Excerpt from:
Nippon’s temporary jumpstart on biomass project
without permit OK, city says
By Tom Callis
Nippon’s temporary jumpstart on biomass project
without permit OK, city says
By Tom Callis
PORT ANGELES — Nippon Paper Industries USA won’t be fined for breaking ground on its biomass energy project without a permit, and opponents of the project are calling foul.
The paper mill on Marine Drive at the beginning of Ediz Hook recently completed the foundation for a new truck dumper that will be used as part of its $71 million cogeneration project.
The construction work needed a permit, said Nathan West, city economic and community development director, and the mill’s management told the city it was unaware the requirement applied to the structure.
Multiple requests for comment to mill Manager Harold Norlund and Biomass Project Coordinator Gary Holmquist were not returned.
West said the city is not issuing any fines since Nippon has applied for a permit after being told of the violation and is not continuing construction of the structure, which would tilt a truck trailer to quickly dump woody biomass.
Shirley Nixon, an environmental law attorney and critic of the mill’s biomass energy project, said the city should enforce its building code and accused it of giving Nippon special treatment.
“It’s scoffing at the law,” said Nixon, of Port Angeles, on Wednesday.
“It’s scoffing at the entire environmental permit process.”
Nixon objected to the city not fining the mill during the public comment portion of the Port Angeles City Council’s Tuesday meeting.
Duff Badgley, a Seattle activist who runs No Biomass Burn, said in a written statement that Nippon should be fined and prosecuted.
“Its arrogance is amazing,” he wrote. “And the city’s complicity is despicable.”
Link to complete article:
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110818/news/308189990/nippon-8217-s-temporary-jumpstart-on-biomass-project-without-permit
SHELTON BLOG NOTE:
Below is Duff Badgley's statement quoted in this article
It is only arrogance from the perspective of the citizen.
ReplyDeleteFrom the perspective of our corporate masters, it is just business as usual.
And if we silly citizens are upset about it... well, too bad. The rules are enforced only in connection with the citizen, there is a different standard for corporate: It's all good.
Welcome to U$A 2011. There's a new sheriff in town, and the rules will only be enforced against the individual; not against business and industry.
It appears that it is no longer even necessary to "pretend" the citizen is on equal footing with polluting industry.
ReplyDeleteWhen the federal court judges are mostly George W. Bush appointees, and the Supreme Court says corporations are "people," what is the danger that any judge will ever rule in favor of the human-citizen over the industry-citizen again?