By Lori McCraney Suwannee Democrat Live Oak — I am writing with regard to the proposed hospital, medical, infectious waste incinerator facility at the catalyst site in Suwannee County. Integrated Waste Management Systems (IWMS) says it will build the facility in compliance with the EPA’s new guidelines for reducing toxic pollution. But, the company has no experience in building and operating such a facility, which will be the first of its kind. The scale of this facility will be massive, burning up to 60,000 pounds of medical waste per incinerator, per day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company is seeking to build and operate up to four incinerators. Several tons of toxic fly ash will be produced daily and stored in silos at the facility until shipped to unspecified dumps. The facility will consume thousands upon thousands of gallons of water per day provided from catalyst site wells and paid for by taxpayers. This facility will run at full capacity for decades to come. The new EPA guidelines are aimed at minimizing emissions and therefore risks, but toxic pollution will still be entering the air in Suwannee County. According to the EPA, the emissions will include acid gases such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride, as well as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, cadmium, lead, mercury, dioxins, furans, and particulate matter. If this facility is built, these pollutants will enter the atmosphere continuously for decades to come. Some of these toxins will settle on the land and crops, and into the Suwannee River, its springs and tributaries. The Florida Medical Association has issued Resolution 08-21, discouraging the construction of new incinerators due to their health risks. Incinerators are dioxin factories. Dioxins are among the most toxic substances known to humanity. The EPA has concluded there appears to be no "safe" level of dioxin exposure. Dioxins are persistent in the environment for decades. Dioxins accumulate in fatty tissue and concentrate in dairy products, eggs, meat and fish. Humans, especially nursing infants, are particularly subject to contamination. Concerned residents are justifiably worried about the health risks associated with the proposed Suwannee incinerator. I respectfully request that the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners address these questions from concerned residents: The long-embattled EPA is at risk of being defunded and stripped of its regulatory powers. The state has replaced many of the DEP’s career professionals with managers from industries that it is tasked to regulate. Florida’s Water Management Districts have been marginalized. How can the Board assure the public that these regulators will protect the interests of the community, agriculture, and the environment? During prolonged droughts, residential and agricultural wells in the area are subject to going dry. How will the Board prevent IWMS and other large water users at the catalyst site from worsening an already serious water supply problem? Who will assume legal responsibility for dry and/or contaminated wells? Has any study been considered that would examine the long-term effects of the continuous release of even small amounts of acid gases, greenhouse gases, and toxins on the water quality and ecosystems of the Suwannee River, on surrounding agricultural lands, and on the health of local residents, especially children? Are the EPA’s new limits well-tested? Can you reassure the public with any degree of confidence that public health and environmental problems will never arise from this facility, especially given the Florida Medical Association’s expressed concern? On Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, a medical waste incinerator in North Salt Lake, Utah, malfunctioned and spewed toxic black smoke into the community. This illustrates that safety systems can malfunction. Human error and negligence can cause accidents. Does Suwannee County have a sufficiently equipped and trained HAZMAT team to respond to such an emergency? Where would the funds for a HAZMAT cleanup come from? In the event that IWMS finds compliance with future revisions to EPA and FDER regulations to be cost-prohibitive and simply paying fines cheaper, how can the company be forced to comply with safety standards or to correct violations? Would IWMS be required to obtain a performance bond to protect the county and local residents from economic harm in the event that IWMS sells the plant, files for bankruptcy, or fails to comply with EPA and FDEP regulations? Who would then be forced to clean up the site? Medical waste will be trucked in. How will the county pay for repairing roads damaged by heavy trucks? How will increased traffic congestion be addressed? What assurances can the Board give that a traffic accident would not result in a release of infectious and/or radioactive medical waste into the community? Is IWMS’ promise of 60 to 100 jobs worth all these risks? Has the Board considered emphasizing green technologies and businesses that are most compatible with the Suwannee River’s designation as a Wild and Scenic River — a national treasure — and its eco-tourism opportunities? How will the board preserve the pastoral and small town lifestyle our residents enjoy? On July 16, 2013, the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to allow companies to locate at the catalyst site “by right” without having to come before the board in a public hearing. This action appears to violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the state public meetings laws. Because of this action, the public is left with no opportunity for input in this critical matter. Companies can purchase catalyst properties from the Jacksonville bank that owns them, bypassing the Board and the public. How then does the Board propose to screen candidate businesses? Will the Board consider voting to reverse its decision to waive the requirement for a public hearing before allowing companies to locate at the catalyst site? Will the Board consider putting the issue of allowing a medical waste incinerator in the county before the public for a referendum?With all these factors in mind, I and other concerned residents have very serious misgivings about the wisdom of bringing such a polluting industry to our community. Please explain how these concerns will be addressed. - See more at: suwanneedemocrat/letter-to-the-editor/x1836127055/Guest-commentary-An-open-letter-to-the-Suwannee-County-Board-of-County-Commissioners#sthash.nW11gjPW.dpuf
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 18:28:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015