Do No Harm!October 6, 2010
Fran McNair. Executive Director
ORCAA
2940 B Limited Lane NW
Olympia, WA 98592
Subject: Moratorium on Biomass Incineration
Dear Ms. McNair,
Today, once again, citizens from Mason, Thurston, Jefferson and Clallam Counties have gathered here at the ORCAA offices to demonstrate our concern for the well being of our families, friends, towns, state and in fact, the entire planet.
The role of ORCAA should be to protect the people who reside in the Northwest from environmental degradation. This degradation is primarily a product of those industries that use technology and processes that are inherently toxic and polluting. Specifically, we are here today to protest the unconstrained expansion of biomass incineration as a means of energy production.
The release of millions of tons per year of CO2 from just one biomass incinerator is a direct assault on the biosphere of this planet. We are in an environmental crisis situation, and do not have the luxury of waiting decades or more for the released CO2 to be reabsorbed by the growth of new trees. With many incinerators planned for Washington alone, this giant release of CO2 will contribute to the global warming crisis and accelerate it.
ORCAA should not cause harm. The promotion of biomass energy production schemes is detrimental to the planet and its inhabitants. While accelerating global warming, biomass incineration will expose all of us to greatly increased amounts of 2.5µm, or smaller, particulate matter (PM2.5), and other toxins, which will shorten our lifespans by increasing respiratory diseases, heart diseases, and all manner of pathologies. Children and the elderly will be affected the most. Our children, who will have to live through the coming environmental crisis, will be doubly affected. ORCAA should be promoting solar and wind energy.
In Mason County, the town of Shelton is facing the possibility of having three biomass incinerators in operation. Shelton is a small city with less than 10,000 people. How can this be considered acceptable?
ORCAA’s stated mission and vision is:
Mission: We promote air quality and take actions that protect the health and welfare of people and the natural environment in ORCAA’s jurisdiction (Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties).
Vision: All individuals in ORCAA’s jurisdiction especially children and the elderly-can live, work, and play in a healthful and clean environment, free from the harmful and destructive effects of air pollution.
If ORCAA approves the new permits, it will be clear that the stated mission and vision of the EPA and ORCAA are a disgraceful sham. Both the Adage and Simpson incinerators are solely for the purpose of extracting profit at the expense of many thousands of people who will never benefit in any way. This holds true for the incinerators in Clallam, Jefferson, Thurston Counties as well. All of this is for the sake of corporate profit and we, the people, will be paying for it with our lives, health, and happiness for years.
Again, we demand that a moratorium be placed on biomass incinerator permits to allow time for new medical research results, and the claims of carbon neutrality to be examined in open, public hearings, and scientific debate. The future of green energy production cannot be in the hands of the unrestrained, environmentally destructive, biomass incineration proponents.
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens of Mason, Thurston, Jefferson and Clallam Counties
Contact:
John Cox and Christine Armond
sheltonblog@gmail.com
www.masoncountyprogressive.net
Photo by Erik Soper, age 16
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