1-1 The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, August 3, 1982-Page 3 13 state wells contaminated agency says LANSING (UPI) - Municipal wells in 13 Michigan cities are contaminated with suspected cancer-causing chemicals, but most of the affected water supplies have been removed from use, the state Public Health Department said yesterday. A series of water samples taken since December showed traces of such suspected carcinogens as per- chloroethylene and trichloroethylene - cleaning solvents and degreasers used by dry cleaning firms and other in- dustries - in cities throughout the Lower Peninsula. "I wouldn't call it a disaster, each of the cities has been able to deal with it," said a state Department of Natural Resources official. STATE PUBLIC Health Director Bailur walker said he is concerned about the contamination problems as he is "any time there is the potential" for public exposure. "In most cases the contaminated wells have been taken off line and the rest of the system is still safe," state Natural Resources Director Howard Tanner said. Cities found to have contamination problems are Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Montague, Whitehall, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Albion, Jackson, Clare, Plainwell, White Cloud, Lansing and Sturgis. CONTAMINATION levels of the chemicals ranged from just a trace to a high of 150 parts per billin of per- chloroethylene in Kalamazoo. That well was taken out of use immediately after the test. The problem in Battle Creek is con- sidered the most severe. Seventeen of the city's 30 wells are contaminated and have been removed from service. Those still in use are in danger of becoming contaminated. In Petoskey and Charlevoix, where only a single well supplies the com- munity with water, city officials may be forced to find a new water source. The levels of chemical exposure are not considered a serious hazard, said Jim Cleland of the health department's water supply division. Since December, the state has tested 235 municipal wells in 103 communities, including 16in the Upper Peninsula. State officials hope to complete testing by the end of the year on a second group of wells in 209 com- munities, including wells serving 50 mobile home parks. Daily Photo by DOUG McMAHON Leafy lunch Norton Fogel, of the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department, gives this 4th Ave. treea healthy dose of water and fertilizer yesterday. Ferency pushes for state action By BILL SPINDLE State government leaders, not the private sector, must assume respon- sibility for planning Michigan's economic future, Democratic primary gubernatorial candidate Zolton Feren- cy said last night. Appearing before a group of suppor- ters at the Michigan League, Ferency said that industries have failed to work in the state's best interest. "THOSE WHO have the economic power are not planning for the economic recovery for Michigan," he said. "It falls to someone else to devise the economic plan." Speaking just one week before the primary election, Ferency claimed that he is one of three candidates capable of winning the seven-man race for the Democratic nomination. Ferency said that only ,he, frontrun- ner James Blanchard, and William Fit- zgerald have a chance at winning the primary. During the speech, Ferency outlined his plan for boosting the state's economy and reducing unemployment, which he called the overriding issues of the campaign. Ferency's plan includes heavy reliance on the state's fresh water resources, more emphasis on forestry products, expansion of the tourist trade, and improvement of mass tran- sit systems. "Flight of capital" from the state is also a major concern, Ferency said. "Those who have money are not in- vesting it in Michigan because it's not profitable to invest here," he said. His plan would attract "small economic enterprise" back to the state by diversifying industry, Ferency ad- ded. Although the state must restore the level of support to education, Ferency said, "the quickest form of relief is the federal government." To get that support, Ferency said he would urge senators and governors to pressure Washington for more education appropriations. Ferency also charged, however, that the state's colleges could cut back on administrators to save money. "I think (higher education) is very top-heavy on administration," he said, referring to administrators as "pencil pushers" and "paper shufflers." Ferency advocated using a state education board, which is provided for under the state constitution but seldom used to guide higher education, to bet- ter coordinate the educational assets and eliminate some of the program overlap in state institutions. t erencv ... industry needs guidance State offiejals begin probe of worker deaths at auto plant LANSING (UPI)- State officials began an in- vestigation yesterday into the deaths of two workers who were overcome by toxic fumes from a sludge tank at Fisher Body's paint division. Three other workers were hospitalized and several more were treated at the Fisher Body infirmary, plant officials said yesterday. The accident occurred during the overnight shift when only a skeleton staff was on duty. Dead at the scene were.Richard Claeys, 35, of Grand Ledge, and Robert Ward, 33, a foreman from Lansing. Claeys' co-worker, Roger Tackett, 27, of Lansing. was taken to St. Lawrence Hospital wherehe was listed in serious condition.- MIKE HUDSON, 35, of Leslie, and Jerry Pen nington of Lyons, also were hospitalized for less serious injuries, officials said. Lansing fire officials identified the chemicals in- volved as trichloroethylene and per-chloroethylene, two grease-cutting solvents that can be absorbed through the skin and react with the central nervous system. Michigan State University toxicologist Jerry Hook said the solvents can act like "chloroform or other anesthesia." They begin acting immediately on the nervous system, he said. Plant officials said Claeys and Tackett were draining sludge from the pit, which contains excess paint from the auto body painting area when the ac- cident occurred between midnight andia.m. An unidentified man who first saw'that Tackett and Claeys were in trouble tried but failed to get them out.