BRIAN J. MAST 2182 RAYBUHN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
18 WASHINGTON, DC 20515
TH ISTRICT, LORIDA (202) 225?3026

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION 171 SW FLAGLER AVENUE
STUART, FLORIDA 34994

?Kongresg of the 'dim?teb ?tates

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

3901152 of Representatihes
Washington, MI: 20515?0918

June 14, 2018

LTG Todd T. Semonite

Commanding General and Chief of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters
441 Street NW

Washington, DC. 20314

Dear Lieutenant General Semonite:

As you know, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently discharging nearly four billion
gallons of water per day to the east and west of Lake Okeechobee without regard for toxins in the
water or the health effects for every man, woman and child.

Our community cannot afford to continue being used as the septic tank for Lake Okeechobee.
Therefore, as I wrote in my letter dated June 7, 2018 to Assistant Secretary James, I urge you to
cease the discharges immediately until the water quality is deemed safe or an imminent threat to
life exists.

Like you, I was an Army soldier. We have worn the same uniform. I have to believe that we
share the common drive to protect life. But I would never sacrifice the health of an entire
community in the name of what might happen sometime in the future. Our ethos as warriors
says we never leave a fallen comrade behind, but right now you are leaving our community to
die.

If you think this is hyperbole, then I?m extending an open invitation to the leadership team at the
Army Corps to stand by your policy: come to Stuart, Florida for a swim in our increasingly toxic
water. If you feel the water is acceptable for our children to play in, for us to ?sh in and for our
endangered animals to live in, then it should be good enough for you to swim in also.

I appreciate your immediate attention and response to this life-threatening issue for our
community.

 
   
 

Sincerelyf?

Brian Mast
Member of Congress

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