Our Reply

This topic submitted by Sophia, Nathaniel, Jo, Kevin (gaynl@muohio.edu) on 4/3/03. Additions were last made on Thursday, April 3, 2003. Section: Cummins/Kaufman

There have been no changes to our research plan. What is stated in Draft 3 of our proposal is still true.

We have completed some preparation work for our study. We have been in contact with Jack Blount, Phillip Shriver, and Curt Ellison. While Jack Blount claimed to have no knowledge of the history of the plant, Phillip Shriver forwarded contact information for Lloyd Goggin, who was Vice President for Financial and Business Affairs for Miami at the time of WesternÕs acquisition. Also, we have scheduled an actual interview with former Western Dean and current Miami University history professor Curt Ellison. His knowledge of the history of this university, and particularly Western College, is quite extensive and will provide us with detailed information about the coal burning plant.

In the coming week, we plan to take water samples from Four Mile Creek and HarkerÕs Run. We will perform water tests on the samples, such as tests for nitrogen, sulfate, carbon, dissolved oxygen, and pH levels.

We can also interview employees of the coal burning plant to learn more about possible run off from the parking lot. Questions can include how often, if at all, the parking lot is swept/cleaned; what is done with the excess coal dust from the parking lot; and general questions about emissions and pollutants produced by the plant.

Interesting fact we have learned: the coal burning plant does not have an official name. It is simply referred to as Òthe steam plantÓ or Òthe coal burning plantÓ, even by people in the know.

Return to Main Article