. Lebanon Commission majority to install tire crumb-based artificial turf in our main park is growing daily. Our residents, myself included, believe that this project potentially jeopardizes the health and safety of our children, the residents living within close proximity to the park, and the watershed that involves other surrounding communities. In addition to the unknown long term impact this may have on small developing children due to the lack of studies, the economic impact of this plan will be crippling for generations to come. These are only a few of the salient problems associated with this plan, but there are others.

Why is it that we seem to have trouble finding $5,000.00 to maintain our Veterans Memorial in a respectable condition, (as a Veterans Committee member our recent discussion was about a need for fundraising to maintain this), while it is perfectly acceptable to the Commission majority to spend the lion's share of our unassigned fund balance (some $750,000.00+) to turn our beautiful historic grass park into a toxic waste dump?

There has been a deliberate effort on the part of the Mt. Lebanon Commission and Public Information Office to suppress public awareness of the concerns that expert environmental toxicologists dealing with risk assessment have regarding this product. Such information was withheld during a public "forum" about this, even though the forum was originally intended to make factual information available to our residents. References to the artificial turf project became a "field enhancement" project as an attempt to reduce the stigma associated with the project. There has also been a deliberate effort on the part of the Commission to keep several relevant volunteer boards and authorities out of the process, our Environmental Sustainability Board and our Parks Advisory Board to name a few.

I contacted Congressman Murphy regarding this issue and have not heard back yet. Representative Miller's position is that this is a local issue and so he will not take any position regarding this, however he contacted the DEP as a favor to Commissioner Brumfield regarding the permit application status. I would like to hear from Senator Smith regarding his stance on the project, especially since I have copied him on numerous e-mails.

All you elected officials cannot turn a blind eye to what is brewing among your constituents. There is now talk of a massive protest in the near future so this growing opposition is not going away. Additionally, a community watchdog group has formed to direct any potential legal claims to appropriate resources in the event that injuries or illness occur with the children or fetuses of the pregnant mothers who will be exposed to the turf toxins and hard surface. Please be advised that all eyes and ears will be on this for the time to come. The roll call vote for this project will personally legally target the Commissioners who voted for this.

There are other options to improve the park area so children can enjoy playing sports. It's is up to all of you to represent all of us to the best of your ability. It's time for you to devise a better solution for our community. I look forward to hearing from you as to what alternative action you are willing to take.

Thank You,

Charlotte M. Stephenson
Mt. Lebanon

Packed house tonight UPDATED

Since I missed the commission meetings tonight, I am counting on you all to send in comments and tell me all about it.

What I heard so far is that Kristen is unhappy because because sharpshooting is off the table. YAY! WPXI was at the meeting. I missed the 11:00 news on WPXI because I was watching WTAE. I couldn't watch the 6:00 news, but WTAE aired their story at 6.  If readers can find the reports online, please send them in.

I am really looking forward to watching the videos tomorrow. Until then, tell us what you know!

Update October 28, 2014 1:24 PM The videos for the two commission meetings are now available for viewing.
October 27, 2014 Commission Discussion Session
October 27, 2014 Commission Meeting

Update October 28, 2014 2:09 PM I want to share a voice mail that was left on my home phone on 09.10.13 from the Pittsburgh Food Bank. I had left a voice mail asking about the Food Bank's requirements for accepting deer meat (venison). Unfortunately, he thought I was considering making a private donation. Kristen, you were caught in another lie. Do you know what is the truth anymore, oh fearless leader? See the 41:18 time stamp of the commission meeting.

This counts as an incident? UPDATED

Our Public Information Office has removed the Deer Incident Report dated 7/31/14, which showed a decline in numbers from a year ago. It has been replaced by this report by the Mt. Lebanon Police:

https://lebotools.mtlebanon.org/dit/public_incident_report.php The report shows that there are a total of 701 incidents in this report. Incidents are entered into this system on a monthly basis.

I am listed as reporting a deer with a broken leg and its fawns on 8/20/14. I DID NOT REPORT THAT!!!!!!!!! What happened was, there was a guy from animal control in the upper parking lot of Rockwood Park. He said that he was looking for a deer with a broken leg. I said that she is a mom and gets around just fine. He confirmed that after he saw her. Mt. Lebanon is counting it as an incident!

Forgive me. I am bleary-eyed from reading and watching all the news about the turf rally, so I may have missed it, but where is the incident which our blood-thirsty dictator reported at a recent commission meeting? Kristen claimed to have had the police shoot and kill an injured "baby deer" right in front of her house on Roycroft. I'm not seeing it. Does she EVER tell the truth? While fact checking, please check to see how many deaths have occurred from deer/vehicular accidents. The totals are not listed.

Deer management is on the agenda for tonight's commission meeting. Kristen has listed $68,000 for deer "management." Deer is our biggest concern here in Mt. Lebanon. Not toxic turf. Not pedestrian safety. Deer.

Update October 27, 2014 3:46 PM I emailed the commission this post since I am unable to attend tonight's meeting.

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>

To: klinfante <klinfante@mtlebanon.org>; cmcdonough <cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org>; sfeller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 2:40 pm

Subject: Re: deer incident report

Kristen, you are missing the point of my email. I DID NOT REPORT ANYTHING to the police or anyone else in the municipality. Why is that on the report? How many other incidents have been fabricated by the municipality?

As far as the doe, I have no idea what happened to her. She may have burned her hoof on the hot, rubber pavers in Rockwood Park, for all I know. Perhaps your deer expert will shed some light tonight on the various ways a deer can injure itself.

Elaine Gillen


-----Original Message-----

From: Kristen Linfante <klinfante@mtlebanon.org>

To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; Coleman McDonough <cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org>; Stephen Feller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 2:26 pm

Subject: Re: deer incident report

How strange. I wonder how the deer's leg was broken. Perhaps it was a rough game of soccer in Rockwood Park. Surely it couldn't have been hit by a car.

With regards to the incident of the baby deer being shot in front of my house, I don't recall the exact date, but it was clearly before 2011 if it does not appear on this report.

All best regards,

Kristen Linfante
Commissioner, Ward 3

Kristen Linfante
Commissioner, Ward 3
(412)561-2790

Comm. Prez @KristenLinfante aghast others opp'd sharpshooters: "He's the expert & we're going against him...we're going w/ our imaginations"
— Matthew Santoni (@msantoni) October 27, 2014

Mt. Lebanon residents rally against artificial turf UPDATED

Mt. Lebanon residents rally against artificial turf

By Nick Lewandowski
For The Almanac
writer@thealmanac.net

Flanked by heavy construction equipment and mounds of earth, several dozen Mt. Lebanon residents gathered on Oct. 26 to rally against the installation of artificial turf at Middle and Wildcat fields, in the municipality’s main park. Members of the crowd displayed signs and punctuated speakers’ comments with enthusiastic rounds of applause.

Mt. Lebanon’s turf project has progressed quickly since its proposal in November 2013, despite vocal opposition from a number of residents. Opponents see artificial turf as a pet project of commissioners and sports groups, which are determined to complete it as quickly as possible despite significant cost and safety concerns.

“This process should have been open and inclusive,” resident Jeff Heiskell said. “The commission has ignored our concerns, and instead relied upon obscure studies from other countries and sales material from turf manufacturers for information. Our Public Information Office has assumed the role of spin doctor, referring to ‘field enhancements’ rather than ‘artificial turf.’”

Artificial turf of the type Mt. Lebanon is installing uses infill manufactured from recycled tires. The tire crumbs are known to contain toxic chemicals, including lead and black carbon. Turf manufacturers insist chemicals remain well within acceptable levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and that there are no studies proving a link between crumb rubber infill and diseases such as cancer.

The body of research on crumb rubber infill is fragmented and inconclusive, however. While there is no research proving crumb rubber causes cancer, there are no independent studies proving it is completely safe, either. Many studies feature limited samples sizes and differences in methodology that hamper comparability.

Most importantly, turf opponents say, there are no studies involving young children similar to those who will be playing on Mt. Lebanon’s fields. Young children are inherently vulnerable to chemical exposures due to their physiology.

A recent NBC News report added further fuel to the fire after noting a number of young soccer goalies playing on artificial turf have been diagnosed with blood cancers such as lymphoma. It sparked a call from New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone for an official study of artificial turf’s impact on athletes.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, the only Mt. Lebanon commissioner to vote against the turf project, echoed those concerns when she addressed the crowd. She accused the commission and municipal staff of moving forward without proper due diligence.

“I asked for a materials safety data sheet for both the turf bid we accepted, and for all the bids,” she said. “Ultimately our staff decided not to provide all the MSDS sheets because they didn’t feel it was relevant. I asked about flame retardants and static applications. When I asked questions, the response I received over and over was ‘I don’t know, I’m not a turf expert.’”

Fraasch said she asked for a roll call vote on the project so commissioners would have to “own” their decision. “I was not going to let them bully me into a yes vote,” she said, to an enthusiastic round of applause.

Fraasch urged rally attendees to get involved in the political process to shut the project down.

“Contact your county council person, your congressman. We need to stand firm on this issue as leaders, not followers. There is nothing wrong with saying ‘I might be wrong, let’s go back and make sure we’re right.’”

**************

I did a phone interview today for CBS Radio. Here is what we got from our Public Information Office.

From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>To: EGillen476 <EGillen476@aol.com>Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 1:03 pmSubject: LeboALERT: The Nov. issue of Mt... 

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. 

The Nov. issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine is available at www.lebomag.com. Read
about dog parks, Fire Department inspections, RED gifts & being a freshman.

Update October 27, 2014 5:15 PM My Lebo Citizens camera man sent me this video. Looks like they are having trouble digging down more than 6".

WTAE is at the fields. Story tonight at 11,

"Recede and Reseed" UPDATED

Gorgeous day for a rally. KDKA, WPXI, and WTAE cameras were there. The Post-Gazette and The Almanac had reporters present. I counted 75 people in attendance, including the two sports guys.

Thanks goes to the organizers, the speakers, ALL of the people who showed up, the media, and especially to the only commissioner who attended, Commissioner Kelly Fraasch.

Update October 27, 2014 7:09 AM Mt. Lebanon residents, commissioners dig into turf war

But David Brumfield, Mt. Lebanon Ward 4 commissioner, said the NBC report used anecdotal evidence from what some soccer players may have thought caused their cancer in place of actual scientific evidence. He also said that football players spend more time than anyone on turf, and there have been no complaints about the artificial turf used at the Mt. Lebanon High School football field. He said the artificial turf will increase the number of events and time of year the field can be used.

Update October 27, 2014 3:27 PM Lots of publicity! Thanks!

Not a little late; the municipality started a little early. They were supposed to wait three weeks after the permit was issued. The permit was issued on Thursday and construction started the following Monday.

Mt. Lebanon Parents Raise Health Concerns About Synthetic Turf

Report linking field surface to cancer elicits Mt. Lebanon protest UPDATED

Report linking field surface to cancer elicits Mt. Lebanon protest

Stephanie Strasburg | Trib Total Media

The grass on the baseball fields along Cedar Blvd. in Mount Lebanon is removed for the installation of artificial turf on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.

Report linking field surface to cancer elicits Mt. Lebanon protest

By Matthew Santoni
Google+ Staff Reporter
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, 10:25 p.m.Updated 30 minutes ago


Construction on Mt. Lebanon's controversial $1.05 million artificial turf project began Thursday, but residents concerned about possible health and environmental effects are not giving up.

Contractors started to tear up grass on a pair of overlapping baseball diamonds in Mt. Lebanon's Main Park soon after the state Department of Environmental Protection and Allegheny County Conservation District granted the municipality a storm water discharge permit.

Mt. Lebanon Manager Steve Feller said Massillon, Ohio-based Vasco Sports Contractors could finish the project before winter sets in, despite delays of more than two months from the planned Aug. 1 start date.

A residents' group known as Mt. Lebanon Advocates for Child Health has scheduled a protest at 11 a.m. Sunday in the park, and hopes to get the municipal commission to delay or change the project.

“I'm against the turf because of the health risks,” said resident Susy Tybl, who plans to attend the protest. “The materials... contain a lot of toxins, including known carcinogens. I just wish Mt. Lebanon would wait until more is known.”

An NBC News report this month highlighted more than 30 soccer players, mostly goalies, who contracted cancer after playing extensively on artificial turf, leading them to question whether there was a link.

The report highlighted the back and forth over the topic: Environmental groups point to toxins such as benzene, lead or zinc in ground-up tire rubber used to cushion and fill in fields, while turf advocates produce studies that say those materials are locked in or aren't released in high enough quantities to affect health.

“Now with the NBC news about goalies, I'm more convinced than ever that Lebo needs to hold off on artificial turf,” said resident Dean Spahr, who originally opposed the project because he preferred grass, but became more concerned about health questions.

Jeff Heiskell, who lives near the field, said he and his wife were reconsidering having children because of their proximity to the field and their worry over whether it could affect her pregnancy.

Commission President Kristen Linfante said she and the commission knew about the goalie issue, from prior news reports, before awarding the contract in July, but felt it was outweighed by studies that said turf was safe.

“Each of us did our due diligence, and the overwhelming evidence of safety has made us feel more than confident with the decision we've made,” she said, noting artificial turf is at the high school stadium and similar material is used in local playgrounds.

Proposals for the Main Park fields included an alternative, organic infill made from ground coconut shells and cork, but contractors' bids for that option came back too high.

Dave Franklin, a coach and member of the sports advisory board that pushed for the project, said the board made its recommendation to move ahead with turf based on “the totality of the circumstances.” The board compared studies, and weighed them against the desire to create a more durable field to squeeze in more playing time and whether other institutions were choosing turf or natural grass for their fields.

“I certainly respect (the opponents') position,” he said. “Parents weigh risks for their kids every day: I don't let my kids play on trampolines; I don't let my kids swim in a pool without a lifeguard.”

In approving the storm water permit, the DEP echoed the commission majority and the EPA when it wrote that studies couldn't conclusively point to health risks from turf, though the EPA and other state and federal agencies also have said more research was needed to draw broad conclusions.

DEP approval, spokesman John Poister said, was based on whether the application met the state's regulations for runoff, which it did after Gateway Engineers modified plans for the drainage system. No one had appealed DEP's decision to the state's environmental hearing board as of this week, he said.

“The whole process was very disappointing to me,” said Elaine Gillen, who runs the Lebo Citizens blog, and said she thought government agencies would “do the right thing.”

Matthew Santoni is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5625 or msantoni@tribweb.com.

Update October 25, 2014 11:27 AM Two additional and very disturbing articles were sent to me this morning.

Is Synthetic Turf Giving Athletes Cancer?

ARTIFICIAL TURF COULD BE CAUSING CANCER AMONG FORMER PHILLIES/MLB PLAYERS

ANOTHER NBC Nightly News Story on Artificial Turf

A followup story on NBC Nightly News tonight concerning artificial turf. High School Changes Plans for Artificial Turf Field

The school’s change of heart came after an NBC News investigation featuring University of Washington soccer coach Amy Griffin, who has compiled a list of 38 American soccer players -- 34 of them goalies -– who have been diagnosed with cancer, most commonly blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.

Both parents and players were concerned. Just like they are here. I received a note from a high school student today asking about the negative effects the artificial turf may have on the community.

I am going to include my response to the student here, which may help parents understand how we got to this point in Mt. Lebanon.

Hi XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting me. I am delighted that you are taking an interest in this topic. I know that high school students appreciate the truth and are willing to listen. I also know that high school students understand abuse of power.

What I would like to share with you are links to various resources and let you draw your own conclusions.

Since you emailed me, you must be know about my blog, lebocitizens.blogspot.com. I have linked documents and reports that illustrate the negative effects on the community.
CBS News: School replaces artificial turf over cancer concerns
Groups Giving Second Thoughts To Those Little Black Crumbs On Playing Fields

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/10/nightly-news-on-nbc-at-630-pm.html

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-plays-n220166

http://www.today.com/video/today/56202605 

Morning Joe on MSNBC

Forbes Magazine: Buyers Remorse Surfacing Over Artificial Turf Fields
VOTERS REJECT ARTIFICIAL TURF IN THREE STATES

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/09/commissioners-and-school-board-members.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/02/artificial-turf-fields-troubling.html

These are just some of the negative effects on the community. There is the lack of transparency on behalf of the municipality discussing these potentially harmful effects.

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/10/no-leboalert-because-it-is-political.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/10/kids-health-safety-fair-is-not-correct.html

The use of excess tax dollars to fund the project, without a referendum, and the abuse of power when commissioners email constituents saying that they have three votes and that it will pass. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9r_1biKte_bLUp0dHU0bTE5eUk/view?usp=sharing

Where a commissioner lied about the ESB's stand on artificial turf. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/03/mother-of-all-rtks.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/02/audio-montage-of-nov-25-and-feb-11.html

In the audio montage above, Recreation Director David Donnellan is heard saying that there is a representative from the Parks Advisory Board on the Sports Advisory Board. Dave Franklin, Parks Advisory Board liaison, shares his perspective here. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/03/appeasing-select-few.htmlIt wasn't until Mr. Franklin was absent from a meeting, when we learned about the Parks Advisory Board push back here. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/05/finally-board-pushes-back.html

Then there is the post which shows flooding on Cedar Blvd. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-dont-know-where-to-begin.html

and the video clip of the same from August. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/08/cedar-blvd-closed-due-to-flooding.html Notice how the first comment accuses me of lying.

Sadly, the school board directors will be putting in artificial turf on the high school's Rock Pile." http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/02/more-artificial-turf-coming-to-high.html and http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20141021/NEWS/141029978

Finally, XXXXXXX, there will be a rally on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM down at the fields. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2014/10/rally-for-lebo-kids-health_22.html  I would like to invite some students to SPEAK at the rally against the turf project, if they are interested in representing the student point of view. Someone will be. There is nothing more powerful than hearing from your point of view. I hope you can make it on Sunday. If you do, please introduce yourself to me. I would love to meet another citizen exercising his First Amendment rights.

Thank you for contacting me...

Elaine Gillen.

What Mt. Lebanon residents don't know is what the DEP shared with a concerned resident.  The new storm water plan will be more expensive. A lot more more expensive. Our commissioners have not disclosed that to us. Perhaps they never thought to ask. Or Gateway engineering forgot to tell them. 

Don't forget: 

"Rally for Lebo Kids' Health"
Sunday, October 26, 2014 11:00 AM
Middle and Wildcat Fields on Cedar Blvd.