ADAGE PERMIT COMMENT PERIOD ENDS 1/31

ORCAA’S 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).

ORCAA’S 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.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency
2940 B Limited Lane NW
Olympia, WA 98502

Re: ADAGE Mason LLC proposed biomass power plant

Thank you for providing me with a copy of the Public Notice dated December 21, 2010, in connection with the ADAGE application. I have gone online, downloaded and printed your lengthy document recommending approval.

While I have not yet had the opportunity to review the document in its entirety, I make the following comments, and will supplement them with later correspondence.

First, I would like to comment on language in your Public Notice that causes me significant concern:

ORCAA has assessed air quality implications of ADAGE’s proposal and concluded that compliance with applicable air regulations and standards "will likely be maintained". On this basis, ORCAA Staff’s recommendation is to conditionally approve ADAGE’s NOC application.

“Will likely be maintained", is not very comforting to those of us who live and work in Shelton. Would it not be better to err on the side of the health of the citizens and approve only if there is some confidence that applicable air regulations and standards will be maintained? The burden of proving that a practice is safe should not be placed on the public that could be harmed, but rather on the industry that stands to profit.

In a quick review of the staff prepared document, I did not find any mention of the letters from the Mason County Physicians to the Port of Shelton and to the Mason County Board of County Commissioners. I enclose copies of these letters for your information and consideration. Further, I ask that these letters be made a part of the permanent record in connection with ADAGE.

These letters have been provided to ORCAA previously, I believe, but I imagine that you will be receiving additional copies of these letters from many of Mason County’s concerned citizens.

Further, in my initial review, I did not find any mention of the health concerns that have been expressed to ORCAA by Mason County citizens over the months the ADAGE permit has been before you.

• Is it the intention of ORCAA to simply ignore the information that has been provided by the scientific and medical community, including the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association?
• Is it the intention of ORCAA to treat this project as if it existed inside some sort of bubble that will have no impact on the health of a community already suffering from polluted air and water?

If I find that you have addressed the health concerns in your document, I will apologize. However, a cursory review of it reveals that the ADAGE facility is being viewed as if it has no negative health impact on our community. It will have a significant health impact on our community, according to the local doctors. These are the doctors who treat the illnesses of the citizens of Mason County. Significant weight should be given to their professional medical opinions by ORCAA.

Also, the most vulnerable members of our community, the elderly and the children, are the ones who will be most negatively impacted by the tons of pollutants that ADAGE will be adding to the already badly polluted air and water we experience in Shelton and Mason County, much of it courtesy of Simpson and Olympic Panel. The proposed ADAGE facility is near schools, our hospital and within miles of senior residences and rehabilitation facilities. How can the proximity of the ADAGE site to these vulnerable members of our community be ignored in the discussion about whether to permit this facility to go online?

It is also my understanding that ORCAA does not take into account the number of vehicles coming and going from the facility. These are the same vehicles that will be passing by the hospital, the junior high school, the senior residences, and the community of Hiawatha. This truck traffic must be considered by ORCAA in its consideration of the whole of the ADAGE facility.

Failure to consider this truck traffic in computing the tons of pollutants that will be added to the air in Shelton by the proposed ADGAE facility makes your conclusions irrelevant, and makes a mockery of your "Mission" and "Vision" statements.

I look forward to a response from you regarding the enclosed physician letters.

Very truly yours,

Katherine A. Price
Shelton, WA

SHELTON BLOG NOTE:

ORCAA Comment Period for the ADAGE Permit ends January 31st.
Comments or hearing requests must be submitted in writing by this date.
By Mail: ORCAA, 2940-B Limited Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98502
By Fax: (360) 491-6308
By Email: gordon.lance@orcaa.org

ORCAA Public Hearings will be held Monday, Jan. 31st, at 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
in the Main Room of the Shelton Civic Center, 525 West Cota Street, Shelton.

Link to ORCAA Staff Recommendation Documents:
http://www.orcaa.org/public-involvement/staff-recommendations/

All above mentioned documents can be found in "Reference Documents" on the top bar of Shelton Blog.

Letter to ORCAA submitted to Shelton Blog by Katherine Price