FBI Joins Flint, Michigan Water Contamination Probe

Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit, said in an email that federal prosecutors in Michigan are "working with a multi-agency investigation team on the Flint water contamination matter, including the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the EPA's Office of Inspector General ... and the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division."

The city was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched its source of tap water from Detroit's system to the Flint River in April 2014.

The more corrosive water from the river leached more lead from the city pipes than Detroit water did.

Dave Murray, a spokesman for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, said the office "will cooperate fully with any authorities looking at what happened in Flint with the water. It's important to look at missteps at all three levels of government - local, state and federal - so such a crisis doesn't occur again."

Snyder has repeatedly apologized for the state's poor handling of the matter.

Last week, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette named a special prosecutor and investigator to look into possible crimes stemming from the matter.

The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on the Flint crisis on Wednesday and has invited the Environmental Protection Agency's acting deputy assistant administrator in its Office of Water to testify, along with an EPA researcher who raised concerns early about lead in the water.

Also testifying is Keith Creagh, the new director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The previous director resigned in December in the wake of a critical report about the water.

Also testifying is Darnell Early, the former Flint emergency manager. The Detroit Free Press reported he may decline to testify.

The EPA said in January that Susan Hedman, the head of its Midwest region was resigning, effective Feb. 1, over the water contamination crisis in Flint.

Hedman had played down a memo by an EPA employee that said tests showed high levels of lead in the city's water, telling Flint and Michigan administrators it was only a draft report.