Permit me to add a personal story to my post #11. Perhaps it will give you a better idea of where I’m coming from.
Years ago my uncle wanted to buy a large piece of property. He wanted to build houses on it. But there were two problems. The area was not zoned residential. And a coal mine fire had occurred under the property.
My uncle paid for a test, and the test suggested that coal mine fire was out. So my uncle went before the town council, presented the test, and asked that the property be rezoned as residential. Sure, the town council said. But that will cost you $10,000 per council member. (They didn’t care about the coal mine fire, one way or the other.)
My uncle refused. But suppose he agreed, and paid the money. And suppose that later a coal mine fire ruined those houses. Would the town council want to see the evidence come out , or would they prefer that it be suppressed?
That’s all I’m saying here. Don’t ignore the possibility of a cover-up.
Sounds like Centralia, PA.