State scientist responds to public criticism from agency bosses over well water safety

Now that state scientist has responded.

"Recent media stories and editorials have given support to the questionable and inconsistent scientific conclusions reached by toxicologist Ken Rudo and have created unnecessary fear and confusion among North Carolinians who are concerned about the safety of their drinking water," reads the letter signed by DEQ Assistant Secretary Tom Reeder and DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services Dr. Randall Williams.

"Dr. Rudo believes he has been personally and wrongfully impugned by state officials for the past week for his having the temerity to merely speak the truth," the statement, first reported by The Associated Press, read. "Being attacked by powerful state officials is unnerving enough; but it is particularly distressing when these personal attacks go to the heart of Dr. Rudo's most prized earthly possession: his integrity and are utterly false."

Rudo is being represented by J. Heydt Philbeck of Raleigh law firm Bailey & Dixon.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Reeder backed away from the letter's claim that Rudo "used his own threshold," noting that it was a creation of Rudo, DHHS and the health agency's epidemiology branch.

Rudo said in his statement that the hexavalent chromium threshold was far from subjective or his creation alone.

"In 2015, scientists and supervisory personnel reached this value as a consensus within the department. DEQ under Tom Reeder likewise reached this value as a consensus," Rudo's statement reads. "The value was utilized to protect public health of the residents adjacent to the coal ash ponds, as stated in the [Coal Ash Management Act] rule of 2014."

He also accused Rudo of being an "attention seeker" and lying under oath in a sworn deposition in which he was called to testify. The line echoes statements by the McCrory administration, including Chief of Staff Thomas Stith, who has attributed Rudo's statements to a political campaign by environmental groups to discredit the governor.

"Dr. Rudo wanted to apply this degree of health protection to all NC citizens' well water in 2015 and 2016, but the direction of the department (DHHS) was to abide by [the Coal Ash Management Act] to apply this protection to wells only near coal ash ponds," Rudo's statement reads.

DHHS spokeswoman Kate Murphy declined to respond to follow-up questions about the open letter Tuesday, saying the statement "stands as is."