Once again it appears our Mason County and Port of Shelton Commissioners are bound and determined to place Shelton prominently on the list of places people roll up their windows, turn on the air conditioning and drive as fast as possible through on the way to God's Country where they can breathe.
Mason County is already #39 of 39 Washington counties for poor human health. Way to go county commissioners Tim Sheldon, Ross Gallagher and Lynda Ring Erickson. What inspiring leadership, eh? Aiming low, shooting for the bottom! What fine examples of public service!
Not satisfied with the worst health in Washington State, they want to put us further in the hole by inviting Adage and their TONS of incinerator emissions into our county, adding another 380 tons of particulates under 10 microns to what we already breathe. What do we already breathe you ask? Well, let's ask ORCAA!
According to ORCAA's latest figures (from 2007? Keep up the fine work ORCAA) Olympic Panel emits 103 tons and Simpson emits 136 tons per year. Whoo hoo! If we get Adage we'll have 619 tons of total particulates per year in our air! Heck, that doesn't even count the 20,075 - 50 mile round trip truck loads of woody biomass fuel spewing "fugitive" pollution! My view of Mt. Olympus is already getting smoggy just imagining it. Golly, I'm all choked up. Better stay indoors kids....
Adage's 98 tons of the most dangerous under 2.5 micron particulate pollution will get us to #22 on the list. If we add Adage's 98 tons of sub 2.5 micron particulates to Olympic Panel's 23 tons and Simpson's 48 tons will total 169 tons! My heart is missing a beat just thinking of it, isn't yours? We're #22, we're #22!
Adage's 249.9 tons of carbon monoxide added to Simpson's 258 tons it's like getting TWO major source polluters! I'm getting short of breath just thinking about it!
If your eyes aren't watering yet (tears of joy or NOx?) Adage will add 240 tons of NOx to Simpson's 60 tons. Not counting any other source, that's 300 tons! Hey, pretty soon we will be competing with L.A.!
Isn't that wonderful? Readers, just look where we will be when we get 380 tons of under 10 micron particulates from Adage.
Adage alone will get us to #8 on the list of sucky places to live in Washington with polluted air.
I think the commissioners secretly have Centralia in their sights.
Why don't we all give them a call at 427-9670 ext. 419 and tell them what we think?
I know they are looking forward to your call.
Do those Simpson numbers include mill 5 or just the waterfront mill?
ReplyDeleteNice call! I accidently omitted Simpson Mill 5. Total particulates for mill 5 is 89 tons per year of which 38 toms is under 10 micron. Nothing listed for under 2.5, but I would guess that's because they don't burn anything at mill 5. Breathe deep, the gathering gloom....
ReplyDeleteAccording to this NEW study:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nature.com/jid/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/jid2010204a.html
PM 2.5 increases skin aging and spots
(thanks to Becky for finding this)