To the editor:

The Oct. 19 article by Jennifer Solis, "Residents fear dump will poison water supply," shows the folly of depending on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to protect Newburyport residents from future problems with the now infamous landfill on Crow Lane.

According to the story, the DEP stood by for years as the Town of West Newbury failed to maintain the capped landfill. Vents are now shifting, vegetation has been allowed to impede access for inspection and maintenance, and monitoring has not been carried out. Residents fear contamination of their drinking water; one of them describes the DEP's attitude as "cavalier indifference."

Meanwhile in Newburyport, many officials naively take comfort from the DEP's presence at the Crow Lane landfill while residents near the landfill know that all is not well. Hydrogen sulfide gas continues to seep into their homes, preventing their children from sleeping and causing numerous physical symptoms. As in West Newbury, the DEP does virtually nothing to solve the problem, although it sends agents during working hours to measure the hydrogen sulfide levels, apparently to keep up the appearance of activity.

The DEP has proven time and time again that it will not or cannot effectively manage these operations. Newburyport needs its own plan for dealing with present and future problems at the Crow Lane landfill.

Bruce Vogel

Newburyport