Proposed Clean Coal Plant May Raise Lead Emissions!!
As a climate justice advocate, issues of coal plant placement, toxic emissions and other environmental health factors are always first on my radar. The key principles of Environmental Justice are that NO community should be subjugated to an unhealthy and toxic environment and that ALL have the right to work eat live, play and worship, in a clean and toxin free space. So today as I was reading the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and stumbled across this article that talks about the RRI Cheswick Coal Plant, I was not only alarmed but compelled to address this issue. The Cheswick plant, located in Cheswick Pennsylvania, will be going under renovations that will install Sulfur Dioxide scrubbers on the smokestacks for the production of “Clean” Coal. According to the article entitled “ Cheswick coal plant upgrade may raise lead emissions”, the plant is planning on burning a dirtier type of coal that is more efficient with the use of the scrubbers. In the article they address the issues that this plant already emitted 460 pound of lead in 2008 and this upgrade will cause an significant increase in lead levels with the addition of the scrubbers to the smoke stack; putting the citizens of Cheswick PA, a town of 854 homes and .6 squares miles in area, at risk for lead poisoning. Clean Coal??? I think not!!! This plant’s permits are under review by the Alleghany County health department and are up for public comment. If our citizens of Alleghany County will participate by letting the health department know that they would not like to be poisoned by the increase in lead, please make sure to call the Health Department and submit your complaints and concerns in writing to the address below. For more information on the coal plant and its effects on the local community please click on the link below.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10057/1038765-113.stm#ixzz0ggHA1Evw
* The public comment period for the proposed Cheswick power plant permit modification ends next Friday. A copy of the permit, identified in Health Department records as permit IP 0054-1004a, is available by calling 412-578-8191. Written comments can be mailed to the Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program, 301 39th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201-1891, or sent via e-mail to aqpermits@achd.net.
