Sanders Submits Formal Objection To NY Tire Burn
Sanders Submits Formal Objection To NY Tire Burn
12/22/2005
Burlington, VT-Congressman Bernie Sanders today submitted his formal objection to International Paper, Inc.'s plan to conduct a test burn of "tire-derived fuel" just across Lake Champlain from western Vermont. In a letter to the New York Department of Conservation, Sanders called for the withdrawal of the draft permit that would allow International Paper to burn waste tires as a cost-saving measure under an old air permit that does not adequately restrict particulate emissions.
Sanders wrote, "Vermonters are already forced to endure air pollution generated at coal-burning power plants in the Midwest. IP's proposal to conduct this trial burn will expose Vermonters to even higher levels of noxious air pollution full of toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium and arsenic in the air they breathe. The air quality problems in Vermont, New York and across the country should by now make it clear that we need more pollution controls, not more pollution."
Sanders called on the State of New York to withdraw its draft permit until International Paper is prepared to meet the most stringent air pollution standards, including recently updated EPA standards for particulate emissions.
A copy of Sanders' letter is below.
December 22, 2005
Denise M. Sheehan
Commissioner
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-1011
Dear Commissioner Sheehan:
I write to express my strong opposition to the proposed trial burn of "Tire-Derived-Fuel" at the International Paper (IP) mill in Ticonderoga, New York. I urge the New York Department of Conservation to withdraw its draft Title V Air Quality Permit amendment that would allow IP to conduct the test burn.
As you know, IP's Ticonderoga facility sits on the shores of Lake Champlain, directly upwind from western Vermont. Vermonters are already forced to endure air pollution generated at coal-burning power plants in the Midwest. IP's proposal to conduct this trial burn will expose Vermonters to even higher levels of noxious air pollution full of toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium and arsenic in the air they breathe. The air quality problems in Vermont, New York and across the country should by now make it clear that we need more pollution controls, not more pollution.
That IP would attempt to go forward with this test burn based solely on the benefits to its bottom line, and without employing state-of-the-art pollution control measures, is frankly an outrage. The proposed trial will rely on a power boiler built in the late 1970s and operating under an air permit that simply does not adequately regulate particulate emissions. Despite Vermonters very real and legitimate concerns, IP refuses to commit to using an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), a readily-available pollution control technology, during this test burn, even though it uses this industry-standard technology at nearly every other plant where it burns this type of fuel.
It would be a great disservice to the people of Vermont, New York and across New England to allow IP to go forward with a trial burn under an old permit that does not meet relevant EPA standards for fine particulates. I urge the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to withdraw its tentative approval for this misguided project, at least until IP is prepared to install an ESP and meet current, stringent standards for toxins and particulates based on the most recent science regarding the harmful effects of such emissions. I have no doubt that the State of New York would vehemently oppose a similar trial burn if it were upwind from New York communities. The people of Vermont, and especially our children, deserve no less consideration.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me or Michael Behan in my office at 202-225-4115.
Sincerely,
Bernard Sanders
Member of Congress
http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4719