Ed, I believe their justification is the extent of the issue has been mis-reported and the number of people effected is much larger than the locals would admit too. You are correct that the issue was purely local, but the malfeasance involved is beginning to take on criminal proportions. Also the EPA got involved way too late when they supposedly have oversight of water systems. Another case of too late, too little from the government. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is local or federal when trying to kill off incompetent government, Flint started as small incompetency, and grew to big incompetency. My suspicion is they will find it all goes back to typical corrupt politics and deal making in the end.