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Printed with permission from
Kari Sleight, Publisher, Frontiersman, November 3, 2004.
Frontiersman (Alaska) Oct. 13, 1984
Toxic Waste Becomes Product for Two Bits
By Valerie Meehan
WASILLA – One hundred pounds of slightly soggy fluoride were sold to the city
of Palmer this week by the city of Wasilla. The price? 25 cents.
Wasilla originally wanted to give away the fluoride, since it is not putting it in its
water anymore. But a state official told the city if the chemical was not sold, it
could be classified as a hazardous waste by the federal government. To forestall
that possible complication, city officials charged Palmer a quarter. The chemical
was transported to its new home Thursday.
Department of Environmental Conservation field officer Joe LeBeau said
Thursday that according to federal regulations: “If Wasilla gives it away and then
Palmer doesn't use it it's a hazardous waste.”
“If they sell it, it's a product. If they give it away, it's a hazardous waste,” LeBeau said. [emphasis added]
Wasilla city officials stopped fluoridating city water Wednesday, following a 6-1
city council decision Tuesday Night. City Councilwoman Pat Hjellen was the
dissenting vote.
In an advisory ballot Oct. 2, Wasilla voters vetoed fluoridation 261-250. Also at
Tuesday's meeting, the council voted to put the issue of fluoridation before the
voters next October.
Copyright, Frontiersman (Alaska) Oct. 13, 1984. All rights reserved.
Printed with permission from
Kari Sleight, Publisher, Frontiersman, November 3, 2004.
