Promotes the generation of renewable energy from pulping liquors and biomass in economically distressed communities.
Prohibits the utilities and transportation commission, from January 1, 2011, until December 21, 2013, from considering the act in any proceeding concerning a company's decision to acquire or construct an eligible renewable resource.
SO WILL WE BE BURNING TREATED SEWAGE SLUDGE?
Good morning, Chairman Hatfield and members of the Committee.
Thank you for hearing my testimony.
I am a registered nurse and a member of many health, civic, and environmental groups. I appreciate my state’s efforts to clean up Puget Sound and Hood Canal, and keep our air as clean as is possible and our forests acting as filters and refreshers of the air. Our state has three of the top ten air filtering, carbon sequestering national forests in the country: the Olympic National Forest, Gifford Pinchot, and Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Forest. Using truly sustainable energy sources is a large part of this effort.
As corporations push for more access to resources, science has begun to take a closer look at what it means to the health of not only the population, but the planet. Washington State is not a shining example of environmental rectitude. I refer for example to the Lewis County TransAlta Corp., and the MESA Air Pollution Study (EPA & U of W) reporting serious adverse health effects due to hazardous emissions.
Our legislators must consider the consequences of combustion for energy—which is cave man technology despite the advent of increasingly efficient filters. As per ORCAA applications, hundreds of tons of dangerous chemicals remain uncaptured and will contribute to human pathology in the form life threatening disease,
RE: SB 5575
I have concerns about this bill.
1. It seems to target economically distressed communities which may, in the past, have depended on agricultural or natural resource industries (presumably logging as we read the intent of this legislation), as being too poor to be protected by the state’s regulatory body: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).
This bill would undercut the authority of an efficient and effective regulatory body - why?
2. The Supplementation by Definition of Biomass Energy to include categories of waste, garbage, construction debris, and "biosolids" raises the question: What would this law allow to be put into our air and water? Untreated construction debris is mentioned, though I wonder what exactly that would be? Hundreds of chemicals are used in building supplies and materials, and these are rarely separated at the culmination of building projects.
The EPA defines Biosolids :
Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge (the name for the solid, semisolid or liquid untreated residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility). When treated and processed, sewage sludge becomes biosolids which can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer.
So will we be burning treated sewage sludge?
Has anyone studied the emissions from incinerating such material (which includes heavy metals), and if so, what are the risks to health? I’m told many components of biosolids from municipal water treatment plants, for example, do not remove drugs such as anticancer drugs, antibiotics and the like.
I expect my elected officials to protect the health of my family, neighbors and myself, whether we live in an economically distressed area or not. Corporations say they want a level playing field; citizens want to breathe clean air and drink clean water.
I submit that such communities need all the oversight and protection our regulatory bodies can provide, not less. I oppose this bill.
Constance Simpson, RN
Shelton
SHELTON BLOG NOTE:
hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Jerome Delvin (R)
Jerome.Delvin@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Tracey Eide (D)
tracey.eide@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Mark Schoesler (R)
Mark.Schoesler@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D)
haugen.marymargaret@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Paul Shin (D)
shin.paull@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Derek Kilmer (D)
kilmer.derek@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Steve Hobbs (D)
hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Randi Becker (R)
Randi.Becker@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Jim Honeyford (R)
Jim.Honeyford@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Steve Conway (D)
Steve.Conway@leg.wa.gov
CONTACT: Sen. Tim Sheldon (?)
sheldon.timothy@leg.wa.gov
LINK TO TRACK PROGRESS OF BILL:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5575&year=2011
You are such an intelligent, articulate, passionate voice for our air and water. Thank you Connie, for all that you do!
ReplyDeleteWe "Thank You" also, Connie!
ReplyDelete