COME TO THE ORCAA PUBLIC HEARING!

HEAR YE HEAR YE

Citizens of Shelton, fellow air-breathers,

come to the ORCAA public hearing
to have your concerns heard!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Katherine Price Mason County Progressive

ORCAA has granted us the opportunity to come comment on Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at 5:00 p.m., on the proposed FIVE YEAR renewal of the Simpson Timber Company Air Operating Permit.

As an existing industry that already employs dozens of local citizens, Simpson certainly holds a different place in our community than an out-of-town business with no roots here. Further, the Simpson facility does not normally burn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Therefore, opposition to the Simpson plant is not as fierce.

Rather than seek to make Simpson leave town, thus reducing it's pollution impact to zero, we must find a way to work with Simpson. A way forward needs to be found where Simpson can continue its operations, and can continue providing living-wage jobs for some of our citizens, while seeking ways to minimize the negative, polluting effects Simpson's operations have on our community.

I hope by now, many of our air-breathers have had a chance to review the Air Operating Permit and the Technical Support Document in connection with the proposed five year renewal of Simpson's permit to burn in the harbor. If you have not had a chance, these documents can be reviewed online at ORCAA's website.

This hearing is an opportunity for our community to once again show ORCAA, and industry, that we are watching what happens in our town and in our county, and that we will continue to monitor polluting industries and the agencies who permit their polluting activities.

Please join me on Tuesday, September 27, at 5:00 p.m. in the Civic Center, to show ORCAA and Simpson that the citizens of Shelton and Mason County care about our air. Let's show ORCAA that we also care deeply about the health of our citizens. Especially our young and elderly who are the most susceptible to the illnesses that result from exposure to the small particulate matter which is a byproduct of burning wood (which particulate matter is too small to be trapped by the filtering system at Simpson).

If you previously testified at the ADAGE hearing held by ORCAA, PLEASE come testify again at this hearing. The science and the medicine of exposure to the 2.5 particulate matter does not change from Johns Prairie to the Shelton Harbor. ORCAA got a pass on responding to our six hours of comments and questions from the last hearing because of the withdrawal of the
ADAGE project.

I very much hope to see our air-breathing community out in force on the 27th, and speaking out for minimizing, wherever possible, the effects of pollution on our families and friends.

Keep it light,

SHELTON BLOG NOTE:

SIMPSON AOP RENEWAL
ORCAA PUBLIC HEARING

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

at

5:00 PM

at

Shelton Civic Center
525 West Cota Street
Shelton, WA 98584

COMMENTS ACCEPTED UP TO CLOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Link to Simpson permit documents on ORCAA website:
http://www.orcaa.org/public-involvement/draft-air-operating-permits/#simpson