03- PROPAGATION
Michael McCarthy wakes up to the faint smell of paint and two glaring beams of sunlight cutting through the window curtains. And a damn ringing alarm! Slamming the alarm off, Mike gets up and heads to the shower. Mark yawns as he stretches and gets out of the other bed. 6:31am reads the alarm clock next to Mike’s bed. Showering and getting dressed the two co-workers quickly pack their personal items and get ready to leave. Within another ten minutes they check out of the motel and head for the van. Mike opens his cell phone to call Laurie when he realizes she is already next to the van. “Wow. How long have you been waiting for us?” “About three minutes, give or take.” The three get into the van and head to the Miles farm, where they are to meet with the LA team according to the latest set of instructions received from Stockton. The report stated the designated meeting time to be 7:30am.
Arriving at 7:24, the team sees several other vans and vehicles with the familiar “USDA” corn stalk seal printed on them. Over a dozen people are already milling about, some in lab coats while others are in work trousers and jeans. Spotting Peter LaJoy, seemingly the most senior official from LA, the team get out of the van and walk over to him. LaJoy notices them and turns around, meeting them halfway. “Mr. LaJoy. Your people are here early. Any reason for this?” “Actually, yes we have a reason. The report you sent yesterday evening stated that the cause of the die-off could be anything from P-99 to isopropylamine salt. We are here to quarantine the area and make sure the rest of the environment doesn’t get affected by this, assuming this is the case. We can’t risk having isopropylamine or P-99 ending up in the water shed.” “How do you propose to quarantine the area? If small quantities are already in the watershed there is nothing you can do about it now.” “No. We are bringing in point-of-use water treatment systems as we speak. We are going to seal off all the waterways leading out of this area and we are going to be conducting rigorous examinations of the soil. Furthermore, there is something else for you three to do. You should report back to Stockton. Bring all of your samples to Stockton, and from their make sure they get to the Western FSIS Laboratory in Alameda.”
“What happens to the other sites that had worm die-offs in? The ones in Bakersfield, McFarland, Tehachapi? You intend to quarantine all of them?” “If we must, yes. Now don’t wait so long, get going! We need those samples to be analyzed at the FSIS labs.” LaJoy motions with his hand in a goodbye gesture, and leaves the three standing in his wake. “What now”, asks Laurie. “We get our samples to Alameda as quickly as possible”, replies Mike evenly. “FSIS is better equipped than we are for this kind of analysis.” Laurie, Mark, and Mike return to their van and head off back north on Interstate 90. Alameda is only 40 miles from Stockton, and Mike realizes that they are probably the easiest way for LaJoy to get samples back to the FSIS Western laboratory as quickly as possible. “So, we spend six hours yesterday getting down here, only to spend another six hours today climbing back up. After, of course, staying at a lousy motel”, remarks Mark to no one in particular, “This is going to be a memorable week.”
“Don’t fret over it too much. It was an adventure. Besides, we have free reign to stay at the FSIS lab and help them with their own analysis. It’ll be worth it. Then we head back home around six.” After an hour on the road Mike’s cell rings, prompting him to pick up the call. “Hello? Michael McCarthy.” “LaJoy here. Two additional things you should know. First, we have a worm ecology expert just as you wanted. Dr. Gonzalo Rodriguez, an expert from UCLA will be with us to examine the potential impact this will have on the environment. If need be, you can video-conference with him from Alameda or Stockton. Secondly, we have seven new cases of earthworm die-out around the Los Angeles area.” “Seven? That many?! Since when, and in what areas?” “They have been reported since five this morning, ranging from Palmdale, Oxnard, to Simi Valley. All located around the northern edge of the LA metro area.” “It seems that your quarantine that you set up wouldn’t be enough. I was right, LaJoy.” “If it is being caused by Groundup SuperPower, as you said in your earliest report, then anyone who uses it will have the phenomenon. I’ve already added my recommendation to yours that it be taken off the shelves immediately.” “Thanks for your support, Peter.” “No problem. I can admit when I’m wrong. Keep me updated.”
Laurie hears the last part of the conversation, adding her own thoughts as soon as Mike hangs up the phone. “Since when is LaJoy in charge of this operation?” “LaJoy is a Senior Inspector, as such he outranks any of us. He is fairly competent so far. However, if more residential zones experience the problem, I think he may find himself overstretched very quickly.” “He’ll be fine.” “Fine? If that’s the case, why does he still think that isopropylamine could have anything to do with this? Mark and myself found no evidence of any salt in the worms. The worms were lacking in moisture, which is a characteristic of salt. The salt reacts with excreted amino acids to release chlorides. The chloride turns into hydrochloric acid which kills the worm through acidity. In the process, the worm loses most of its moisture. But I haven’t seen any trace of hydrochloric acid or chloride, only of a lack of moisture. No isopropylamine traces were found on the worms themselves.” “So you don’t think isopropylamine has to do with this?” “It has nothing to do with it, and that’s in my latest report that I sent out last night. P-99? Maybe, but again I don’t think so.” Laurie leans back thoughtfully. “It has to be some other ingredient in SuperPower, a minor one, or something that we haven’t thought of yet.” “I agree with Laurie”, adds Mark from the driving wheel, “Whatever is causing the worms to die, we haven't found it yet. Maybe it's something entirely new.”
“Very interesting. Your hypothesis is, as always, very useful. What could it be then, if it's not salt, P-99, or some glyphosate combination?”, Mike thinks aloud. “Mike, we should wait until FSIS does their investigation. Then we’ll have another opinion, and more evidence", answers Laurie curtly. “Right.” Mike relents and lets Mark drive in peace without their chatter. Four hours later, Mike receives another call from Peter LaJoy, informing him that the number of sites has increased by another sixteen. “Sixteen? LaJoy, you can’t possibly quarantine every single site. How spread out are they? Unless, of course, you want to get FEMA involved, but no people are in danger because of this. We’re not dealing with a hurricane or flood here. Get the product SuperPower off the shelves right away!” “I am doing what I can, McCarthy. FSIS’s analysis will make a major impact on whether we recall or not. Then the decision is handled by the EPA, since we’re talking about a herbicide. Which is why I’m calling- to check on your whereabouts.” “We are about one hour away. We should be there at about 1:50-2:00pm approximately.” “Good. Call me when you get there.” Mike already knows that they are heading to Alameda at best possible speed, and that the only thing to do now is wait. At 1:54 they pull into building 2A of the FSIS Western laboratory in Alameda, California. Three of the staff are on-hand in front of the building waiting for the team to arrive. As soon as Mark shuts off the engine Laurie grabs the first container out of the cargo hold/lab, followed by Mark. The FSIS staff start taking containers after Mark. Mike picks up a container as well before entering the building.
Once the team drops off their cargo in the lab, they are led to a small corner office. A short, round man with thick glasses and a strong aroma of cologne enters the room introducing himself as Martin Phillis as he sits in the heavyset chair behind the desk. “You are Michael McCarthy, Laurie Weisman, and Mark McGregor. I just got off the phone with Mr. LaJoy, so you don’t have to worry about informing him that you’ve arrived. I read your results from Mr. LaJoy’s e-mail. We have already prepared tests for isopropylamine, P-99, and glyphosate. I assure you this is not caused by glyphosate, or it would have been obvious years ago. All of MalSanto’s Groundupuses glyphosate as a prime active ingredient. Worms are not affected.” “What do you suppose we are going to be doing here?”, Mike asks his shorter counterpart. “Well”, replies Phillis, “I
suggest you use our conference room that way”; pointing a finger, “you could send any information you have, conclusions on the matter, to LaJoy. I also suggest you get into video-conference with him.” “That’ll do just fine.” Laurie, Mark, and Mike leave Phillis’s office, retrieve their laptops from the van and settle with their effects in the conference room.
Plugging in the laptop, Mike immediately dials LaJoy in Los Angeles. Not surprisingly he responds immediately. “Good to hear from you McCarthy. I heard you reached FSIS on time. Good job. There’s good news and bad news.” “Why don’t we start with the good news?”, asks Mike wearily. “The good news- an emergency session of the Recall Committee for the USDA and the EPA is being held tomorrow morning.” “That’s great. Have they gone over all our reports yet?” “Yes they have. You’re still giving a speech summary to them.” "Could you say that again? . . .Me? Why me?” “Yes you. You know this material better than any of us. You’ve seen all the sites first hand. Just give a run-down of the material and what you know. You’ve already got airline tickets to DC this evening. Pack your bags. Your ticket information and itinerary should be in your e-mail.” “That’s the good news? So what’s the bad news?” “We have had over 45 other new locations report the same situation to us. All between northern LA and Bakersfield.” LaJoy paused, taking a moment to breathe. “Make sure the product recall for SuperPower is done by noon.” “I will. This is getting out of control.” “Certainly seems so.”, sighs LaJoy before he terminates the connection.
McCarthy opens his e-mails and sure enough, there is a ticket reservation code for United Airlines Flight 505 to DC later that day, along with an itinerary for his meeting with the Recall Committee and a hotel reservation. My week just keeps getting better. Laurie must have noticed him staring oddly at his computer because she inquires, “Anything wrong, Mike?” “Actually, yeah. I’m being sent to DC today.” “Really?! For what?” “Apparently I’m the one giving the presentation to the Recall Committee.” “Wow. Good luck. When do you get back?” “Ticket says tomorrow afternoon, but I have a feeling it could be longer.” Getting up, Mike goes over to Phillis’s office. “Dr. Phillis, Uhh, whenever you get those results, I need them ASAP. We have to leave for Stockton, and I have to be in Washington tomorrow.” “I’ll e-mail you everything. When do you need it by?” “8:00pm this evening.” “Should work. Take care.” “You too.” Mike packs his laptop and motions for Laurie and Mark to do the same. Within five minutes the trio is back on the road again returning to the Stockton office.
A forty-five minute ride gets the team into Stockton, allowing them to get into their cars and head home. McCarthy arrives at his house at 4:32, with the flight leaving at 7:00pm from San Francisco SFO International. Grabbing two suits, ties, extra shirts and underwear he packs his black trolley case as fast as he can manage. Taking two snack bars from the counter next the fridge, he rushes into his room to change. After changing into slightly more presentable clothing and applying more cologne, he grabs his suitcase and heads outside. Packing the bag in the trunk, Mike’s Honda Civic races out of his driveway at 4:58pm. At 6:03 he pulls into San Francisco airport’s parking lot. Racing through the hordes of passengers usually found at major airports, he presents his luggage, passes through security and head to his departure gate. Flight leaves at 7:00pm which means. . . five hours flight plus three thanks to time zones. . . Should arrive in DC at 4:00am!! I knew this was a bad idea. . . . Luckily the flight departs the gate on time and very soon is airborne.
After sleeping through the entire flight McCarthy is jolted out of a dreamy sleep by the captain’s landing announcement. The captain manages to make a relatively smooth landing into Washington Dulles airport, leaving McCarthy with the other passengers at the terminal in the middle of the dark night. While the passengers disembark in a slow disorganized bunch, McCarthy rushes through the terminal to baggage claim. After taking his bags he hails a taxi and is soon at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. Since the Recall Committee meeting is at 1:00pm, McCarthy decides to continue his nap until 9:30am. After the second nap of the –extended day- McCarthy wakes up, showers, dresses, picks up his business folder with the USDA analysis and conclusions and heads towards the EPA headquarters building on 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. Even though it is only a quick three block walk -perfect!, the streets are still full of the various government employees, congressional aides, analysts, executives, administrative staffers, waiters, cooks, bouncers, bodyguards, and lobbyists who work in the District of Columbia. The street resonates with political authority and a sense of direction as McCarthy strolls down the last block to the EPA building. Finally reaching the massive stone masonry of the headquarters, McCarthy walks up the stairwell and into the main hall.
After passing through a brief security checkpoint McCarthy asks for directions to the conference room. The guard sees him off to the conference room, where a technician turns on the lectern and gives McCarthy free reign to do as he likes. McCarthy takes out his USB which Laurie uploaded with all the files from the previous two days during the drive from Alameda to Stockton. McCarthy begins to review the reports from the worm-die out phenomenon documented within the past few days. The latest conclusion reports that an agent in MalSanto’s Groundup SuperPower is responsible for systematically wiping out earthworms on land sprayed with the herbicide. Peter LaJoy concurs, placing the blame particularly on isopropylamine salt-Glyphosate. McCarthy still disagreed with his position, citing that Glyphosate, while toxic, has been used in previous products without nearly as much detrimental effect as has the new Groundup SuperPower. He intends to bring the discrepancy of opinion to the table when the meeting begins.
He continues reading Laurie’s and Mark’s reports, along with Phillis’s report which was e-mailed to him yesterday. No significant traces of isopropylamine found in worm cavities or extremities. FSIS concludes that isopropylamine has nothing to do with the worm die-out, but that the worms died of internal temperature irregularities, lack of moisture, and veritable lack of immune system response. . . -what? Lack of immune system response? –to what?
The last report in the folder is from Gonzalo Rodriguez, outlining effects that SuperPower may have on local worm populations and local agriculture. McCarthy is given little more time to go over the reports as committee members slowly start to walk into the room to shake his hand before taking a seat at the conference table. Mike stations himself behind the lectern and begins putting his papers in order for his presentation. Checking his watch, it reads 12:53am just as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Janet Sczepanski, walks in. At 12:57am the second Cabinet-level official at the conference, Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Onassis, who also happens to be McCarthy’s top boss, steps through the door and takes a seat.
An aide closes the door at 1:03pm, and McCarthy takes the cue to begin. Seeing that he has his audience’s complete attention, McCarthy clears his throat. “Ladies and Gentlemen, these past several days we have seen some rather unusual events unfold in the state of California. According to the information that we have currently, we believe that this phenomenon began when Groundup SuperPower, the latest in the MalSanto Corporation’s line of Groundupherbicide products, hit the shelves and were bought by local consumers. Field research led by myself and others has so far determined that application of the herbicide SuperPower causes the majority, if not all the earthworms in the affected region to die out within a matter of hours. The herbicide is designed to kill unwanted or harmful plants through toxic chemicals but should have little to no effect on native species in the affected area. This of course, has not always been the case in the past and there have been documented cases of herbicides killing native organisms unintentionally through their application.”
“Research done by the USDA FSIS so far has concluded that glyphosate nor ispropylamine salt is responsible for causing the worm die-off. As of this moment, we do not have conclusive evidence as to the exact source of the toxicant. Over a hundred sit
es, as of 8:00am this morning, throughout southern California have already been identified as having been exposed and have lost over ninety-five percent of their earthworm populations within a matter of twenty four hours. Due to the virulent nature of this toxin many of the teams involved in this phenomenon strongly recommend that we remove Groundup SuperPower from the market until the cause of the earthworm die-out can be determined. Earthworms are overall very important in converting dead organic matter in the soil to humus, thus contributing to soil fertility. Earthworm castings are five times richer in nitrogen, seven times richer in phosphates, and eleven times richer in potash than the top six inches of average soil. Earthworms also keep the soil structure open by burrowing tunnels, allowing aeration and drainage to take place. All these characteristics make the earthworm an essential, if not invaluable, part of any garden or farm. By allowing this die-out to persist, many farmers in California and potentially the entire US may eventually suffer from an acute and severe shortage of earthworms in their soil, resulting in poor soil quality and subsequently poorer produce.”
“The fact is that”- Onassis interrupts McCarthy with a wave of his hand, “Dr. McCarthy. You stated that this toxin of yours has a virulent nature? Do you believe that it is caused by a virus, and not a chemical as you suggest?” McCarthy takes a breath, before answering his boss, “It is a possibility, sir. Again, we simply haven’t conducted enough tests yet to make a reasonable assessment. Most of the research done so far has been on-site with minimal equipment and time. We do know that so far every area that has had its worm populations die off was treated with Groundup SuperPower prior to having the worms die out. Right now all the evidence would suggest that some miniscule inactive ingredient in Groundup SuperPower is causing the worm populations to implode.” “Thank you, Dr. McCarthy. Please continue.” “Farmers who expose their crops to the element in question will be inviting catastrophe upon their earthworm populations. It is projected by worm ecologists that affected farmers will need several weeks to regain the lost populations in the areas around Bakersfield, California. This could caused a lower quality of crops to be produced, meaning lower sales on the markets and subsequently lower income for the farmers involved.”
“In conclusion, it is the opinion of the USDA research team at FSIS and LA that the herbicide Groundup SuperPower be immediately recalled and its products removed from markets until a full inspection can be facilitated and their safety can be fully realized.” McCarthy waited for a moment before the directors and agency chief broke the silence and started to debate amongst themselves what the next course of action should do. McCarthy silently hoped that they would heed his recommendation and those of the research teams, but he also realized that some of the people present at the committee meeting had many ties to companies such as MalSanto and Dupont and would be reluctant to take actions that would put those companies’ products in jeopardy. Mike takes the opportunity to take a seat at the end of the conference table and sip a glass of water. Sczepanski catches Mike’s eye and asks him, “Dr. McCarthy, how badly do you think Groundup SuperPower can damage farmers across the country in one week?” “Mrs. Sczepanski, I can’t say for sure.” Smiling at the evasion, she interrupts him. “Dr. McCarthy, you are used to working with farm-related chemicals and procedures. Give it an estimate.” “Taking into account the damage this toxin has done in 2 days, coupled with the number of farms already affected, I would say that we could potentially be looking at billions of dollars in damage if it remains in farmers’ hands for over two week. Who knows how many sites and how many earthworm populations will be lost. We may be able to see thousands of farms needing months to recover.” “Thank you Dr. McCarthy”, she replies as she turns away to speak with the other committee members. The rest of the committee is bogged down in intense debate between the members, some arguing for immediate recall while others are in favor of waiting for more research before taking any action.
Finally after two minutes of increasingly loud debate, Onassis slams his hand down on the conference table bringing the discussion to a sudden, deafening halt. The room quiets down immediately. “We are going to be issuing a recall of product number AG765892. Groundup SuperPower is to be recalled from the market effective immediately and an investigation will commence regarding MalSanto Corporation’s research and development of this product. That is all, ladies and gentlemen.” A stunned silence ensues in the room, only to be broken by a committee member getting up and leaving the room. The rest of the committee start to leave their seats and trickle out of the room as well, while McCarthy smiles inwardly to himself as he places his speech papers back into his briefcase. Onassis’ aide is furiously typing on her Netbook as Onassis gathers his notes. McCarthy nods to Onassis as he gathers his briefcase and heads to the exit. “McCarthy, a moment.” McCarthy stops, spins and approaches his boss of bosses. “Good speech. You’d make an decent addition here if you’d work in Washington.” Not knowing how to respond, McCarthy replies with the obvious. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know what to say.” “Say nothing, then. I know that you’re interested in returning to California, but you’ve got one last assignment here and then I promise you’re going back.” “What is that, sir?” “You’re coming with me and my team to look over MalSanto’s research and development of SuperPower. They better have a good explanation for this barely-averted fiasco.” McCarthy sensed that he was in a unbreakable glass box, but he tried to break it anyway. “Sir, I don’t know, my ticket says a return this afternoon,” “A return to work!”, exclaims Onassis jovially, patting McCarthy on the shoulder in a stereotypical boss-to-employee manner. “It’s no big deal. You were there, you know this better than any of us here. You’re going.”
Having nothing else to say, McCarthy reluctantly offers a “Thank you, sir”, as he shakes Onassis’s hand and leaves the room. “We will be meeting in the Main Hall in one hour”, calls out Onassis to the departing McCarthy who is already halfway out the door. McCarthy uses the restrooms and heads to the bottom floor Main Hall where a clerk gestured for him to come over. After leading McCarthy through a side hallway they enter a large room full of cubicles, computers, and assorted equipment. The Clerk types something on one computer and prints several sheets of paper. He then turns to McCarthy and hands him yet another set of airline tickets. Darn, just what I need today. More plane trips.
Trying not to let his body’s weariness and disappointment show on his face, McCarthy gives the clerk a smile as he takes the documents. On the paper ticket it reads: United Airlines Flight 709- Washington IAD–St. Louis STL. Behind the first ticket was an item that gave McCarthy a smile- another ticket for Saturday with the destination being San Francisco, California! I’m only going to stay in St. Louis for two days! That might even make this trip more enjoyable! The only downside is that Stefanie will have to be called and told that Jake will have to stay at her house for the weekend. Hmmm, she’s not going to like that very much. Deciding to call his ex-wife from the airport, McCarthy heads outside the EPA building to find some lunch to eat. Going through the throngs of the equally-hungry lunchtime crowd on the street, he finds a Subway using his Iphone. McCarthy enters, orders an Italian sandwich with no onions and tries to enjoy the fifteen minutes spent eating it. After wrapping up lunch, he heads back to the EPA headquarters and sits on one of the waiting benches. Soon a crowd of a about half a dozen well-dressed people congregates near him. Figuring that this is the team going to St. Louis, McCarthy grabs his briefcase and heads over to join them. In five minutes he is proven correct when Stephen Onassis joins the group, and a limousine shows up outside. The EPA leadership and McCarthy pile into the long, black car with tainted windows as it pulls off the curve taking them on their trip to St. Louis.
Extinction Level Event Page 7
