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File Copy • Jefferson County Board-of a CeaCth Agenda _Minutes • June 21, 2 012 • • JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 21,2012 Cotton Building Port Townsend,WA 2:30—4:30 PM DRAFT AGENDA I. Approval of Agenda II. Approval of Minutes of May 17, 2012 Board of Health Meeting III. Old Business and Informational Items 1. The Power of Nursing 2. Flu Shots for Moms 3. Northwest Public Health Journal—Olympic Regional Mutual Assistance Agreement Article III IV. New Business 1. Food Service Establishment Outstanding Achievement Award Presentation 2. Public Hearing—Environmental Health Fee Schedule Revision 3. Jefferson County Syringe Exchange Program 2011 Annual Report 4. Port Townsend Paper Corporation Landfill Permit Update 5. Board of Health Minutes Format Discussion V. Public Comments VI. Activity Update VII. Agenda Planning Calendar VIII. Next Scheduled Meeting: July 19, 2012 2:30—4:30 pm Jefferson County Public Health JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:30 PM—4:30 PM Cotton Building, 607 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Phil Johnson, Chair, County Commissioner District#1 Thomas Locke,MD,MPH Health Officer David Sullivan, County Commissioner,District#2 Jean Baldwin,Public Health Services Director John Austin, County Commissioner,District#3 Julia Danskin,Nursing Services Director Keefer, Environmental Health Services Director Jared Roberta Frissell,citizen at large(County) Catharine Robinson,Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Vice Chair,Hospital Commissioner,District#2 Chair Johnson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin,Sheila Westerman, Jill Buhler, Catharine Robinson Members Excused: Roberta Frissell • Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Julia Danskin,,Jared Keefer, Veronica Shaw Also in attendance: Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH,Kitsap County Health Officer and Deputy Jefferson County Health Officer Ili. 10 ,. 111APPROVAL OF AGENDA 1 +' 11 ,> . Member Austin moved to approve the agenda for the May 17, 2012 BOH meeting. Member Buhler seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Robinson requested that in the second paragraph of page 4 under Public Comments the word infirmed is changed to infirm. Member Robinson requested that Citizens name be used at their comments in the minutes. It was suggested that this is something that should be discussed among the Board Members as an agenda item and a decision can be made at that time. Member Westerman requested that the second paragraph of page 3 be amended to read 'The second recommendation states that where there are no county records available regarding the type, size, location and other applicable information on a septic system, a site plan must be completed and submitted to JCPH by a certified 0 & M Specialist or licensed designer prior to an inspection by a homeowner.' Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2012 BOH meeting as amended. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 1 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Letter to Port Townsend Paper Company i Ms. Baldwin announced there were changes with ORCA and the mill, so there is an updated letter which is enclosed in the agenda packet. Correspondence from Citizens Copies of correspondence were included in the agenda packet. NEW BUSINESS `Ir Public Hearing—8.15 On-Site Sewage Code F Linda Atkins, Environmental Health Specialist gave a staff report on the process of the revising the On-Site Sewage Code. Ms. Atkins report included a history leading to the code revision, formation of a work group and the work group's p*o to develop recommendations to allow for homeowner inspections of their own septic system Kristina Mayer, Facilitator for the 0 & M Homeowner Proce 01,, Kristinathe process that JCPH took to arrive at the recommended code revisions. Ms. Mayer described,how the work group was formed. There were work group meetings an pi public meet g eld. All materials were - posted prior to the meetings and there was a' uesti and answer that built from each meeting. • The 5 issues that resonated throughout were;the cost,difference of opinion of whether there is a water quality problem,w eldid=that problem emanate from,privacy issues and the burden of more regulation. tifi 444,111/4 Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. Tom Thiersch, President of Unincorporated Jefferson County, had comments on corrections that are needed to the code. He expressed concern over what problem is trying to be resolved. He feels there is no proof tha1ithe problerl ia.tributed to failing systems. He also expressed concern oKy -eithis being an ordinance that applies to the entire county when there are only a small percentage�o ''' Stems that need to be addressed. Finally he addressed the $51 fee which he feels does not reflec theractual cost of staff time. Dan Nasman, Manager of Ocean Grove Association, thanked Jared Keefer for meeting with him to answer questions and also thanked Linda Atkins who met with the homeowners association to answer question. His only concern over the new policy is in regards to the $51 fee. He gave several examples of what neighboring counties charge. Mr. Nasman also questioned the $179 waiver application fee. Finally, Mr. Nasman is hopeful that after a few inspections the fees are able to be lowered as the amount of work is lowered. Mike Belenski stated he would like to see the legal review that the code revisions went through. He cited an RCW which requires a search warrant for someone to go on his property to inspect his system if they think it is failing. 2 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 Board members asked questions regarding the code revisions, enforcement, fees, definitions of • terms used in the code and suggested changes to the code. Ms. Atkins outlined the proposed changes that will be made to the code. The first change is on page 19 Section 7C the word"warrant"will be changed to "affirms". The second change on page 23 in the section that addresses a family member or non-family member making application will be moved to number 3. Thirdly,page 4 under fees the list of fees will be removed and the definition of what a fee is will remain, and finally the definition of homeowner will be corrected. Member Austin moved to adopt the Jefferson County Septic Code 8.15 with the minor amendments which were discussed. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 5 to 1 majority vote. Call for Public Hearing on feetv °} Ai Linda Atkins explained that the fee that is on the tablelr discussion is the j ,fee which allows JCPH to review the application and authorize a ho 'Owner inspection and $5feach additional septic system the homeowner owns and' les to inset. s = Member Austin moved to hold a public hearing for the 0 & M fee at the June 21, 2012 BOH meeting. Member Westerman Seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. • Communicable Disease Performance Measures Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Prograi 'Coordinator,outlined key points from the 2011 Communicable Disease Performance Measures Which was included in the agenda packet. Ms. McKenzie pointed out that data from the new Statellawwhich requires parents to have a risk benefit discussion with their medical provider prior t> parents exempting their children from school immunization requirements is forthcoming and will be tracked closely. Ms. McKenzie also mentioned 3 vaccine assistance programs that are available through JCPH which offer assistance with the HPV vaccine,Hepatitis A/B vaccine and the Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis vacci*e she also announced that thr4 a quality improvement process in Family Planning they werle to increase Clmydia, reening from 49.9%in 2010 to 62.2% in 2011. Finally, she stated that here was an*lease in the number of visits and the number of syringes exchanged in the'syringe exchange program. Reappointment of Substance Abuse Advisory Board—Sheriff Tony Hernandez A copy of a letter from Sheriff Tony Hernandez was included in the agenda packet which confirmed his interest to continue to be a member of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Robinson moved to approve appointment of Sheriff Tony Hernandez for another term on the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. • 3 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 ti.. Summary of 2011 Regional Duty Officer Calls Julia Danskin reviewed a report which was included in the agenda packet that outlined the number and types of after-hours emergency notification and emergency response system activation calls that were received in 2011. Ms. Danskin pointed out that in 2012 the numbers are expected to be increased due to the current Pertussis epidemic. ACTIVITY UPDATE None PUBLIC COMMENTS 1 , A citizen expressed his concern over the ash landfill at PTPC operating under a temporary permit and he feels it should be permitted as a limited purpose landfill. A citizen urged the Board to support a limited use permit for the ash landfill at PTPC. She also listed monitoring and tests she feels should be provided by PTPC: A citizen responded to comments by the Board during the Public Hearing for the On-Site Sewage Code. i ,f ;11111; 1 A citizen responded to an article in the PDI ; the Port AnIeg Co-Generation Plant. 11 "111111 A citizen urged the Board to get involved with the c nseq i $$ or public health from the ash • dump at the mill. =11111 `° dl A citizen thanked the Board for their work. She also addressed the scrubber being installed in 1 boiler at PTPC. A citizen expressed concern oveesearch which shows the possibility of a large earthquake that could cause large waves that would flood land.{$ 111, A citizen addressed the posh , ty of activity late at night at PTPC. She also shared information regarding family members wit 'health effects she feels are from the mill. A citizen is concerned about the toxic materials that are in construction debris that would be burned at the Co-Geriei4dOii plant and the health effects of breathing those toxins. A citizen shared the health effects she has had from breathing wood smoke and is concerned of worsening health effects if the mill starts to burn wood. A citizen urged the Board to look at the economic future of Port Townsend if tourists stop coming to Port Townsend due to the health effects of breathing wood smoke. A citizen is concerned that his children's asthma that developed, after moving to Port Townsend, 110 was due to breathing the smoke from the mill. 4 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 A citizen feels the mill is dictating when he can breathe clean air. • A citizen addressed the possibility of nitrocellulose being at the mill. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Jean Baldwin announced that June 19, 2012 that WASAC is having a meeting and invited the Board to attend. The meeting is being held in SeaTac. Jean Baldwin announced she will be compiling the letters that are being!ryeceived from the Sierra Club website. The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held June 21, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMWT tP Chair Johnson adjourned the BOH meeting at 4:32 14 711111' 911 ' 1 1 COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ' ; JEFFERSON k� g11` i11 1 ! OH, at; • d t ell h d Phil Johnson, Chair Jill Buhl6fiVice Chair 1 1ki t` g, l , Roberta Frissell, Member David Sullivan, Member r9 '' y Robinson Meriiber A 1!0111 ,1 °`£ John Austin, Member Cath �R 11 . 1° Sheila Westerman Member Respectfully Submitted: Stacie Reid • 5 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 • JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:30 PM—4:30 PM Cotton Building, 607 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Phil Johnson, Chair, County Commissioner District#1 Thomas Locke,MD,MPH Health Officer David Sullivan, County Commissioner,District#2 Jean Baldwin,Public Health Services Director John Austin, County Commissioner,District#3 Julia Danskin,Nursing Services Director Roberta Frissell, citizen at large(County) Jared Keefer,Environmental Health Services Director Catharine Robinson,Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large(City) Jill Buhler, Vice Chair,Hospital Commissioner,District#2 Chair Johnson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin, Sheila Westerman, Jill Buhler, Catharine Robinson Members Excused: Roberta Frissell • Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Julia Danskin, Jared Keefer, Veronica Shaw Also in attendance: Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH, Kitsap County Health Officer and Deputy Jefferson County Health Officer APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Austin moved to approve the agenda for the May 17, 2012 BOH meeting. Member Buhler seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Robinson requested that in the second paragraph of page 4 under Public Comments the word infirmed is changed to infirm. Member Robinson requested that Citizens name be used at their comments in the minutes. It was suggested that this is something that should be discussed among the Board Members as an agenda item and a decision can be made at that time. Member Westerman requested that the second paragraph of page 3 be amended to read 'The second recommendation states that where there are no county records available regarding the type, size, location and other applicable information on a septic system, a site plan must be completed and submitted to JCPH by a certified 0 & M Specialist or licensed designer prior to an inspection by a homeowner.' • Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2012 BOH meeting as amended. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 1 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS • Letter to Port Townsend Paper Company Ms. Baldwin announced there were changes with ORCA and the mill, so there is an updated letter which is enclosed in the agenda packet. Correspondence from Citizens Copies of correspondence were included in the agenda packet. NEW BUSINESS Public Hearing—8.15 On-Site Sewage Code Linda Atkins,Environmental Health Specialist gave a staff report on the process of the revising the On-Site Sewage Code. Ms. Atkins report included a history leading to the code revision, formation of a work group and the work group's process to develop recommendations to allow for homeowner inspections of their own septic systems. Kristina Mayer, Facilitator for the 0 &M Homeowner Process reviewed the process that JCPH took to arrive at the recommended code revisions. Ms. Mayer described how the work group was formed. There were work group meetings and 3 public meetings held. All materials were • posted prior to the meetings and there was a question and answer that built from each meeting. The 5 issues that resonated throughout were; the cost, difference of opinion of whether there is a water quality problem,where did that problem emanate from,privacy issues and the burden of more regulation. Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. Tom Thiersch,resident of Unincorporated Jefferson County, had comments on corrections that are needed to the code. He expressed concern over what problem is trying to be resolved. He feels there is no proof that the problem is attributed to failing systems. He also expressed concern over this being an ordinance that applies to the entire county when there are only a small percentage of systems that need to be addressed. Finally he addressed the $51 fee which he feels does not reflect the actual cost of staff time. Dan Nasman,Manager of Ocean Grove Association,thanked Jared Keefer for meeting with him to answer questions and also thanked Linda Atkins who met with the homeowners association to answer question. His only concern over the new policy is in regards to the $51 fee. He gave several examples of what neighboring counties charge. Mr. Nasman also questioned the $179 waiver application fee. Finally,Mr.Nasman is hopeful that after a few inspections the fees are able to be lowered as the amount of work is lowered. Mike Belenski stated he would like to see the legal review that the code revisions went through. • He cited an RCW which requires a search warrant for someone to go on his property to inspect his system if they think it is failing. 2 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 Board members asked questions regarding the code revisions, enforcement, fees, definitions of • terms used in the code and suggested changes to the code. Ms. Atkins outlined the proposed changes that will be made to the code. The first change is on page 19 Section 7C the word "warrant"will be changed to "affirms". The second change on page 23 in the section that addresses a family member or non-family member making application will be moved to number 3. Thirdly,page 4 under fees the list of fees will be removed and the definition of what a fee is will remain, and finally the definition of homeowner will be corrected. Member Austin moved to adopt the Jefferson County Septic Code 8.15 with the minor amendments which were discussed. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 5 in favor and one nay vote by David Sullivan. (amended with Board's approval) Call for Public Hearing on fee Linda Atkins explained that the fee that is on the table for discussion is the $10 fee which allows JCPH to review the application and authorize a homeowner inspection and $5 for each additional septic system the homeowner owns and wishes to inspect. Member Austin moved to hold a public hearing for the 0 & M fee at the June 21,2012 BOH meeting. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. • Communicable Disease Performance Measures Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Program Coordinator, outlined key points from the 2011 Communicable Disease Perfotntance Measures which was included in the agenda packet. Ms. McKenzie pointed out that data from the new State law which requires parents to have a risk benefit discussion with their medical provider prior to parents exempting their children from school immunization requirements is forthcoming and will be tracked closely. Ms. McKenzie also mentioned 3 vaccine assistance programs that are available through JCPH which offer assistance with the HPV vaccine, Hepatitis A/B vaccine and the Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis vaccine. She also announced that through a quality improvement process in Family Planning they were able to increase Chlamydia screening from 49.9% in 2010 to 62.2% in 2011. Finally, she stated that there was an increase in the number of visits and the number of syringes exchanged in the syringe exchange program. Reappointment of Substance Abuse Advisory Board—Sheriff Tony Hernandez A copy of a letter from Sheriff Tony Hernandez was included in the agenda packet which confirmed his interest to continue to be a member of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Robinson moved to approve appointment of Sheriff Tony Hernandez for another term on the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. • 3 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 • • Summary of 2011 Regional Duty Officer Calls Julia Danskin reviewed a report which was included in the agenda packet that outlined the number and types of after-hours emergency notification and emergency response system activation calls that were received in 2011. Ms. Danskin pointed out that in 2012 the numbers are expected to be increased due to the current Pertussis epidemic. ACTIVITY UPDATE None PUBLIC COMMENTS A citizen expressed his concern over the ash landfill at PTPC operating under a temporary permit and he feels it should be permitted as a limited purpose landfill. A citizen urged the Board to support a limited use permit for the ash landfill at PTPC. She also listed monitoring and tests she feels should be provided by PTPC. A citizen responded to comments by the Board during the Public Hearing for the On-Site Sewage Code. A citizen responded to an article in the PDN regarding the Port Angeles Co-Generation Plant. • A citizen urged the Board to get involved with the consequences for public health from the ash dump at the mill. A citizen thanked the Board for their work. She also addressed the scrubber being installed in 1 boiler at PTPC. A citizen expressed concern over research which shows the possibility of a large earthquake that could cause large waves that would flood land. A citizen addressed the possibility of activity late at night at PTPC. She also shared information regarding family members with health effects she feels are from the mill. A citizen is concerned about the toxic materials that are in construction debris that would be burned at the Co-Generation plant and the health effects of breathing those toxins. A citizen shared the health effects she has had from breathing wood smoke and is concerned of worsening health effects if the mill starts to burn wood. A citizen urged the Board to look at the economic future of Port Townsend if tourists stop coming to Port Townsend due to the health effects of breathing wood smoke. • A citizen is concerned that his children's asthma that developed, after moving to Port Townsend, was due to breathing the smoke from the mill. 4 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 A citizen feels the mill is dictating when he can breathe clean air. 410 A citizen addressed the possibility of nitrocellulose being at the mill. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Jean Baldwin announced that June 19, 2012 t WASAC is having a meeting and invited the Board to attend. The meeting is being held in SeaTac. Jean Baldwin announced she will be compiling the letters that are being received from the Sierra Club website. The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held June 21, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johnson adjourned the BOH meeting at 4:32 PM JEFFERSON CO NTY BOARD OF HEALTH II • P / fl / / , ? , 466.421 Ph Johne.' , Chair 11 Buh r, Vice Chair Excused ei.4..,01, 22,1Z...,....: Roberta Frissell,Member David Sulhv Member etkAt--: t,L2k-i-„4„.. id,.-., "Lk,,1 Catharine Robinson, Member J Austin, Member A1/11 Cki -- Sheila Westerman, Member Respectfully Submitted: Stacie Reid i 5 BOH Minutes—May 17,2012 Board of 3fealtf Old Business & Informational-Items .agenda Item #III., 1 1 The Tower of Nursing June 21, 2 01 • if The Power of Nursing -NYTimes.com Page 1 of 4 nit Xedy Onto Opinionator • MAY 16,2012,7:00 AM The Power of Nursing By DAVID BORNSTEIN Fixes looks at solutions to social problems and why they work. Tags: Babies and Infants, Nursing and Nurses, Parenting, Pregnancy and Childbirth In 2010, 5.9 million children were reported as abused or neglected in the United States. If you were a policy maker and you knew of a program that could cut this figure in half, what would you do? What if you could reduce the number of babies or toddlers hospitalized for accidents or poisonings by more than half? Or provide a 5 to 7 point I.Q.boost to children born to the most vulnerable mothers? Well, there is a way. These and other striking results have been documented in studies of a program called the Nurse-Family Partnership, or NFP, which arranges for registered nurses to make regular home visits to first-time low-income or vulnerable mothers, starting early in • their pregnancies and continuing until their child is 2. We tend to think of social change as more of an art than a science. "What's unique about Nurse-Family Partnership is that the program was studied in what's considered the strongest study design, and it showed sizable, sustained effects on important life outcomes which were replicated across different populations," explained Jon Baron, president of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, a nonpartisan group. "This is very unusual. There are probably only about ten programs across all areas of social policy that currently meet that standard." What that means, notes Baron, is that if policy makers replicate the program faithfully they can be confident that it will change people's lives in meaningful ways — improving child and maternal health, promoting positive parenting, children's school readiness and families' economic self-sufficiency, and reducing juvenile delinquency and crime. NFP is not a new idea —it's almost 4o years old —but after decades of study the program, which has assisted 151,000 families, has the potential for broader impact,thanks to the Affordable Care Act's Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which provides $1.5 billion for states to expand such programs. Done well, it could be among the best money the government spends. Investments in early • childhood development produce big payoffs for society. (A 2005 RAND study estimated that NFP provided $5.70 in benefits to society for every dollar spent.) But there's an important concern: home visiting programs are not all effective. When carefully studied, only a few http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/the-power-of-nursing/?pagemode=print 5/17/2012 The Power of Nursing -NYTimes.com Page 2 of 4 have been shown to reduce the physical abuse and neglect of children.Among the programs that meet the government's standard for funding, there are large variations in evidence of impact (pdf). Policy makers and proponents of home visiting would do well to pay attention to the specific elements in the Nurse-Family Partnership's model that account for its success. NFP was founded by David Olds,who directs the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Early in his career, Olds worked in a day care center in Baltimore because he believed that quality preschool attention would help disadvantaged children succeed in life. What he began to see was that, for some kids, it was already too late to make big gains. If children had been abused or neglected or exposed to domestic violence, or if their mothers had abused drugs, alcohol or tobacco while pregnant,their brains could have been damaged in ways that limited the children's abilities to control impulses, sustain attention or develop language. Courtesy of Nurse-Family PartnershipA nurse with the Nurse-Family Partnership on a visit with a client. Olds developed NFP in the early 1970s. He conducted his first large study in 1977, in Elmira, N.Y., a semi-rural, mostly white, community with one of the highest poverty rates in the state. The program produced strong results. Follow-up studies would reveal that, by age 19, the youths whose mothers received visits from nurses two decades earlier,were 58 percent less likely to have been convicted of a crime. In the 1980s and 199os, Olds spread the work to Memphis and Denver and subjected the program to more randomized study with populations of urban blacks and Hispanics. The results continued to be impressive. In 1996, NFP began wider replication; the model is now being implemented by health and social service providers in 40 states. • As Olds published his results,the idea gained momentum,but the imitations did not remain faithful to NFP's approach. "People adopted all kinds of home visiting models and used our evidence to make claims,"he recalled. In the early 1990s,for example, the federal government, inspired in part by NFP,began a $240 million program to train paraprofessionals, rather than nurses,to make home visits to low-income families with young children. NFP also experimented in Denver,using paraprofessionals (trained from the • communities they served)in place of nurses for a subset of families. In both cases, paraprofessionals didn't get the same results. When it came to improving children's health and development, maternal health, and mothers'life success, the nurses were far more effective. In the federal program, paraprofessionals produced no effects on children's health or development or their parents' economic self-sufficiency. What's special about nurses? For one thing, trust. In public opinion polls, nurses are consistently rated as the most honest and ethical professionals by a large margin. But there were other reasons nurses were effective. Pregnant women are concerned about their bodies and their babies. Is the baby developing well?What can I do for my back pain? What should I be eating?What birthing options are available?Those are questions mothers wanted to ask nurses,which was why they were motivated to keep up the visits, especially mothers who • were pregnant for the first time. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/the-power-of-nursing/?pagemode=print 5/17/2012 The Power of Nursing -NYTimes.com Page 3 of 4 Nurses had more influence encouraging mothers to delay subsequent pregnancies, Olds explained. They could identify emerging complications more promptly, and they were more successMat getting mothers to stop or reduce smoking, drug or alcohol use. This is vital. MPrenatal exposure to neurotoxicants is associated with intellectual and emotional deficits. It can also make babies more irritable,which increases risks of abuse. (A mother who was abused herself is more likely to misinterpret an inconsolable baby's crying as"bad behavior.") "A lot of the young mothers have had some pretty terrible early life experiences," says Olds. "It's not uncommon for them to have been abused by partners or never have had support and care from a mother. Their lives haven't been filled with much success and hope. If you ask them what they want for themselves, it's not uncommon for them to say, 'What do you mean?'" A big part of NFP's work is helping them answer this question. Consider the relationship between Rita Erickson and Valerie Carberry. Rita had had a methadone addiction for 12 years and was living from place to place in Lakewood, Colo. She found out she was pregnant; a parole officer told her about NFP. "I'd burned bridges with my family," Rita told me. "I was running around with the wrong people. I didn't have anyone I could ask about being pregnant." In the early months,Valerie had to chase her around town, Rita recalled. "I was worried she might say, 'This is too much hassle. Come back when you have your act together.' But she stuck with me." • Over the next two years,they embarked on a journey together. "I had a zillion questions," Rita recalled. "I was really nervous at first. I had lived most of my adult life as a drug addict. I didn't know how to take care of myself." On visits,they discussed everything: prenatal care, nutrition, exercise, delivery options.After Rita's daughter, Danika,was born, they focused on things like how to recognize feeding and disengagement cues, remembering to sleep when the baby sleeps, how to manage child care so Rita could go back to school. For Rita,what made the biggest impression was hearing about how a baby's brain develops —how vital it was to talk and read a lot to Danika, and to use"love and logic" so she develops empathy. Once Valerie explained that when babies are touching their hands, they're discovering that they have two. "To me that was really amazing," Rita said. This month, Rita is graduating from Red Rocks Community College with an associate degree in business administration. She's going to transfer to Regis University to do a bachelors degree. Her faculty selected her as outstanding graduate based on leadership and academic achievement — and she was asked to lead the graduation procession and give one of the commencement speeches. Danika is thriving, Rita said. Recently, she came home from preschool and announced: "Mommy, I didn't have a good day at school today because I made some bad decisions and you wouldn't be proud of me." (She had pushed another child . on the playground.)As for the NFP, Rita says that it helped her recover from her own bad decisions.When Valerie came along, she needed help badly. "I didn't care about my life. I didn't care about anything. I never ever thought I would have ended up where I am today." http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/the-power-of-nursing/?pagemode=print 5/17/2012 The Power of Nursing -NYTimes.com Page 4 of 4 "When a woman becomes pregnant whether she's 14 or 40, Related More From Fixes there's this window of opportunity,"explained Valerie, who has Read previous contributions to this been a nurse for 28 years and hasworked with more than 150 series. mothers in NFP over the past seven. "They want to do what's • right. They want to change bad behaviors,tobacco, alcohol, using a seat belt, anything. As nurses,we're able to come in and become part of their lives at that point in time. It's a golden moment. But you have to be persistent.And you have to be open and nonjudgmental." Beyond the match between nurses and first-time moms,there are multiple factors that make NFP work. (NFP has identified 18 key elements for faithful replication.) The dosage has to be right: Nurses may make 50 or 6o visits over two and a half years. The culture is vital: It must be non judgmental and respectful, focusing on helping mothers define their own goals and take steps towards them. The curriculum should be rigorous, covering dozens of topics— from prenatal care to home safety to emotional preparation to parenting to the mother's continuing education. Nurses need good training, close supervision and support, and opportunities to reflect with others about difficult cases.And, above all, data tracking makes it possible to understand on a timely basis when things are working and when they are not. With the government making such a large investment in home visiting, it's crucial for programs to get the details right. Otherwise, society will end up with a mixed bag of results, and advocates will have a hard time making the case for continued support. That would be a terrible loss. "When a baby realizes that its needs will be responded to and it can positively influence its own world," says Olds, "that creates on the baby's part a sense of efficacy— a • sense that I matter." It's hard to imagine higher stakes. Join Fixes on Facebook and follow updates on twitter.com/nytimesfixes. David Bornstein is the author of"How to Change the World,"which has been published in 20 languages, and "The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank,"and is co- author of"Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know."He is the founder of dowser.org, a media site that reports on social innovation. Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company I Privacy Policy I NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York,NY 10018 t • http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/the-power-of-nursing/?pagemode=print 5/17/2012 Board of 3fealth Old Business & Informational Items ,agenda Item # III., 2 • Flu Shots for Nloms June 21, 201 • Flu shot for moms may cut risk of stillbirths, premature births: study Page 1 of 3 10 Flu shot for moms may cut risk of stillbirths, premature births: study BY PAULINE TAM,POSTMEDIA NEWS MMMMAY 23 2012 X true as , , ¢ .�. :1';11,1:)'''''' '1,T :-"'''''''''''', I vklit, '' ' " s, , _ ,.,, ,, , -:.,..,.::.,,,ir,:, 3. "fin `4 p w s 011.:'4' ( III 2 Nurse Mario Daponte prepares to giv'''''''''''''::::::::e Melissa Cutler, 31, her H1 N1 flu shot in Aa n shows the vaccine is perfectly safe for developing fetuses—and may have unexpectedOttawaduring healththe bene2009fits foroutbreak.a woman'sew unbornstudy child. Photograph by:Wayne Cuddington,The Ottawa Citizen ...._..................._ OTTAWA—Pregnancy is no time for women to refuse a flu shot since it may bring unexpected benefits to their unborn children, says a new study that analyzed vaccination rates during the 2009 H1 N1 pandemic. In addition to protecting pregnant women from the flu, the vaccine also may lower the risk of premature births, stillbirths and underweight babies, according to the study by an Ottawa research team. Evidence is growing, based on the findings of this study and a few others, that flu vaccines are safe and effective, not only for expectant mothers, but also for their unborn infants. While these groups stand to benefit most from flu vaccines, little research has been conducted on how they respond to them. • Researchers say the latest findings could help debunk persistent myths about the flu shot and its effects on pregnant women — people who, as a group, remain reluctant to get the shot. http://www.vancouversun.com/story print.html?id=6661231&sponsor=true 5/23/2012 Flu shot for moms may cut risk of stillbirths, premature births: study Page 2 of 3 "The most important thing about this study was that the flu vaccine did no harm to the fetus," said Dr. Mark Walker, an obstetrician at the Ottawa Hospital and the study's co-author. "Not only was the vaccine safe, there was a potential benefit." • Walker and his collaborators studied the records of 55,570 Ontario mothers, 23,340 of whom were vaccinated during pregnancy from November 2009 through April 2010. Compared with unvaccinated mothers, women who got the shot during the H1 N1 pandemic had fewer preterm births and stillbirths and fewer underweight babies, the study found. The findings held even after researchers adjusted for factors that could skew the results, including age, education and income levels, as well as whether the mothers smoked, had hypertension or suffered from other chronic illnesses. For every 1,000 vaccinated mothers, there were 2.6 stillbirths compared to 4.3 among unvaccinated moms—a 34 per cent decreased risk for vaccinated women. Likewise, there were 83.3 underweight babies for every 1,000 vaccinated women, compared with 98.2 among those unvaccinated, translating to a 19 per cent decreased risk. And there were 6.1 premature births for every 1,000 vaccinated women, compared with 8.4 among those unvaccinated, leading to a 28 per cent decreased risk. The study, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health, was a collaboration between the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research • Institute and BORN Ontario, the provincial maternal-child health registry. For Walker and his collaborators, the vaccination data from the H1 N1 pandemic proved useful because, for the first time, they had information on a large enough group of pregnant women to compare the vaccine's effects on birth outcomes. In normal years, so few expectant mothers get the seasonal flu vaccine that researchers lack a large enough sample size to conduct reliable studies. During the pandemic, health authorities identified pregnant women as the group most threatened by the H1 N1 virus and most in need of the vaccine. "Pregnant women, for whatever reason, were much more susceptible to H1 N1 and when they did contract it, got much sicker than the average person," said Walker. Even so, only 42 per cent of expectant mothers in Ontario got the vaccine. Previously, a small-scale clinical trial showed that pregnant women who received a flu vaccine provided immunity to their newborns as well. The finding was significant because existing flu vaccines have little effect on babies in their first six months of life. The 2008 study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was the first to show that babies M whose mothers got the vaccine were 63 per cent less likely to catch influenza compared with the http://www.vancouversun.com/story print.html?id=6661231&sponsor=true 5/23/2012 Flu shot for moms may cut risk of stillbirths, premature births: study Page 3 of 3 controls. Experts say such immunity typically lasts until a baby reaches six months. After that, additional flu shots are needed to once again build up an infant's immune response. ©Copyright(c)The Ottawa Citizen • • http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=6661231&sponsor=true 5/23/2012 Board of.1fealth Old Business & Informationalltems .agenda Item # IIS, 3 1 northwest Public feaCth . Tournal- Olympic RegionalNlutual .assistance agreement Article June 21, 2 01 1 • Protecti n - ea Ith : Government to Government • n January 2010, the elected representatives of Jefferson,and Kitsap Counties)of Washington State's seven federally recognized American Indian Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response tribes and three Washington State county system decided the time was right for a major effort public health jurisdictions(see sidebar)entered into to engage the seven tribes that shared boundaries Author a historic public health agreement.This agreement with their respective counties.The health officers Thomas Locke created a detailed framework for sharing resources submitted a proposal to develop a first-of-its-kind MD, MPH, is the and expertise in a public health emergency mutual assistance agreement(MAA)involving tribes health officer for and local governments.The project was approved Clallarn and Jefferson Early Efforts with facilitation support from the Washington Counties. He is board In 1994,Washington State published the first State Department of Health and funding from the ceriified in Preventive of its biennial Public Health Improvement Plans Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Icciieine and on as part of a fundamental reorganization of Secretary for Preparedness and Response as well as the clinical faculty its public health system.The plan envisioned three the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. of rhe University of types of public health jurisdictions: state, local, To start, project leaders recruited a skilled wY%ashington School of and tribal.There was broad agreement that tribes, facilitator with experience in developing county-to- • Public Health. as sovereign governments, had the same public county mutual assistance agreements.The next step health authority and responsibility as neighboring was to contact each tribal chairperson and seek his county governments. Yet early efforts to turn the or her support for the project.The strong support vision of fully functioning tribal of tribal leaders and the appointments of trusted health jurisdictions into reality tribal representatives to negotiate the agreement MAA Members: were hampered by a number of were essential to the success of the project. It was unresolved issues. These issues also important that county commissioners and local • Hoh Tribe included the applicability of state boards of health supported the project.To remove •Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and local public health codes within any logistical obstacles to participation, MAA • Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe tribal jurisdictions, resolution of partners received direct support from grant funds • Makah Tribe disputes between county and tribal to pay for staff time,travel,and other costs associated • Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe governments, and mechanisms with the effort. • Quileute Tribe for dealing with financial and Another key strategy was to identify legal issues professional liability concerns. that had derailed past partnerships. The MAA • Suquamish Tribe Since 2001,the capacity of public partners agreed that the worst time to resolve • Kitsap County Public Health health to respond to a bioterrorist questions of authority,financial responsibility, and District event, global pandemic, or other legal liability would be during an actual emergency. • Clallam County Department of large-scale health emergency has The need for advance clarity about these issues Health and Human Services become a national priority. Multi- helped to guide the drafting of the MAA. •Jefferson County Public Health year appropriations have allowed The drafting process took most of a year.Meeting a significant expansion in the sites rotated among the facilities of the participating ability of state, local, and tribal organizations, including the remote tribal villages governments to improve their response capabilities. of LaPush and Neah Bay. Once the core agreement This investment in public health capacity has created took form,tribal and county attorneys were invited new opportunities for partnership building with to comment on key provisions of the draft agreement. tribal governments. IP Key Issues A Partnership Begins Among the issues the MAA addressed was the In 2008,the health officers of Region 2(Clallam, question of how public health officials would • exercise necessary emergency authority within a resources should a large scale outbreak response neighboring tribal health jurisdiction.This authority be needed.Tribal Journeys 2010 went off without could include isolation and quarantine, testing a hitch. Participants stayed healthy and tribal and and treatment of certain communicable diseases, local health jurisdictions gained valuable experience and supervision of health care workers. ; While tribes were encouraged to develop public health expertise, the group agreed that in a major public health emergency,it __ 1 ` would be desirable to access the expertise t - �p of county health officers from neighboring F a „ !�' jurisdictions. If \ . For tribes with a public health code, ;`, : the tribal council would grant the local ' ', iIli health officer of the neighboring county t ' the authority to enforce those regulations. 0 For tribes that lacked a public health code, the tribal council was given the option of adopting relevant federal, state, or local '-'1-' a � � �a :fit � t��?r��s>?�'`�s�` � ' public health laws during the emergency. #•- „" n To address potential future disputes 3,.:,ti, that might occur during or after an ax., r "i r4cx emergency response, the MAA created a r dispute resolution process based on direct communication, mediation,and binding arbitration.This binding arbitration would .0,1,'"'" .it be enforceable by tribal, state, or federal _. x courts.In adopting this dispute resolution framework,tribes signing the MAA agreed A young participant during Tribal Journeys,hosted by the Makah tribe to a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. in 2010.Photo courtesy of Dan Elvrum. the fall of 2009, the agreement was presented to tribal councils,local boards of health, and county commissioners. Support for the goals in government-to-government of the agreement was unanimous,and participating cooperation.In addition to this initial activation of public health jurisdictions signed onto the agreement. the MAA,tabletop exercises were conducted at four of the participating tribal reservations to practice The MAA in Action implementation of the agreement during a simulated In the summer of 2010,the Makah tribe hosted measles outbreak. an event known as Tribal Journeys.At this event, thousands of tribal members from Washington Future Challenges State and British Columbia travelled by canoe to The concept of a fully functional tribal health the small coastal village of Neah Bay to take part jurisdiction continues to evolve, and with this in a week of traditional activities. The dramatic evolution will come new challenges and opportunities. population increase this caused had the potential to In addition, local and state governments are overwhelm the fragile sanitation infrastructure of the profoundly shaped by ongoing budget crises and village.The Makah tribe responded to this potential significant workforce layoffs. As public health Additional resources at health threat by setting up an incident command jurisdictions reorganize for an uncertain future,the Additional www.nwpublichealth.org system and activating the recently adopted MAA case for expanded multi-jurisdictional partnerships with neighboring Clallam County.A public health grows more compelling and urgent.It is hoped that nurse and two environmental health specialists the MAA forged by the 10 public health jurisdictions from Clallam County were dispatched to assist the of northwestern Washington will serve as a model tribe identify and rapidly respond to public health for other tribal and county governments as they threats.The local health jurisdictions of Jefferson struggle to maintain their capacity to respond to • and Kitsap County were also on call to contribute public health emergencies.■ Board of Cealth Wow Business .Agenda Item # �V., 1 • Food Service Establishment Outstanding .achievement ard Presentation June 21, 2 01 JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH 615 Sheridan Street • Port Townsend •Washington • 98368 • www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org For immediate release: June 21, 2012 Contact: Mina Kwansa Phone: (360) 379-4496 Email: mkwansac co.jefferson.wa.us 28 Jefferson County Food Establishments Demonstrate Commitment to Achieving the Highest Food Safety Standards in 2011 The 2011 Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented at the June 21, 2012 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting to recognize 28 restaurants, full service food establishments and their proprietors who demonstrated the highest standards for safe food handling during the past year. The 28 restaurants and proprietors listed below worked hard in 2011 to maintain excellent food safety standards. Most of them are full service restaurants and food establishments that work with complex menus, so they have added food safety challenges. Jefferson County Public Health and the Board of Health recognizes them for their dedication to preventing illness and encourages the entire food industry to • strive for the same honor. Criteria for the award was developed by the JCPH Food Service Advisory Committee and requires evaluations in areas of personal hygiene, food temperature safety, and prevention of contamination. All food workers must hold a current Washington State Food Worker Card. 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award Winners Belmont Restaurant El Cottage Pizza Factory Blue Heron School El Sarape Quilcene School District BPO Elks Lodge # 317 Fiesta Mexican QFC#106 Deli -Pt Townsend Brinnon School District #46 Restaurant The Galley QFC #870 Deli - Port Hadlock Cedar Brook Daycare & Pre- In-Season Catering Silverwater Cafe School Jefferson County Jail Spruce Goose Café Chimacum Elementary School Khu Larb Thai Tri-Area Community Center Chimacum High School La Isla Mexican Upstage Restaurant Cuisine Med Catering Restaurant Uptown Pub & Grill Dos Okies Barbeque Lanza's Metro Bagels • COMMUNITY HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PUBLIC HEALTHWATER QUALITY MAIN: (360)385-9400 ALWAYS WORKING FOR A SAFER AND MAIN: (360)385-9444 FAX: (360)385-9401 HEALTHIER CO UNITY FAX: (360) 379-4487 • Board of.9leaCth New Business Agenda Item #IV., 2 • Tublic fearing - Environmental a[-e alth fee Schedule Revision June 21, 2 012 • S • • STATE OF WASHINGTON JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR Ordinance No. JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH Section 1 —Effective Date Section 2—Fees Section 3—Severability Section 4—Prior fee schedule repealed WHERAS, the purpose of this Ordinance is to amend the fee schedule for Jefferson County Public Health, WHEREAS, ADOPTION OF THIS Ordinance will further the public policy memorialized in Chapter 246- 215 WAC as well as other chapters of the WAC and RCW, WHEREAS, this Ordinance promotes the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County, and WHEREAS, this Ordinance is proposed and may be enacted pursuant to the general police power granted by the State Constitution to Jefferson County and its Board of Health, • NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Jefferson County Board of Health as follows: Section 1 —Effective Date That this Ordinance(and its Attachment) shall be effective as of June 21, 2012. Section 2—Fees The schedule for Jefferson County Public Health fees for the year 2012 (Attachment A to this Ordinance) is hereby amended to reflect the addition of a fee for Homeowner Inspection Authorization, said new fee to be listed under `Onsite Sewage Disposal—Licenses.'. Any text listed on Attachment"A", specifically text within the column entitled"Additional Fees and Other Information" is deemed regulatory rather than advisory and as such has the full force and effect of local law. Section 3—Severability A determination that any text, fee or fees adopted as part of this Ordinance is unlawful or illegal shall not cause any other text, fee or fees adopted as part of this Ordinance not affected by that determination to be repealed, revised, or reduced. • Section 4—Prior Fee Schedules Repealed Any prior fee schedule previously adopted by this Board that contains or reflects fee amounts that are less than those adopted herein or does not include and list any fee first enacted through this Ordinance is hereby repealed and replaced by this Ordinance. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2012 FEE SCHEDULE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ADOPTED DAY OF ,2012 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Phil Johnson, Chair Jill Buhler,Vice-Chair • John Austin,Member David Sullivan, Member Roberta Frissell,Member Sheila Westerman, Member Catharine Robinson,Member • JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH I 2012 I Additional Fees and Other Information Health Officer Administrative Hearing 298.00 • Administrative Hearing Appeal 298.00 Technical Assistance/Plan Review-Minimum 65.00 Technical Assistance/Plan Review-Per Hour 65.00 - Filing Fee 51.00 ONSITE EWAG DISPOSAL �' " �., Sewage Disposal Permits New Conventional 540.00 Valid for 3 years New Alternative 644.00 Valid for 3 years New septic tank and/or pump chamber only _ 257.00 Issued in conjunction with an existing sewage disposal New Community or>1000 G.P.D.(base fee) 540.00 Plus$85 per connection-valid for 3 yrs New Commercial>1000 G.P.D. Conventional 644.00 Valid for 3 years Alternative 689.00 Valid for 3 years Repair/Upgrade/Modification/Designate Reserve Area 119.00,Applies to existing installed sewage disposal system Expansion 403.00 Redesign 119.00 Applies to pending or active but not installed Reinspection 149.00 Evaluation of Existing System/Monitoring Inspection Septic system only 298,00 Septic system plus water sample 310.00 r - Retest/Reinspection 104.00 On Site Sewage OnSite-Site Plan Advanced Approval Determination(SPAAD) 298.00 Septic Permit with SPAAD(conventional) 291.00 Septic Permit with SPAAD(alternative) 403.00 - Subdivision Review Base Fee _ 386.00 Plus$76.00 Per Lot - Boundary line adjustment review fee 152.00 Plus$76.00 Per Lot - Pre application meeting fee 152.00 Planned rural residential development review fee 152.00 - Density exemption review fee 76.00 - Density exemption review fee requiring field work - 152.00 Other WaiverNariance Application 179.00 WaiverNariance Hearing 298.00 Wet season evaluation 403.00 • Revised building application review fee 152.00 New building application review fee: Residential 76.00 Commercial 152.00 General environmental health review fee 76.00 - Licenses Installer,Pumper,Operator(maintenance person) 403.00 Retest 164.00 applies to Installer,Pumper,Operator Annual Renewal 283.00 applies to Installer,Pumper,Operator - Delinquent Renewal after January 31 403.00 applies to Installer,Pumper,Operator First system,plus $5.00 for each eligible additional Homeowner Inspection Authorization 10.00 system FOODSERiVICE ESTABLISHMENTFEES"PERMIT FEES(Annual`"P`e"'rmit) ` b c; _z; Restaurants/Take-Out(Based on menu complexity&seating-menu changes may change category) 0-25 seats(Limited Menu) 181.00 No cooling or reheating - 0-25 seats(Complex Menu) 322.00 Cooling and reheating allowed 26-50 seats _ 322.00 51-100 seats 387.00 101-150 seats 438.00 With Lounge,add 142.00 ,Separate lounge area Bakery Business 141.00 B&B Caterer 181.00 w/commissary or catering-only kitchen 322.00 w/restaurant,additional fee for catering 181.00 Concession/Commercial Kitchen/Church 141.00 Espresso Stand 141.00 Grocery - 1-3 checkouts >3 checkouts 181.00 May serve pre-packaged baked goods Meat/Fish Market 438.00 - Mobile Unit 322.00 Limited Menu 181.00 No cooling or reheating Complex Menu reheating_allowed Cooling&reheatin allowed School Cafeteria _ . Central Kitchen 322.00 - Warming Kitchen 181.00 Tavern w/foodlsee Restaurants)_ Annual Permit Issued after September 1 50%of fee 50%of Annual Permit Fee 1 of 2 6/5/2012 3:32 PM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2012 Additional Fees and Other Information •Limited Menu Not to exceed 21 da s at our location Additional• EventsvnFirst Event 16.00 Not to exceed 21 da s at our location . Same Menu 102.00 Not to exceed 21 da s at our location Additional Events Different Menu Corn•lex Menu Not to exceed 21 da s at our location Additional Event First Event 16.00 Not to exceed 21 da sat our location Events Differentame Menu 135.00 Not to exceed 21 da s at our location Additional Events Menu _ Or.anizedRecurrin• Events e.•.Farmers Markets Limited Menu 102.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Additional Event First SameEMenut 16.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Events Different 102.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Additional Events Menu - 135.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Additional Event First Event 16.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Events Differentame Menu 135.00 Not to exceed 3 da s a week Additional Events Menu Additional(Paid when application is submitted less than 7 +50%of fee days prior to the event) Late Fee for Temporary Permits Other Food Fees 39.00 Waiver Plan Review65.00 Per Hour Pre-o•enin.ins•ection 65.00 Minimum 65.00 Per Hour - 90.00 - First Ins•ection 155.00 Each ins•ection after first 55.00 Per Hour Reo•enin• Fee 65.00 Food Handler Card 10.00 Reissue Unex.ired Food Handler Card 210.00 Mane.er•s Course 528.00 Landfills re.ulnn•environmental monitonn• 525.00 -- Inert Landfills 335.00 Biosolid Utilization 464.00 - Other Solid Waste Facili Permits 155.00 -- IIIDro•Boxes 425.00 -- New imionFacili A.•Iication 65.00 Per Hour „.6 'k Inspection of well construction,decommission& Application Fee 155.00 reconstruction -- 64.00 Buildin. Permit Process _ Determination of Ade•uate Water Su••I 130.00 Well Ins•ection&Water Sam.le for Loan 330 00 Well Site Ins.ection-Pro•osed•ubllc water su.•I o ;, LIVING ENVIRONMENTS Annual Permit) 283.00 Pool 283.00 S.a 387.00 Pool/S.a Combined 87.00 Per Hour Plan Review Indoor Air TobaCcO 65.00 Per Hour Com.liance Enforcement 76.00 Reins.ection 176.00 Rebuttalicaon Note: 2012Fees eees have been adjusted per Ordinance 12-1209-96,Section 4-Annual Fee Indexing:Fixed a152. fees established by this ordinance shall be adjusted annually on the first business day of January(Adjusted Date)by the amount of the increase in the Consumer Price Index(CPIW).The CPIW is the Consumer Price Index-US City Average for At Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the United States Department of Labor. Te annual fee adjustrnent shall be calculatedly prior to the e wit be increased by the percntage increase the CPIW as reported n or the month of September preceding the AdjustmentoDae. Increas es in will be rounded toe the nearest dollar.Adjustment D A fee shall not be reduced by reason of such calculation.I However,fee ncreas sf in accordance with this calculation shall not exceed 5 percent per year. III 6/5/2012 3:32 PM 2of2 • Board of.9Cealth Wow Business .agenda Item #IV., 3 • . Tefferson County Syringe Exchange Program 2011 AnnuaC Report June 21, 2012 • JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH 615 Sheridan Street • Port Townsend •Washington • 98368 www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org . j typublichealth.org Jefferson County Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) Annual Report 2011 Jefferson County has provided a Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) since 2000 as part of a state and regional effort to reduce the risk of HIV infection in our communities. This program, also, reduces the risk of Hepatitis A, B and C infections through risk reduction education and referrals, an important part of each visit. Education includes verbal and printed information on hepatitis, HIV, STDs, health alerts (for example, wound botulism and recent heroin overdoses/deaths), care of abscesses, street drugs, tattoo safety, intravenous drug use safety (encouraging one time use of needles), and immunizations. Internal referrals include STD, HIV, Hepatitis B & C screening and counseling, tuberculosis screening, family planning and immunizations. External referrals include drug and alcohol treatment, medical care, mental health care, domestic violence, food, clothing and shelter. HIV services have been funded by the state and federal government and HIV case management services have been provided by Clallam County Health Department in recent years. The new CDC guidelines focus on funding HIV Prevention Programs for high risk populations based on HIV prevalence in the local area. Jefferson County is classified as a low prevalence county. In May 2011, JCPH submitted a successful RFP for continued funding of the Syringe Exchange Program (SEP), receiving $10,000 for 12 months, similar to the 2010 funding. The 2010 HIV prevention funding, $9,766, was a 50% reduction from the 2009 funding • level of $19,702. Then in July, 2011, funding was decreased to $5,000 with funding ending December 31, 2011. There is no state funding for 2012. The syringe exchange program success is not easily measured in disease prevention numbers but the number of clients seen and syringes exchanged reflects the disease transmission prevention capacity of this program. SEP utilization in number of visits was up significantly, from 81 in 2010 to 142 in 2011. There were 19 new clients, up from 13 new clients in 2010. The number of syringes rose from 9,156 to 17,726. The number of IDU prevention materials dispensed increased from 11,024 to 16,512. See tables and graphs on following pages. The 2012 state HIV prevention funding does not include any funding for HIV testing in low risk counties. The State Public Health Lab will continue to do a limited number of free tests for high risk clients but there is no funding for staff time for counseling and testing services. JCPH staff will continue to provide free HIV testing services for low income high risk clients with no medical coverage. Others requesting testing will be tested through the Quest lab and the cost of the testing will be billed to the client/insurance. For 2012, we'll be able to continue the free Hepatitis C testing program, which began in mid- 2008, as long as our current stock of test kits lasts. The free Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B) immunization program ended on 6/13/11, due to the end of vaccine funding through the Center for Disease Control. However, in September, 2011, Washington State Department of Health purchased an estimated 6 month supply of Twinrix to continue this statewide program. Jefferson County received 30 doses, which is enough to provide the three dose series to 10 high risk individuals. • COMMUNITY HEALTHPUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WATER QUALITY MAIN: (360)385-9400 ALWAYS WORKING FOR SAFER AND MAIN: (360) 385-9444 FAX: (360) 385-9401 HEALTHIER CO UNITY FAX: (360) 379-4487 SEP Participant Visits By Reported Syringe Use 80 - •69 70 60 =". 40 32 37 30 G, 20 9 t l 0 Each Each Each Unknown syringe syringe syringe used once used 2-5 used 6+ times times 2010 SEP Clinic Participant 2011 SEP Clinic Participant Visits by Zip Code Visits by Zip Code 1.2% ° 2...1,:./.° .1% ®x8368 5.8% a 9836 15.11 444,-. ■othervvithin ° other�hnthm 41.29% Jefferson Cty 6 9 feffersan Cty N ❑outside ra Jeffers ofPA ? Jefferson Cty Volt's-44,,,‘, g z R Jefferson Cty o. OE Inknnwn to Unknown • Syringe Exchange Utilization, 2000-2011 Jefferson County Washington 142 , 35,000 140 – t t Number of client visits --* Number of syringes 7 30,000 N 120 — exchang.ecf....._..........._._.. ....__. a) 7 24,585 25,000 ani 100 – as 21.133 81 20,000 80 – 18,060 17,905 17,726 3 65 70 65 63 58 –' 15,000 E 60 – 13,716 14,044 Ti 41 o 36 91 10,000• 40 – 9,222 — , 56 1 E I Z 20 – 14 16 �,OI 6 1 5,000 — ---1. 4.� 2,076 ! _ ,.. r 506 J...}..._l_1 ..f _ _i. —......1_.._...1_. 1...... }._. }..._ }_.._ } .; - Table 1 Materials Distributed by Jefferson County SEP Syringes IDU Prevention Condoms/ HIV Educational Referral Outreach Exchanged Prevention Kits2 Latex Tests Materials4 Informations Educations Materials' Barriers3 Offered 4110 2011 17,726 16,512 1 319 41 10 142 86 2010 9,156 11,024 4 102 36 7 67 29 2009 14,044 7,098 6 271 31 26 51 33 _ 2008 21,330 7,941 0 140 27 32 35 32 2007 24,585 _ 9,988 0 20 22 18 23 N/R6 2006 17,905 9,000 0 0 - 2 3 2 N/R 2005 13,716 _ 7,611 0 20 0 6 11 N/R 2004 18,060 7,265 6 228 N/O' 48 11 N/R 2003 9,222 1424 38 800 N/O 42 18 N/R 2002 4,206 1,026 35 427 N/O 50 NA N/R 2001 2,076 3 9 14 N/O 9 5 N/R 2000 506 _ 11 15 33 N/O 10 2 N/R Notes IDU Prevention Materials include:Tourniquets,cookers,cottons,sterile water,sharps containers,alcohol preps,antibiotic ointment,band aids and sterile pads for wounds,tape, hygiene items(toothbrush,soap,comb,and razor). Individual items are given on an as needed basis. 2 Prevention Kits include:sample quantity of tourniquets,cookers,cottons,sterile water,sharps containers,alcohol preps,antibiotic ointment,band aids,hygiene items(toothbrush,soap,comb,and razor) 3This number is for condoms dispensed in SEP only and does not account for the number of condoms SEP clients pick up in the lobby where there is a free supply available. Educational Materials include information on hepatitis, HIV,STDs,health alerts(ex.wound botulism),care of abscesses,street drugs,tattoo safety,needle reuse,IDU safety,domestic violence,immunizations SReferrals:Internal referrals include STD,HIV and Hepatitis B&C screening and counseling,tuberculosis screening,family planning and immunizations.External referrals include drug treatment,medical care,mental health care,domestic violence,food, clothing and shelter. 6Outreach education is defined as face-to-face education on safe injecting practices,vein care,blood borne pathogens,risk reduction methods,and other as needed 7N/0:Not offered 8N/R: Not reported 41111 Table 2 Jefferson County SEP Clinics/Demographics Client Clinics Clinic and New Returning visits Offered Drop-In Clients Client Reporting Visits' Visits' Secondary Exchange' 2011 100 142 19 123 110 2010 103 81 13 68 40 2009 102 65 12 53 35 2008 99 70 6 64 67 2007 97 65 9 56 58 2006 126 54 8 50 49 2005 119 35 6 30 29 2004 136 52 12 48 45 2003 119 58 9 55 53 2002 108 33 _ 1129 25 2001 98 14 6 - 9 5 2000 33 13 3 - 7 3 Note Represents duplicate clients 2012 Goals • Continue anonymous, safe services to promote revisits by clients and to encourage clients to tell their friends and contacts about SEP. • Continue dialog with clients regarding improvement of SEP services • Continue to offer free HIV testing and counseling at each visit through the state laboratory for low income high risk clients without medical coverage. • Continue to offer free Hepatitis C testing and counseling and Hepatitis A& B vaccine at each visit while supplies last. • Offer free Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine through the G.I.F.T. program for uninsured, low income clients who will have contact with infants less than one year of age. • Provide each new client with a prevention kit and hygiene materials, if available, condoms, educational materials and referral information. • Continue to educate clients on the importance and rational of using each syringe one time only. • Prioritize supplies to be stocked, keeping only those deemed necessary to maintain safe practices among IDU clients. Inform clients of alternative safe materials, such as using pop/soda bottles for the collection of used needles in lieu of sharps containers. Data Source:Jefferson County Public Health SEP Intake Records 04/11/2012 Prepared by Carol Burwell,PHN,Jefferson County Public Health 40 • Board of aCealth Netiv Business .agenda Item #117., 4 • Port `Fotivnsend Paper Corporation Landfill Permit date June 21, 2 01 • w sTnr� ii:i• ,iii • ryse iesu 00 STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY PO Box 47600 • Olympia, WA 98504-7600 •360-407-6000 711 for Washington Relay Service• Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341 May 2, 2012 Thomas Locke MD,MPH Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Dear Dr. Locke: Thank you for your March 8,2012, letter regarding the solid waste permit for Port Townsend Paper Company's (PTPC)landfill. I understand you talked to Director Sturdevant, and have confirmed that Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology)have a path forward to issue a permit. • Ecology understands that JCPH plans to reissue PTPC's inert waste landfill permit with additional conditions that will reestablish environmental monitoring and financial assurance requirements. Discussions on designation of the waste material will be deferred until they can be informed by results of the environmental monitoring,as well as by the characterization of ash from mill operations after PTPC completes its installation of the biomass-cogeneration project. As Director Sturdevant indicated in his telephone conversation with you,Ecology will accept this approach. Ecology reserves the right to revisit the designation issue once PTPC produces additional data. As we have previously stated, Ecology believes that waste materials in the range of pH 8.5 to pH 12.5 are not inherently inert, but recognizes the designation criteria allow for flexibility if the waste material is consistent in character and does not cause adverse environmental impacts. If you have additional questions or concerns,please contact me at(360)407-6103 or Peter Lyon, Southwest Region Section Manager, at(360)407-6381. Sincerely, Xatta_ejj' . 0 Laurie G. Davies • Waste 2 Resources Program Manager cc: Peter Lyon • • 110 TOWNSEND Port Townsend Paper Corporation Landfill Compliance and Agency Review and Oversight Key Points Port Townsend Paper Company (Company/PTPC) landfill operations are managed under a solid waste permit issued by the Jefferson County Health Department (Health Department). The Company's management practices are subject to independent oversight by the Health Department and Department of Ecology (Ecology).These agencies ensure that the landfill complies with the Solid Waste Handling Standards Regulation, Chapter 173-350 WAC. Permit History and Agency Oversight 1) The Company acquired the landfill property through two purchases: one in 1973 and another in 1983.The Company applied for and received a solid waste permit in 1983 for landfill operations, when the state first issued solid waste regulations. A solid waste permit, issued by the Health Department and renewed annually, has been maintained since the initial application through a succession of three applicable Ecology regulations: • Chapter 173-301 WAC, Chapter 173-304 WAC and the current regulation Chapter 173- 350 WAC.The landfill continues to operate in compliance with the permit issued by the Health Department. 2) The Health Department and Ecology have independent oversight authority over landfill operations. The Health Department is the primary regulatory agency, but it works closely with Ecology, which adopts the regulatory standards for solid waste handling facilities like the landfill. PTPC has worked closely with both agencies to make sure that the landfill complies with all applicable standards and that people and the environment are protected. When agencies requested additional measurement, evaluation, and/or monitoring information,the Company provided the requested information. Waste Classification, Historic Monitoring, Upcoming Monitoring 3) Waste Classification—The solid waste regulations define different categories of solid waste. The most chemically stable and least risky category is "inert". PTPC's waste was classified as inert between 1983 and 1990. At that time, Ecology determined that the waste was more appropriately classified as "limited purpose" waste. The Company disagreed with this determination, but when a review board agreed with Ecology, the Company began operating the site as a limited purpose landfill, which meant that certain additional regulatory requirements became applicable, including groundwater • monitoring. Page 1 of 3 6/2012 • • 4) Regulatory Changes—In 2003,the solid waste regulations were comprehensively rewritten. A new process was included by which solid waste generators could perform extensive chemical testing of solid waste, and if the testing supported reclassification, the new rules allowed the generator to present the new data to Ecology and the appropriate Health Department with a request for reclassification. The Company performed such testing in 2003 and presented substantial new chemical testing data to both agencies with a request that the waste be reclassified as inert. In 2004, both agencies agreed that the new data supported reclassifying the waste and from that time through the present,the waste has been managed as inert. 5) In 2012, Ecology again raised the question of waste classification. New staff at Ecology and the Health Department were concerned about the waste's pH,which is exhibits some alkalinity, and asked whether the waste ought to be managed as "limited purpose" waste. After some discussions between the two agencies and the Company, it was recognized that the waste material and site conditions remain unchanged. It was agreed that the waste is most appropriately classified as inert, and discussions continue regarding reinitiating groundwater monitoring and other operational and regulatory issues. The Company will continue to work with both agencies to address any concerns they have regarding the landfill and how solid waste is managed. Historic Monitoring • 6) Groundwater monitoring wells were installed in 1991 and monitored from late 1991 through 2004.The 12-plus years of monitoring demonstrated that the landfill does not impact groundwater and that it complied with solid waste permit requirements. When the "inert" classification was approved by the agencies, monitoring was discontinued with the consent of the Health Department and Ecology. Recently, in response to a request by the Health Department, the Company agreed to conduct some additional groundwater monitoring to characterize current conditions. Human Health and the Environment 7) The current and past landfill permits identify measures to manage the solid waste to protect human health and the environment, during landfill operation and after the landfill is closed.The Company uses an Operations Plan, approved by the agencies, that lists required current and future management and maintenance activities. 8) Some in the community have expressed concerns regarding the risk the landfill may pose to people's health. Exposure to landfill materials.could occur in only a few ways (pathways), such as through direct contact or transport by groundwater.These possible pathways are addressed by regulations, past and current Health Department Permits, Agency review and oversight, and the Company's Operations Plan. . Page 2 of 3 6/2012 • • Direct Contact. Consistent with regulations and the Permit, and as with other industrial activities,the Company restricts access to the landfill.The 20-to 25-acre landfill is located on a densely wooded, 250-acre parcel. The Company posts "Private Property-No Trespassing" signs on the property and locked gates block the access roads. The potential route of direct exposure is controlled through these measures. • Groundwater.The 12-plus years of quarterly groundwater sampling demonstrate that the landfill does not impact groundwater. In addition,there are no water supply wells downgradient of the landfill. In response to a recent request by the Health Department for current groundwater testing information,the Company will conduct some additional groundwater sampling. Future Landfill Management 9) The Company uses an Operations Plan, approved by the agencies,that lists required current and future management and maintenance activities.The Company, Ecology and the Health Department have agreed that the waste is appropriately classified as "inert". The Company continues to conduct periodic chemical analysis of the waste, and provides the results to agencies to demonstrate that the classification remains appropriate. • • Co-Generation Facility.When the co-generation facility begins operations, ash will be analyzed and the results provided to agencies to document the characteristics of the ash and show that the classification remains appropriate. The Company will work closely with Ecology and the Health Department to ensure an accurate analysis of the waste occurs and that the waste is appropriately classified and managed to protect human health and the environment. • Future Landfill Closure.When the landfill reaches capacity, as identified in the Closure Plan,the Company will notify the Health Department,filling will stop and the landfill will be graded, a soil cover will be constructed, and the cover vegetated. Post-closure maintenance will begin to maintain the landfill's integrity after active use has been terminated. • Page 3 of 3 6/2012 — JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH o? 615 Sheridan Street • Port Townsend •Washington • 98368www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org • Key Points JCPH Inert Waste Landfill Permit at Port Townsend Paper Company • The inert designation is not a lifetime designation. JCPH renews the permit annually. JCPH and Ecology documents clearly stated to PTPC that they would need to conduct further investigation and analysis to determine whether the material remained inert. o JCPH had not conducted further review until PTPC submitted an application for the Co- generation project. • A regulatory change is not necessary to re-designate the ash and limegrit waste. New information regarding risks and public health inform our decisions.Since JCPH issued the inert waste landfill permit in 2003, Ecology and JCPH became aware of risks that would prompt a new designation.This includes: o Proposed changes as a result of the Co-generation plant o New understanding about the risk of high pH wastes. • JCPH does not share the mill's perspective in their key points released in June that "it was agreed that the waste is most appropriately classified as inert." Our approach was to defer the designation issue and renew the inert permit with additional requirements including environmental monitoring and financial assurance. • JCPH expressed concern regarding public access to the site after a concerned citizen sent • photographs that appeared to be taken within the landfill site. 19891 JCPH issued PTPC a permit for an inert landfill. In September 1989, Ecology appealed the decision to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), a legal body that adjudicates Ecology's orders and decisions. 1990 PCHB Ruling that the material is not inert . PTPC begins operating as a Limited Purpose Landfill. 1990-2003 PTPC operates as a Limited Purpose Landfill under WAC 173-304 which required groundwater monitoring. 2003 Ecology promulgates the new Solid Waste Handling Rules—WAC 173-350. Liners and groundwater monitoring become requirements for Limited Purpose Landfills. In 2003, PTPC begins discussions with Ecology and JCPH to re-designate the wood ash and lime grits. PTPC submits the Landau report in support of the inert designation. 2004 PTPC applies for and receives Inert Waste Permit under WAC 173-350. Ecology concurs with the permit. PTPC discontinues groundwater monitoring. 2010 PTPC proposes a Biomass/Co generation plant,which would change the ratio of wood ash ' While JCPH issued previous inert permits,it was only in 1989 that Ecology appealed the decision of inert. COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ALWAYS WORKING FORA SAFER AND WATER QUALITY MAIN: (360)385-9400 MAIN: (360)385-9444 FAX:(360)385-9401 HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FAX: (360)379-4487 to lime grit and prompt a review of the inert designation. • 2011 JCPH informs PTPC of their intent to regulate them as a Limited Purpose Landfill under WAC 173-350. Ecology,JCPH, and PTPC meet twice to discuss the inert designation. Ecology summarizes the permit issues and determines it would be inappropriate for JCPH to issue an inert permit . JCPH and Ecology meet to confirm Ecology's position that the material is not inert and JCPH should permit them under a Limited Purpose Landfill. 8/31/2011 Ecology,JCPH, and PTPC meet to discuss moving from an inert waste landfill to a limited purpose landfill. 10/13/2011 Letter to E. Muehlethaler from Locke stating that he concurred with Ecology's assessment that the limegrits and ash do no meet the criteria for inert. 10/28/2011 Letter to Locke from Nellermoe (PTPC counsel) claiming that JCPH's decision to change the designation lacks legal basis and offer to meet to resolve the issue without litigating it. 11/10/2012 Letter to Nellermoe from Locke who accepted the invitation to meet and the goal of the meeting to outline the regulatory and public health concerns. 11/15/11 Inspection. Recommended actions included updating the operations and maintenance plans to reflect the proper pH analytical procedure and updating how to document correcting errors in lab log books. 11/21/2011 Letter to Wallendahl (PTPC Environmental Manager)from Mingo regarding the inspection and JCPH's intent to permit PTPC as a limited purpose landfill. 2/16/2012 Meeting with PTPC, Ecology, and JCPH and respective counsel.Three action items: 1. Mr. Sturdevant will provide an answer to Eveleen Muehlethaler as to Ecology's opinion on the suggested approaches. 2. Technical meeting with JCPH, PTPC, and Ecology Technical Staff 3. PTPC submit a permit application (after Ted answers regarding permit options • 3/8/2012 Letter to Laurie Davies from Locke requesting Ecology clarify the minimum permitting standards and to comment on Ecology's 2004 decision and whether or not the decision was in error or if new information 5/2/2012 Letter from Davies to Locke stating that Ecology will accept JCPH's approach to reissue an inert permit with environmental monitoring and financial assurance. Designation of the material can be deferred pending environmental results. 5/22/2012 Inspection, results pending. ( '15)).) 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Consent Agenda Doug England, Chelan County Commissioner, made a motion to approve the consent agenda that included the January 23,2012 Board of Health meeting minutes,January Payroll in the amount of$130,093.03,January Benefits in the amount of$37,527.48, approval of payment 2012 vouchers No. 20120029 through 20120098 in the amount of $63,695.07. Ken Stanton, Douglas County Commissioner, seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Program Update Barry Kling, Administrator/Environmental Health Director, reviewed the numeric results of the 2011 Environmental Health Customer Satisfaction Surveys. There were over 200 surveys returned and 93% to 100% scored the EH services within the good to high range. • Bev Neher,Nursing Director, was out ill so the Administrator shared on the Switchboard Quality Improvement project. He explained that all Health District incoming calls are now answered by the Personal Health front office staff The incoming calls can also be switched to the desks of the personal health program assistant or the administrative associate working on the second floor to serve as backup. They have been given cross training in Environmental Health as well as information sheets regarding which sanitarian covers which program and geographic areas so calls can generally be directed specifically to the staff member responsible or their voicemail. This has freed up more time for the two program assistants in Environmental Health to keep up with their varied responsibilities and better support the Registered Sanitarians. Board Discussion None Public Comment Two members of the public commented on the proposed O&M proposal: Keith Hightower, Tower Designs,Inc. emphasized the need for the Health District to provide more oversight of those doing the O&M system inspections. Mr. Hightower also recommended requiring that the O&M system inspectors have liability insurance. • Eric Stanaway,Tryways, said that proper training of O&M inspectors (other than the licensed designers) is essential, especially for the inspections done at the time of property sales. 1v Board of Health Meeting Minutes February 27,2012 Page 2 of 3 S New Business None Unfinished Business Barry Kling,Administrator/Environmental Health Director, presented a brief summary of the discussion from last month on the Operation and Maintenance Proposal and Resolution No. 2012-001. He requested further discussion on the following outstanding issues: • Whether installers should be permitted to get O&M permits after taking a test and meeting continuing education requirements. Our proposal would allow this and CDHD staff believe it makes sense. • How to deal with concerns about engineers without appropriate experience who nonetheless are willing to oversee O&M inspections. The staff proposal is to require that engineers be subject to the same testing and educational requirements as installers, since that would assure at least some reasonable level of understanding regarding on-site systems. According to the O&M WAC, local health jurisdictions do have the authority to impose such a requirement on engineers. • CDHD staff proposes that the fee for O&M testing be the same as the fee for installer's • test($180) and the annual permit fee also be the same as that for the installer's annual permit($120). After discussion,Russell Clark,Mayor, Rock Island, made a motion that engineers be required to take a test to qualify for an O&M permit. Keith Goehner, Chelan County Commissioner seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The Administrator/EH Director will move ahead with revisions and will present the O&M proposal for second reading next month. Last month the Chair directed the Administrator to check into lowering the interest rate on the current real estate contract for the Health District building. Diane Forhan, Associate Administrator, Support Services, said she'll be notified tomorrow if the Health District is approved to reduce the interest rate of the building from 5.6%to 3.75%. If approved, it will reduce the monthly payment by approximately $400. Reports Bev Neher,Nursing Director, was home ill and unable to attend the meeting. Mary Small, Associate Administrator, Community Health and Preparedness, reported that the number of influenza cases remains low locally and throughout Washington State. She reported good news on the federal funding. We are expecting flat or slightly increased • PHEPR funding for next year. Board of Health Meeting Minutes February 27, 2012 Page 3 of 3 • She is also working on the final draft of the 2011 Annual Report. Diane Forhan, Associate Administrator, Support Services, reported that the January revenue and expenses were in line with the 2012 budget. Also the State Audit is due to start March 5, and Board of Health members will be invited to attend the entrance conference. Barry Kling, Administrator/Environmental Health Director, reported that he is working with staff on quality improvement for EH programs. The Administrator found out today that the Health District got a small Robert Wood Johnson grant that will permit him to work with UW, DOH and state public health leaders from several other states to expand the Activities and Services Inventory he helped develop in Washington State. Executive Session: Ken Stanton, Douglas County Commissioner, made a motion to go into executive session at 4:52 p.m. to discuss labor negotiations for 15 minutes under RCW 42.30.140 (4) (a). The regular meeting reconvened at 5:05 p.m. Adjournment Ken Stanton,Douglas County Commissioner, made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:06 p.m. Karen Rutherford, Wenatchee City Council, seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Peter DeVries, Chair • • Board of Cealth 3vledia Report • June 21, 201 • Jefferson County Public Health April/May 2012 NEWS ARTICLES 1. "May 8 gathering in Port Townsend examines biomass efforts, Port Townsend Leader, May 6th, 2012. 2. "Free whooping cough shots in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Forks," Peninsula Daily News, May 13th, 2012. 3. "Toxin levels skyrocket at Anderson Lake," Peninsula Daily News, May 14th, 2012. 4. "No new cases here since April 13, but whooping cough virus still circulating in Jefferson County," Port Townsend Leader, May 15th, 2012. 5. "SmileMobile visits Chimacum, Quilcene," Port Townsend Leader, May 16th, 2012. 6. "Whooping cough vaccine here May 21," Port Townsend Leader, May 16th, 2012. 7. "Environmental groups appeal biomass approval," Port Townsend Leader, May 16th, 2012. 8. "Health official: Whooping cough not going away," Peninsula Daily News, May 17th, 2012. 9. "Board of Health denies biomass moratorium," Peninsula Daily News, May 17th, 2012. 10. "Anderson Lake remains closed after recent test," Peninsula Daily News, May 20th, 2012. 11. "Septic inspection: OK to do it yourself," Port Townsend Leader, May 23rd, 2012. 12. "Program for monitoring beaches begins," Peninsula Daily News, May 25th, 2012. 13. "Anderson Lake remains closed," Peninsula Daily News, May 28th, 2012. 14. "Drug take-back ongoing now," Port Townsend Leader, May 30th, 2012. 15. "Job pointless if you can't breathe," Port Townsend Leader, May 30th, 2012. • 16. "Jefferson Land Trust," City of Port Townsend Newsletter, June 2012. 17. "2good2toss.com," City of Port Townsend Newsletter, June 2012. 18. "Anderson Lake remains closed after toxin test," Peninsula Daily News, June 3rd, 2012. 19. "Beaches get weekly health check," Port Townsend Leader, June 6th, 1012. 20. "Foes of Port Angeles biomass plant digest judge's rejection of their appeal," Peninsula Daily News, June 13th, 2012. 21. "Biomass debate grows from global trends," Port Townsend Leader, June 13th, 2012. 22. "Mill landfill permit in limbo," Port Townsend Leader, June 13th, 2012. 23. "Summary: What PT Paper wants to do," Port Townsend Leader, June 13th, 2012. • 5/6/2012 8:15:00 PM,Port Townsend Leader • May 8 gathering in Port Townsend examines biomass efforts A presentation examines statewide efforts to reverse the renewable status of biomass at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. The program, "Biomass: What's Next," features energy consultant Bob Lynette, former advisory committee member to the Northwest Power Planning Council and current cochair of the North Olympic Group of Sierra Club. Lynette outlines the ways local proposals to build biomass energy plants could adversely affect the economy and imperil community health long into the future, and discusses what might be done to minimize these impacts, state promotional materials. Lynette has spent the past 35 years working in the energy industry. He has been an owner/chief operating officer of four renewable energy companies, served on the board of the American Wind Energy Association and U.S. Export Council for Renewable Energy, and presented more than 25 papers at national and international energy conferences. A question-and-answer session follows. The East Jefferson Biomass Committee of the • North Olympic Group of the Sierra Club hosts this event. • A Free whooping cough shots in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Forks Peninsula Daily News,Sunday, May 13, 2012. • Public health officials will offer free pertussis vaccinations in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Forks later this month. About 1,280 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, have been reported in Washington this year, and health officials believe the state could see as many as 3,000 cases by year's end. Twenty-six cases have been confirmed on the North Olympic Peninsula—21 in Jefferson County and five in Clallam County. Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, will brief the Clallam County Board of Health about pertussis Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Health Secretary Mary Selecky declared a pertussis epidemic April 3, and since then, officials have bought up the vaccine and made it available for free for people who don't have insurance. Because the adult booster for pertussis—called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis— has only been available since 2005, fewer than one in 10 adults have gotten the shot, and most don't even know they need it. Tdap vaccinations The Clallam County Health Department will offer free Tdap vaccinations for people with no medical insurance or • insurance that does not cover vaccinations Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at clinics in Port Angeles and Forks. Anyone 10 and older can get the shot at the Port Angeles clinic at 111 E. Third St. or the Forks clinic at 140 C St. while supplies last. No appointment is needed. Jefferson County Public Health will offer free whooping cough shots for uninsured residents who are 19 and older Mondays beginning May 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port Townsend clinic at 615 Sheridan St. The Tdap vaccine also will be available at Jefferson County Public Health's regular walk-in clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Why called whooping Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the"whooping" sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit. A highly contagious bacterial disease, it starts off like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications. • Health officials say the best way to protect infants who are too young to be to be fully immunized is to immunize older children and adults around them. Toxin levels skyrocket at Anderson Lake 1111 By Leah Leach Peninsula Daily News PORT TOWNSEND—The level of toxins in Anderson Lake skyrocketed more than 46 times last week. The popular trout-fishing lake,which was closed May 3—only days after it was opened for the fishing season April 28—remains closed to recreational use while the 410-acre state park around it stays open. The level of anatoxin-a, a potent and quick-acting nerve poison,was measured at 70.0 micrograms per liter in Anderson Lake last week. The safety threshold for the toxin is 1 microgram per liter. The week before,the level was 1.52,so the new results of tests on samples taken last Monday—which were announced late last week—showed an increase of 46.6 times. Anatoxin-a,a quick-acting poison that can cause convulsions and stop breathing,is a product of some species of blue-green algae, which flourishes in warm temperatures when sufficient nutrients,such as phosphates,are present. Algae can be benign, but at times,it creates toxins. Researchers don't understand why some species of blue-green algae begin to produce toxins,nor what makes them increase. A large bloom of toxin-producing algae is in Anderson Lake,said Greg Thomason,Jefferson County environmental health specialist, last week, after results from King County Environmental Labs were received. "There was a big bloom there when I took the sample on Monday,"he said."It didn't look very good. • "There were wide bands of scum both at the shoreline and as far as I could see,"he said."It not only has scum on the surface;it's also through the water column." Since 2006,Anderson Lake,which is between Port Townsend and Chimacum, has been closed during parts of the warmer months because of dangerous levels of toxins,especially anatoxin-a but also microcystin,which can cause skin irritation and—if ingested over a period of many years—can result in liver failure. The level of microcystin in Anderson Lake was measured at 1.8 micrograms last week,Thomason said. "Six micrograms[per liter]is the danger level,so we're well below that,but it's coming up,"he said. Anderson Lake is the only lake sampled in East Jefferson County that contained unsafe levels of algae-produced toxins. In Lake Leland, north of Quilcene,the level of anatoxin-a was 0.195 micrograms per liter—"still way low,"Thomason said. Microcystin was not detectable. Neither toxin could be detected in Gibbs Lake,which is south of Port Townsend. Although Crocker Lake—near the U.S. Highway 101-state Highway 104 intersection—has a bloom,no toxins could be detected, Thomason said. "Anderson stays closed.The others are open,"he summed up. Caution signs remain posted at Leland,Gibbs and Crocker because of the continuing presence of the type of algae that can produce toxins. The county's yellow caution sign warns lake users to refrain from drinking lake water and from swimming or boating in areas of • scum,while also keeping pets and livestock away from it and cleaning fish well and discarding guts. 'PP d 6//y/j� Caution is urged because the status of lake quality can change very quickly,and testing is always a week behind reality. Why does it happen? Researchers don't know,Thomason said. "A lot of people are trying to figure this out—in England,Europe,Australia,all over the world,"he said. "A lot of people are working on it,but nobody knows." He said the problem has worsened worldwide over the least few years.Since it affects more and more people,more attention is being paid. "Hopefully,we'll know more as time goes on,"Thomason said. "But we can't tell you why it's actually happening." All that is know is that the typical pattern,seen in lakes that are aging and are relatively shallow,is that algae blooms increase along with hours of daylight. In the case of Anderson Lake,"even though we didn't have very warm temperatures,we did have sunny weather,"Thomson said. "Last year,(Anderson Lake]was able to stay open for six weeks"after the beginning of the fishing season the last weekend in April. "That's the big question,"Thomason said. "Why it did that last year and why it's doing something different this year. "We just don't know." No toxic blue-green algae has been reported in Clallam County. • Because most lakes are deeper and clearer than many in East Jefferson County,algae produced toxins are less likely,Thomason has said. However,health officers do not test for toxins.Instead,they visually monitor lakes for signs of algae bloom. A Discover Pass—which is$10 for one day or$30 for an annual pass, and which can purchased at state parks—is needed to visit state parks. Algae blooms in Clallam County lakes should be reported to the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services' environmental health division by phoning 360-417-2258. Anyone who observes an algae bloom at a lake is urged to phone the Jefferson County Public Health Department at 360-385-9444. For more information about lake quality in Jefferson County,visit the environmental health website http://tinyurl.com/6z64ofy. • 5/15/2012 Port Townsend Leader •No new cases here since April 13, but whooping cough virus still circulating in Jefferson County Info about whooping cough For vaccination information, contact Jefferson Although there have been no new reports of whooping cough in Jefferson County since April County Public Health;"at 385-9400 or your local 13, health officials say the virus is still circulating health-care provideri in the community. For information on whooping cough from the state Because it still could have an impact on people, Department of Health, go to especially children, Jefferson County Public doh.wa.gov. Health has ordered whooping cough vaccine for adults 19 and older who don't have insurance or whose insurance won't cover the cost, said Julia Danskin, public health nursing director. Special Monday clinics have been set and begin on May 21 at the health department at 615 Sheridan St. in Port Townsend. The first clinic is from 1 to 4 p.m. at the department. "We hope people will get vaccinated, especially if they are going to be around infants," Danskin said. The vaccine is being provided through the state Department of Health. An administration fee may be charged on a sliding sale. The Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis (whooping cough) as well as • tetanus and diphtheria. The vaccine also is available at walk-in clinics from 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, after May 21. Danskin notes those clinics often are busy; consequently, wait times may be longer. As of Monday, May 14, there were 21 confirmed cases of pertussis in Jefferson County and six suspected cases, in which individuals had symptoms of pertussis and had contact with a confirmed case, but didn't meet the state's criteria, probably because they had started antibiotic treatment. Statewide, whooping cough reached epidemic levels last month, and through May 5, there were 1,284 cases throughout Washington, compared to 965 cases in all of 2011. There have been 26 confirmed cases on the North Olympic Peninsula in 2012, according to the health department. While infants are at the highest risk of complications, most of them get the disease through younger children and adults around them, health officials say. That's why officials urge that the best way to protect young children is to become immunized. Some Medicare Part D plans cover the vaccine as a pharmacy benefit. If vaccines are covered, Tdap can be obtained at pharmacies in Jefferson County. Clients are eligible for the free vaccine if their Part D plan does not cover other vaccines. • For more information, contact the health department at 385-9400. SmileMobile visits Chimacum,Quilcene • The SmileMobile, a fully equipped mobile dental clinic, scale fee system based on fam- SmileMobile stops at Quilcene is in Chimacum from May ily income. School. For an appointment, 21 through May 29 and in For interested Chimacum call Carrie Thompson at 765- Quilcene from May 30 residents, the SmileMobile is 3363,ext.249. through June 1.Appointments parked at Chimacum High Exams are given on are being accepted. School, 91 West Valley Road. Wednesday,May 30, with fol- Dental care is provided to Make an appointment by low-up appointments made as children through high school calling Heather Sebastian at space is available. age whose families have lim- 385-9400. Exams are given The SmileMobile is oper- ited incomes. on May 21-23, with follow-up ated by Washington Dental The SmileMobile accepts treatment scheduled as space Service Foundation, in the Washington state Services is available. partnership with Seattle Card and also has a sliding- In Quilcene, the Children's Hospital. • . Whooping cough vaccine here May 21 Although there have been Special Monday clinics against pertussis (whooping no new reports of whooping have been set and begin on cough) as well as tetanus cough in Jefferson County May 21 at the health depart- and diphtheria. since April 13, health offi- ment at 615 Sheridan St. The vaccine also is avail- cials say the virus is still cir- The first clinic is from 1 to able at walk-in clinics from culating in the community. 4 p.m. 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Because it still could have "We hope people will get Thursdays, after May 21. an impact on people, espe- vaccinated, especially if Danskin notes those din- cially children, Jefferson they are going to be around ics often are busy; conse- County Public Health has infants,"Danskin said. quently, wait times may be ordered vaccine for adults The vaccine is being longer. 19 and older who don't have provided through the state As of Monday, May 14, insurance or whose insur- Department of Health. An there were 21 confirmed ance won't cover the cost, administration fee may be cases of pertussis in said Julia Danskin, public charged on a sliding sale. .Jefferson County and six health nursing director. The Tdap vaccine protects suspected cases. • P Zea 64 A• 5/16/2012 Port Townsend Leader • Environmental groups appeal biomass approval Allison Arthur assistant editor Proof in the form of an environmental impact statement — that's what environmental groups *=E ' say they want from the state Department of Ecology and the Port Townsend Paper Corp. when it comes to the mill's proposed $55 � "t� 11"''‘""' million biomass project. � `� '� ' � .`mak To get the mill to do an EIS and prove it won't do harm to the environment or the health of the community, the groups have Environmental groups are appealing for PT Paper Corp. to decided to pursue an appeal of conduct an environmental impact statement before Thurston County Superior Court proceeding with a cogen project. Leader file photo Judge Thomas McPhee's March 29 oral decision and April 10 written "It's shocking that the Department of Ecology would allow decision. He agreed with the mill a multi-million dollar project with such broad-ranging and Ecology, stating an EIS isn't effects to proceed with no environmental impact needed. statement." • A court date has not been set for Pat Rasmussen the state Court of Appeals. coordinator World Temperate Rainforest Network "If it's adequately done, we believe they will find serious problems, such as the ones we've been raising," said PT AirWatchers director Gretchen Brewer on May 14 regarding conducting an EIS. Unclear is whether the notice of appeal will impact progress on the cogen project. Mill president Roger Loney said last month he expected the project to be up and running by the end of 2013. "The Department of Ecology and the Office of the Attorney General were very successful at defending the permit they granted to us and we are sure it will easily pass through this additional step," Loney wrote in an email Monday. "We remain focused on improving our costs and environmental footprint by reducing our oil consumption and air emissions," Loney said, adding a thank-you to the "2,600 people who have let us know they support the mill and this project." Next step for project As of Monday, the appeal had not been written; only a notice of an intention to file had been • submitted to the court. Brewer said other avenues to oppose the project would be pursued, including putting political pressure on organizations such as the Jefferson County Board of Health. Opponents also have gathered signatures on a petition. • Groups appealing include No Biomass Burn, Olympic Environmental Council, Olympic Forest Coalition, PT AirWatchers and the World Temperate Rainforest Network. Brewer said she did not know how much the appeal would cost, but she said groups, including the East Jefferson Biomass Committee of the North Olympic Group of the Sierra Club, are supporting appeal efforts. "It's shocking that the Department of Ecology would allow a multi-million dollar project with such broad-ranging effects to proceed with no environmental impact statement," said Pat Rasmussen, coordinator of the World Temperate Rainforest Network. Ruth Apter of Port Townsend, who is studying the effects of CO2 on local shellfish populations, is concerned about oyster beds throughout the area and acidification. "We're burning down the forest and calling it green," said Apter, a member of PT AirWatchers. "An increase in CO2 could be the tipping point. Increased burning means thousands more tons of climate-altering CO2 will be released into the atmosphere, when ocean waters have absorbed so much already that our native oysters are nearly wiped out." Questions on health impacts • Brewer and others continue to raise questions about the health impacts of ultrafine particles, particles that Ecology says are beyond the scope of the notice of construction permit that Ecology approved for the mill in 2010. Project proponents say the cogen project would reduce particulate emissions by 70 percent and allow the mill to reduce its use of fuel by 1.8 million gallons a year. Brewer and others, however, question how much traffic would increase on State Routes 19 and 20 with trucks bringing biomass material into the mill. Ecology officials have remained steadfast in that pollution control upgrades to Boiler No. 10 will lead to an overall reduction in pollution in Port Townsend. The mill is proposing to add $10 million in pollution control equipment and install a new steam turbine generator that will produce as much as 25 megawatts of power. Bill Wise, who has spoke in favor of the project in public, also did not have a comment on the appeal. The mill's project has been upheld three times now —first by Ecology, which concluded the mill didn't need to do an EIS, then by the state Pollution Control Hearings Board, which agreed with that decision, and then finally by Judge McPhee, who agreed with the hearings board's conclusion. • Health official: Whooping cough not going away y Rob 011ikainen Peninsula Daily News, May 17`h, 2012 PORT ANGELES—While there have been no new whooping cough cases reported in Clallam or Jefferson counties in weeks, the region's top public health official said the pertussis epidemic isn't going away anytime soon. "We will probably spend the better part of this year trying to bring this pertussis outbreak around the state under control," Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties,told the Clallam County Board of Health on Tuesday. Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the"whooping"sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit. A highly contagious bacterial disease, it starts off like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications. There have been 26 confirmed cases on the Peninsula so far this year—21 in Jefferson County and five in Clallam County. The state Department of Health reported Saturday that 1,484 cases have been reported statewide this year, up from 1,280 cases the week before. Health officials believe the state could see as many as 3,000 cases by year's end. "We are officially in a declared epidemic," Locke said. Locke gave a presentation to the medical staff of Olympic Medical Center on Monday, focusing on how to diagnose pertussis, treat it and do surveillance for it. • He has repeatedly urged people to be vaccinated for pertussis. "I think we are ramping up our effort, but this probably could be with us for some time,"Locke told the health board. State Health Secretary Mary Selecky declared a pertussis epidemic April 3. Health officials have ordered the vaccine and made it available for free for people who don't have insurance. Because the adult booster for pertussis—called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis—has been available only since 2005,fewer than one in 10 adults have gotten the shot, and most don't even know they need it. Health officials said the best way to protect infants who are too young to be to be fully immunized is to immunize older children and adults around them. The Clallam County Health Department will offer free Tdap vaccinations for people with no medical insurance or insurance that does not cover vaccinations Friday from 4 p.m.to 7 p.m. at clinics in Port Angeles and Forks. Anyone 10 and older can get the shot at the Port Angeles clinic at 111 E. Third St. or the Forks clinic at 140 C St. while supplies last. 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Z �x , 0x.0 U ca q J ^ ,, ~ 0 Anderson - Lake • remains closed after recent test .. BY LEAH LEACH cleaning fish well and discard- ing DAILY NEWS Other lakes safe guts. PORT TOWNSEND — In other lakes sampled, The status of lakes can The status of lakes in East only a trace of anatoxin-a was change quickly. Jefferson County. is found in Lake Leland, north Test results of water sam- unchanged after the most of Quilcene, with none ples taken Mondays are recent results of tests for detected in Gibbs, south of received at the end of each algae-created toxins were Port Townsend, or Crocker, week from King County Envi- received: Anderson Lake which is near the U.S. High- ronmental Labs, so measure- remains closed, and caution way 101-state Highway 104 ments lag about a week signs are still posted at intersection behind reality. Leland, Gibbs and Crocker No microcystin—another No toxic blue-green algae lakes. algae-produced toxin common has been reported in Clallam The level of anatoxin-a, a in East Jefferson County— County,where health officers powerful nerve poison that was detected in any lakes do not test for toxins.Instead, can that can cause convul- sampled. they visually monitor lakes sions and stop breathing,fell Microcystin can cause skin for signs of algae bloom. from 70 micrograms per liter irritation and,if ingested ever Report algae blooms in the second week of this month a period of many years, can Clallam County by phoning to 6.07 micrograms per liter result in liver failure. 360-417-2258. last week. Toxins are produced some Report algae blooms in Jef- ferson The safety threshold is 1 times by some species of blue- County by phoning • microgram per liter. algae. 360-385-9444. "It's gone down, but six Researchers know algae times over the guideline is flourishes in warm tempera- For more information still very high," said Mike tures when sufficient nutri- about lake quality in Jefferson Dawson, Jefferson County ents,such as phosphates,are County,visit the environmen environmental health special- present,but they don't under- tal health website http:// ist,on Friday. stand why some species of tinyurl.com/6z64o/y. A heavy bloom that had blue-green algae begin to pro- formed on the lake has duce toxins,nor what makes Managing Editor/News Leah thinned,Dawson said. them increase. Leach can be reached at 360-417- The lake within Anderson Caution signs are up at 3531 or at leah.leach®peninsula Lake State Park, which is three lakes because they con- dailynews.com. between Port Townsend and thin species of algae that are Chimacum,was closed May 3, known to sometimes produce mere days after it had opened toxins. for the start of the trout-fish- The county's yellow cau- ing season the last Saturday tion sign warns lake users to in April. refrain from drinking lake Toxins created by blue- water and from swimming or green algae have prompted boating in areas of scum, closures of the lake since 2006, while also keeping pets and when two dogs died on Memo- livestock away from it and rial Day weekend after drink- ing lake water. The 410-acre park around the lake remains open for recreation. A Discover Pass—which is$10 for one day or$30 for an annual pass and which can purchased at state parks—is • - needed to visit state parks. :/626//0L Septic inspection: OK to do it yourself By Tristan Hiegler of the Leader "I think it's really The Jefferson County going to-be user Board of Health passed a friendly when revision to its septic code on May 17 allowing septic we get it up and system owners to inspect running." their own system• after a certification process has David Sullivan been completed: county commissioner The code passed by a 5-1 vote, with County said. He said would like to Commissioner David see a more reasonable fee Sullivan opposed. implemented to encourage "I feel real good about the property owners to regu- ordinance itself," Sullivan larly inspect their systems, said in an interview. a practice that adds to their The new code allows for property value by keep- property owners to take ing the system in working online or on-site classes to order. become certified for their "I think it's really going particular septic system. It to be user friendly when costs $10 to become certi- we get it up and running," fied, plus $5 for each addi- he said. tional septic system a prop- Linda Atkins, an envi- erty owner is in charge of ronmental health special • - inspecting. ist with Jefferson County It costs$51 to file a corn- Environmental Health and pleted septic system inspec- Water Quality, said that tion form with the county. although the new septic code The $51 is an established was passed, the board man- fee for processing paper- dated some slight revisions. work, but the $10 and $5 She said most of the fees must be introduced revisions involve minor, into the fee schedule at the technical changes to the board's June 21 meeting. code, such as clarifying the However, Sullivan said rights of commercial prop- he isn't sure that having a erty owners to inspect their $51 fee charged every time own septic system. someone files their system The Board of Health's inspection paperwork is the next meeting is on best approach. Thursday, June 21, at 2:30 "There's really a discon- p.m. at Jefferson County nect for people to do their Public Health,615 Sheridan inspections,I feel,"Sullivan St., Port Townsend. • y 0 o v':7:4 o y 0 s.aa-0 - 0 0 - • C a,s-e-.5_, 2L-.' .ta:_,4.5 I tte, 1 eS 78> .5`E.....,---i ts) tipL-,..., cn`-c-"cs cn () a.-... c) 0 0.) Q \r‘N tL !O c �� TWO V yi» .-4 '4. > 0 m %I!)1J cin , , ,, ,_. p W E °-F'd ° O n O L? (14 '5,,,u) cri M,... ...; ;„,'10.0..) ,.cf,''F, .0 V C1 O U zH 4c-12 CUC h0 S"'-i O (113 0 V CO 0 -.,x � aaaascc al) __, HH 3 " a.,g OM rx g00 00-o i $)3 !jIfl!IiUiI � � ).vmx000cl � � , • ■� Qma � w �ia3cw . a 0 w>, 0• 0 a....-.'"' U > 0) O H 5 a.-., tf mmcu L Q RY j ®SIMI 3 ')'O nS '�'5 o a) .5 -.0 U 6" U o0 H!fl p a 7 S.) E .,,_, wog.) „,„ m „ . E.-:: g, ;i 1 r . n cC c„ ,,,, . , ,,,,. _ a 8.1.E ti 0 o > c PC17 CII a.4'•7 p yr-. c� 0 4:. amvi0 ar hC O ''''' i hp O cl �,^O V E .., ,, 0 . w„.. . 0 , „,„ 0 „..) . _ ... •,. 0 „ ,.. .....rie g 4 cn- aly A o 0 Cl o , o 0 :,.. 0U - emcO U • J ZIEN < C os.5 C; � _Ls•y C - -12 _ . t,s JJr. c ” Ar a c-., cn ORS 7CI) 1. G ac N o W0 5 • Anderson Lake remains closed By Leah Leach, Peninsula Daily News, May 28th, 2012 PORT TOWNSEND—Anderson Lake remains closed to recreation after the most recent test results showed that the level of a • powerful nerve poison in the water increased last week. The level of anatoxin-a,which can cause convulsions and stop breathing, rose to 17.5 micrograms per liter of water in test results received Friday from samples taken last Monday. The safety threshold is 1 microgram per liter. The level of the toxin,which is created by blue-green algae, had fallen to 6.07 micrograms per liter the week before after reaching a high of 70 micrograms per liter the second week of this month to 6.07 micrograms per liter last week. A moderate bloom remains on the lake, said Greg Thomason, Jefferson County environmental health specialist. Warm weather may encourage algae blooms in lakes in the days ahead, he said. "It's good weather for blooms,"he said. The 410-acre Anderson Lake State Park,which surrounds the lake, remains open for recreation. A Discover Pass—which is$10 for one day or$30 for an annual pass,and which can purchased at state parks—is needed to visit state parks. The lake within the park,which is between Port Townsend and Chimacum,was closed May 3, only a few days after it had opened for the start of the trout-fishing season the last Saturday in April. Toxins created by blue-green algae have prompted closures of the lake since 2006,when two dogs died Memorial Day weekend after • drinking lake water. In other lakes sampled, only a trace of anatoxin-a was found in Lake Leland, north of Quilcene,with none detected in Gibbs, south of Port Townsend. Crocker Lake,which is near the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 104,was not sampled last week. A trace of microcystin—another algae-produced toxin common in East Jefferson County—was detected in Anderson Lake. None could be found in Leland or Gibbs. Microcystin can cause skin irritation and, if ingested over a period of many years, can result in liver failure. Caution signs remain posted at Leland, Gibbs and Crocker lakes because they contain species of algae that are known to sometimes produce toxins. Researchers know algae flourishes in warm temperatures when sufficient nutrients, such as phosphates, are present, but they don't understand why some species of blue-green algae begin to produce toxins, nor what makes them increase. No toxic blue-green algae has been reported in Clallam County,where health officers do not test for toxins. Instead, they visually monitor lakes for signs of algae bloom. Report algae blooms in Clallam County by phoning 360-417-2258. Report algae blooms in Jefferson County by phoning 360-385-9444. • For more information about lake quality in Jefferson County,visit the environmental health website at http://tinyurl.com/6z64ofy. Drug take-back ongoing now The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and the Port Townsend Police Department have begun programs to take back and safely dispose of unwanted or expired'1nedica tions. This program helps keep such items out of landfills and the water supply.It is gaining momentum across the county. and the state as a safe way to dispose of unwanted medica- tions. Items that can be dropped off include prescription medi- cations,over-the-counter med- ications, vitamins, inhalers and unopened EpiPens. Items that can't be accept- ed include any liquids, empty containers, needles or syring- es, thermometers, IV bags, personal care products,bloody or infectious waste, opened • EpiPens, hydrogen peroxide and aerosol cans. Items dropped off at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office do not have to be in original containers.The office is at 79 Elkins Road and hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 385-3831 for information. Items dropped off at the Port Townsend Police Department, 1925 Blain St., must be in the original con- tainer. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,Monday through Friday. Call 385-2322. 110 /d// Job pointless if Agency] concluded that particulate • you can't breathe exposure causes early death and cardiovascular harm. It is likely Presently,Port Townsend Paper to cause respiratory harm. It may Company releases more than 1 cause cancer and reproductive and million pounds of PM 2.5 particu- developmental harm.The EPA goes lates a year into the air. Even if on to say that fine particulates can reduced by 70 percent, there will form in complicated reactions in still be a substantial amount left the atmosphere and are know as in the air that we breathe. The secondary particles. They make American Lung Association says up most of the fine particulate pol- that particulate matter emissions lution in the country. Currently, are the most significant health PM 2.5 and smaller particles threat from biomass power plants are not regulated and therefore and that chronic exposure to par- are not taken into account of the ticulates can shorten life by one to amounts being released. The state three years. Department of Ecology says that The [Environmental Protection Ecology is working to get toxic sub- stances out of the air we breathe by focusing special attention on the two worst pollutants — smoke• and diesel. If the cogeneration plant is built, it will burn 24/7 through air inversions and burn bans. The diesel semis and tugs will be deliv- ering fuel close to nonstop. The • additional traffic will cause more pollution and wear and tear on roads. • It is disappointing that Ecology has chosen to approve a permit for this project when it contradicts their own stated goals. When I first learned about the proposed cogen plant, I contacted Ecology and spoke with an employ- ee in the industrial section.During the course of the conversation, I was told that Port Townsend was a beautiful place,but they would not live there. I want to coexist with the mill, not become unhealthy because of it. The only thing that is green about forest biomass cogen is the money that out-of-town owners will make and forest resource workers will make while it lasts. Please research this informa- tion for yourselves.See who stands to gain and who stands to lose. What will be the costs and who will pay? We need jobs, but this is short-term gain with long-term consequences for our health and the environment. If you can't breathe, a job is not • worth much. CHRIS MARRS Port Townsend 6-4o/2 Jefferson Land Trust ✓!`' _ `:, • Have you ever wandered back into the woods at the bottom of Cook Avenue? Grand fir and cedar trees surround the Winona Wetlands, a haven for many birds, amphibians and other wildlife and one of the largest wetlands in the City's North Beach Drain- age Basin. The City, Jefferson County and Jefferson Land Trust have been partnering for several years to protect the mature forest, wetland buffers and floodplain areas of the Winona Basin. Last month 7 platted lots were acquired by the City with grant funding from Jefferson County Con- servation Futures Program and community contributions. Jefferson Land Trust secured the funding and facilitated the acquisition. In the last few years alone, the Land Trust acquired and transferred 15 acres of land to the City for wildlife habitat, storm-water retention and filtration, hiking trails and nature appreciation. Since 1996 the partners have been working together to protect a greenbelt of native vegetation and wetland habitats known as the Quimper Wildlife Corridor. Jefferson Land Trust provides docent led walks of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor the first Saturday of every month. Check out their website at www.saveland.orq for more information. • Do you have extra stuff piling up in your "41R.C9T1garage or attic? Or perhaps, you've combined households and now have two toasters, two blenders, or an extra set of dishes? Spring is the perfect time to de-clutter. But don't just toss it, 2good2toss it! You can sell or give away your useable items on 2good2toss.com. It's free, simple, and a good way of recycling items you no longer want, but other people may need. Check it out, get rid of something, find something! www.2good2toss.com For more information, email Pinky Feria Mingo at pinky@co.jefferson.wa.us or call 385-9444. • • 6-Z Anderson Lake . remains closed • after toxin test PENINSULA DAILY NEWS another algae-produced PORT TOWNSEND toxin common in East Jef- ferson County . — was Anderson Lake remained detected in Anderson, closed — and the status of Leland or Gibbs lakes. other East Jefferson County Microcystin can cause lakes was unchanged — skin irritation and, if after the most recent test ingested over a period of results were received last manyy years, can result in week. liver failure. "Things are holding Samples are taken each about the same as they were Monday, and results are last week,"said Mike Daw announced by Friday after son, Jefferson County envi testing at King County Friday.ronmental health specialist, on Environmental Labs. on Caution signs remain The level of anatoxin a,a posted at Leland,Gibbs and quick-acting nerve poison Crocker lakes because they that can cause convulsions contain species of algae that and stop breathing, rose are known to sometimes again last week in Anderson produce toxins. Lake,from 17.5 micrograms Researchers know algae per liter of water the week flourishes in warm temper- before to 27.6 micrograms atures when sufficient • per liter this week. nutrients, such as phos- The safety threshold is 1 phates, are present, but microgram per liter. theydon't understand why The 410 acre Anderson some s ecies of blue-green Lake State Park,which sur algae betox- gin for recreation. to produce blue-green rounds the lake, remains ins, nor what makes them The lake within the park, increase. which is between Port No toxic blue-green algae Townsend and Chimacum, has been reported in Clal- was closed May 3,only a few lam County, where health days after it had opened for officers do not test for tox- the start of the trout-fishing ins. Instead, they visually season the last Saturday in monitor lakes for signs of April. algae bloom. Toxins created by blue- A Discover Pass—which green algae have prompted is$10 for one day or$30 for closures of the lake since an annual pass, and which 2006, when two dogs died can purchased at state Memorial Day weekend parks — is needed to visit after drinking lake water. state parks. Last week, a moderate Report algae blooms in bloom remained on Ander- Clallam County by phoning son Lake,and slight blooms 360-417-2258. could be seen on Leland and Report algae blooms in Gibbs lakes. , Jefferson County by phon- Only a trace of anatoxin- ing 360-385-9444. a was found in Lake Leland, For more information north of Quilcene,with none about lake quality in Jeffer- detected in Gibbs, south of son County, visit the envi- • Port Townsend. • ronmental health website at No microcystin — http://tinyurl.com/6z64ofy. 6/-1//°6 ° Beaches get weekly health check • As the weather warms to protect people from ill- ed by the state Department up, so does the state's Beach nesses spread by bacte- of Ecology, keeps an eye on Environmental Assessment, ria in the water. Samples beaches because fecal-contam- Communication and Health from Camp Parsons, Fort Mated waters can result in (BEACH) program, which Worden State Park and gastroenteritis, skin rashes, begins regular monitoring Herb Beck Marina are upper respiratory infections of the state's most popular to be collected and test- and other illnesses. Children saltwater beaches. ed weekly May through and the elderly may be more Three sites in Jefferson September this year. vulnerable to waterborne ill- County have been identified The program, conduct- nesses. Sources of bacteria include sewer overflows, discharges from improperly maintained septic systems and wastewa- ter treatment plants, sewage spills, as well as feces from dogs,wildlife and birds. When bacteria results are high,signs are posted so that people are notified of a higher risk of illness and instructed on how they can avoid getting sick from playing in saltwa- ter. Jointly coordinated by Ecology and the state Department of Health, the annual program is imple- mented by local health agen- cies, tribal nations, university coordinators, nonprofits, and volunteers. PICK UP PET WASTE Residents and users can help keep beaches clean by scooping their pets' waste. inspecting and maintaining home septic systems, remov- ing trash from the beach — especially diapers — and pumping all recreational tanks at authorized pump stations. For more informa- tion, contact Sandy Howard at 407-6408 or sandy.howard,Lecy.wa.goy. • 64/0L Foes of Port Angeles biomass plant digest judge's rejection of their appeal Peninsula Daily News,June 13,2012 • w R 114 , 1410 $ 44,tolf6594 7. �,� l i a a.. a, ksa '`sM Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Work continues on the cogeneration plant at Nippon Paper Industries in Port Angeles. By Paul Gottlieb Peninsula Daily News PORT ANGELES—Seven environmental groups who oppose a $71 million biomass expansion project under construction at Nippon Paper Industries Inc.'s Ediz Hook plant are pondering their next move after an appeal was rejected in Thurston County Superior Court. Judge James Dixon on Friday rejected an appeal of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency's permit for the plant, which is slated for completion in April 2013. • He granted a motion for summary judgment that stops the appeal in its tracks, prevents the issue from proceeding to trial in Dixon's court and sets up a possible future appeal to the state Court of Appeals. The challenge was filed by Protect the Peninsula's Future, PT AirWatchers, the North Olympic Group of the Sierra Club, No Biomass Burn, World Temperate Rainforest Network, the Olympic Forest Coalition and the Olympic Environmental Council. It was filed against the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency—or ORCAA—the state Department of Ecology and Nippon in response to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board action upholding ORCAA's permit. Dixon's opinion likely will be issued by June 22, Dixon's judicial assistant, Debbie Requa, said Tuesday. Bob Lynette of Sequim, who represents Protect the Peninsula's Future and the Sierra Club chapter, said Monday a decision would be made on filing an appeal to the state Court of Appeals after Dixon releases his written opinion. The groups who filed the appeal "need to read the written opinion before we can say anything," Lynette said. But Nippon was left"very pleased" by the ruling, mill manager Harold Norlund said Monday. The biomass project's 100-foot-tall boiler, which will arrive in Port Angeles in about 250 truckloads—and be assembled truckload by truckload—will be erected beginning in about three weeks, Norlund said. • "Every appeal all the way through this has been won," Norlund said. "Not only are we confident that we've got really good equipment and the right equipment for the job, the steel for the boiler is being assembled, and it's going to be here in a few days." Lynette said existing regulations do not guard against tiny ultra-fine particles that are far smaller than the size of particles that are regulated but will still be produced by the high-temperature burning of biomass—wood waste— to produce steam that turns a turbine to produce electricity. "Our basic position is very simple," Lynette said. • "The regulations that exist today simply don't protect public health." Biomass opponents have said that ultra-fine particles can damage health but are not separately regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. They have fought both the Nippon biomass expansion and a$55 million upgrade at the Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill. Norlund said the final exhaust out of the boiler goes through various pollution-control devices to limit pollution as much as possible. "Those are regulations that ORCAA and Ecology set," Norlund said. "If you want to change the law, go to legislation," he said. "Why penalize us for following the regulations?We always knew we had a good project. It's curious why all these appeals are going on when it's clear that this[project]was done properly." The hearings board had upheld—also on summary judgment—the Clean Air Agency's determination that Nippon used "best available control technology"for pollutants that will be emitted by Nippon's plant. The opponents said in their opening brief that the new boiler"consists merely of good combustion practices and • outdated add-on technology that has been in use for three decades." The failure to require Nippon to employ more modern technology that would "significantly reduce" the release of volatile organic compounds violates the state Clean Air Act, the brief said, arguing that Nippon would not be able to meet state and federal pollution emission limits. But speculation about whether Nippon meets emission requirements"is beside the point," Ecology said in a responding brief. The agency said Nippon must monitor pollution emissions, and if Nippon cannot meet emission limits, those limits will be re-evaluated. Ecology can then determine if another permit—a prevention-of-significant-deterioration permit—will be required, the agency said. Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at Paul.gottliebPpeninsuladailynews.com. Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - Port Townsend, Jetterson Lounty & ulympi... rage i or D 4111 Daily news, connections for Port Townsend & Jefferson County, Washington Wednesday,June 13,2012 Biomass debate grows from global trends PT Paper proposal awaits court ruling Scott Wilson publisher Wednesday,June 13,2012 America is in the midst of a sea change in its approach to energy, and also a sea change � �, in its approach to emissions that contribute to global warming and health issues. Port Townsend Paper Corp., Jefferson County's e4", e + largest industrial employer since 1927, is in 9 the middle of both trends. � PT Paper is one of dozens of biomass- burning plants seeking permits across the � ,� < _ fl _ . � , U.S. Simultaneously, eight other mills in ' 4 western Washington seek permits, including ' t" ° Nippon Paper Industries in Port Angeles, to m 1,a' O join the 10 mills that already burn biomass toa one degree or another. � The Port Townsend Paper Corp. acquired property Like the others, the PT Paper proposal is to between the mill site and Fort Townsend State Park in expand its current biomass-burning 1973. It mined clay deposits to line a treatment pond. capability to generate the heat needed for In 1983, the mill received a permit to operate a making pulp and containerboard, and to landfill of inert material, and has been hauling ash and generate the electricity needed to operate lime grit there ever since. It is unclear where the mill the mill, with extra megawatts to sell into the deposited ash and lime before then. Photo by Patrick nation's power grid. Local and regional J. Sullivan environmentalists are working to stop the project. READ MORE in the June 13 edition of the Leader including "Summary: What PT Paper wants to do" `Green' energy? • On the energy front: The U.S. is moving closer toward energy independence from Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - Port Townsend, Jefferson Lounty CZ uiympi... rage z of J Middle Eastern oil. Net petroleum imports have fallen from 60 percent in 2005 to 42 ,„ �� o� percent today, according to Daniel Yergin, � _ •_,. ,,, ,_ chair of IHS Cambridge Energy Research ° , Associates. Part of this shift is due to a national emphasis on renewable energy ► , - , e-,..,.--,,!.-,-,.40..,,.,, sources, promoted through a variety of state , � - and federal subsidies and tax credits, r, '" a° `' ' ` government investments, technology �� ;~ i � , �, . �: a �3 f y improvements and shifts in market forces. The controlled incineration of woody debris r from the forests and urban wood leftover from construction — "biomass" for short— is 0'4.15 p :..,:t„,, ,.., t,,,,, 0.,.?! ,,1,, 'w. ,T p ovi vto --,,,,, ;''',4 considered by federal and state government :. regulators to be renewable, "green" energy. ; , It is grouped with solar, wind and tidal energy sources to qualify for government support. Timeline for PT Paper biomass plant 1927: Zellerbach Corp. wants to build a kraft paper mill in As a result, PT Paper's biomass-burning, the Pacific Northwest. The company eyes Aberdeen, but cogeneration plan (cogeneration means one d residents Pass a ewrt water system to serve the townandd proposed milelection to l. process process has the dual benefit of providing heat and energy) benefits from subsidies, tax breaks and other government support. • 1928: Zellerbach Corp. merges with Crown Willamette It is estimated that half of the $55 million Paper Co.; the firm takes the name Crown Zellerbach project cost would come from federal Corp. The PT mill opens in October 1928. The mill sources. produces unbleached container board, pulp and kraft paper. "Market and policy forces are increasingly driving strong interest in biomass as a fuel source to reduce the environmental impact 1983: Haindl Papier GmbH of West Germany purchases of energy production and expand the mill on Dec. 20, 1983. The mill officially becomes Port development of domestic and renewable Townsend Paper Co., with 500 employees. energy sources," said Enesta Jones, spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Biomass is used most efficiently for power and heat production in 1997: Haindl Papier GmbH sells PT Paper to Northwest combined heat and power projects" like that Capital Appreciation, Inc. (NWC), a private equity firm. PT Paper has been on the sales block for two years and proposed at PT Paper. losing money. Environment 1998-2001: The new owners and managers are credited with saving the mill from closure. But the mill is hit by On the environmental front, the last decade Asia's economic crisis, the primary export market. A plan to shift product to North American markets prompts a has seen a sharp upswing in concern over search for packaging manufacturers to buy. In March • the impacts of global warming from man- 2001, PT Paper buys Crown Packaging of British made sources, especially the increase in Columbia, Canada, for$61.5 million. PT Paper's bag Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - Port 1 ownsend, Jetterson Lounty & utympi... rage i 01 carbon dioxide emissions. The Global plant closes in late 2001. Carbon Project, an international `collaboration of scientists, reported that global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning rose by a record 5.9 2004: The company's new debt structure provides new percent in 2010. Air pollution from industrial cash. Because the notes were sold on the open market, it sources is subjected by regulators to also pulls PT Paper into the regulatory reach of the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). increasingly stringent emission restrictions and increasingly vocal public health concerns. 2007: PT Paper goes through bankruptcy reorganization and emerges with a new ownership group, led by Goldentree Asset Management, a New York equity The proposal, its supporters investment firm and hedge fund that held most of PT Paper's bonds. Against this broad background, PT Paper's biomass-burning cogeneration proposal has local and powerful impacts and implications. May, 2010: PT Paper applies for permission from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology)to upgrade PT Paper and its biomass proposal is Power Boiler 10 and the recovery furnace to primarily regulated by the U.S. Environmental burn biomass, and to install a steam turbine to produce 24 megawatts of electricity. PT Paper would create a new Protection Agency (EPA), which has corporate entity in partnership with Sterling Planet, a delegated oversight of this plant to the renewable-energy wholesaler based in Atlanta, to own Washington State Department of Ecology and operate the new plant. (DOE) to enforce federal clean air standards. DOE evaluated the PT Paper proposal and issued permission for it on Oct. Oct. 22, 2010: Ecology issues order concluding PT 25, 2010. Paper does not need further environmental review and allows PT Paper to do the upgrade, via approving a "Ecology's job was to thoroughly evaluate notice of construction (NOC). the mill's project and the public's feedback to decide if the project complies with current environmental requirements. We did and found no reason to deny this project," said Nov. 22, 2010: PT Air Watchers, Olympic Environmental DOE manager Laurie Davis at the time. Council, Olympic Forest Coalition, No Biomass Burn, World Temperate Rainforest Network appeal Ecology decision to the Pollution Control Hearings Board, an The order, in the form of a notice of administrative review panel. construction (NOC), allowed upgrades toward burning more biomass and added more stringent air pollution controls to the mill's current limits. May 2011: Hearings board upholds Ecology and PT Paper. Environmental groups appeal to Thurston County In terms of jobs, PT Paper employs 285 Superior Court. hourly and salaried personnel. Another 15 or so full-time contractors are on the site, for about 300 on an average day (two shifts per March 29, 2012: Thurston County Superior Court Judge 24-hour period). The cogeneration proposal, Thomas McPhee affirms Ecology's decision. if launched, would employ about 35 to Environmental groups appeal to a state appeals court. A construct it and then about 30 people to final ruling is expected this year. operate it. Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leaner - Fort I ownsena, Jerrerson county aL rage -r U1 3 Community supporters of the project, led by Bill Wise, a Team Jefferson board member • who maintains an active support blog December 2013: If the proposal is approved by courts, (ptcogen.blogspot.com) say the and if economics and energy policies are favorable, this is cogeneration project would help sustain PT PT Paper's estimated completion date for the biomass- Paper's direct employment in a time of burning cogeneration plant. financial uncertainty, and would add many new jobs, as well. "We get cleaner air," Wise told a community group last month. "We create renewable energy. And we save jobs. That's a pretty big threesome to argue against." Questions, criticism The project has also generated persistent opposition. Two groups, PT AirWatchers, led by Gretchen Brewer (ptairwatchers.org), and a local committee of the Sierra Club, led by former Port Townsend mayor Kees Kolff (ejbcsierraclub.org), have joined other groups to challenge the PT Paper proposal both in public and in the courts. The cogeneration proposal was approved by DOE on Oct. 22, 2010, but appealed by this coalition to an administrative hearings board a month later. In May 2011, the hearings board supported the DOE approval. • The coalition appealed to Thurston County Superior Court. On March 29, 2012, that court supported the DOE approval. Two weeks ago, the coalition further appealed to the state Court of Appeals. That body has yet to hear the case. The next and final step, pending that outcome, would be the Washington State Supreme Court. The central argument of the appeals is that DOE should have required a more complete environmental impact review, but to date that has been rebuffed. The thrust of the critics' public information campaign is questions about health, the environment and economics. Among them: • Despite the new air pollution control equipment, emissions and especially tiny particulates will still be dangerous to human health. • Despite the claims of government regulators and PT Paper, the project will pose a net increase in carbon dioxide emissions. • Despite arguments that the cogeneration plant can support PT Paper's job base, the . cogeneration plant will be owned by a separate corporate entity. PT Paper jobs could still be cut. Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - tort ownsena, Jefferson county « viynlpi... rage J 01 J • The landfill used for leftover ash may pose health risks. "It will massively increase the amount of [carbon dioxide] in the air and it's not going to protect jobs," Brewer told the Leader in March. "These projects would not be viable without taxpayer subsidies." Opponents have been generating signatures on petitions that call for local governments in both Jefferson and Clallam counties to impose a moratorium on biomass-burning facilities. Proponents of the project challenge the critics on each of these points. The debate goes on as the project makes its way through the courts, and as the economics of PT Paper and its proposed cogeneration plant shift with the economy and with energy policy. Partisans disagree on matters of politics, policy, science and economics. Because so many of the questions are scientific or technical in nature, studies play an important role in the debate. But even those are not necessarily conclusive. Sally Aerts of Port Townsend, who recently retired from and sold Uptown Physical Therapy to focus on her University of Washington studies toward a master's degree in public health, recently completed a review of the leading national studies on the health impacts of biomass. "There are forestry industry studies and environmental studies," she said, that come to predictably different conclusions. • • S fort lownsena 6L Jefferson �ouriiy r,cauer - run. IOWIISCIIU, JcircrSvu wumy cx viyiuNk... rages 1 ui 7 ptleadcr. Daily news, connections for Port Townsend & Jefferson County, Washington Wednesday,June 13,2012 Mill landfill permit in limbo State, county want mill to test water, give financial plan Allison Arthur assistant editor Wednesday,June 13,2012 Port Townsend Paper Corp.'s 40-year-old landfill is at the core of a controversy over <�&s ,,,. the mill's response to environmental rules. The landfill is the only active ash landfill in -- °""-°---- , , � ,, ; the state that has a permit for supposedly w ,4 inert material, according to state and county s, t . ��' • regulators. That level of permitting requires o'KMT neither quarterly groundwater monitoring , ,-, K ,4- tests nor proof the mill has the financial � -� �f �E k s ' #u✓ rte ojt �" x 4` means to close the landfill when it is full. p � �� 1 That now raises questions from the state 1: t App,,D.i wa f x Department of Eology (DOE), from � `" ` -,3p Jefferson County Public Health and from opponents of the mill's $55 million biomass- - , 4 4. $:i � :,114 burning cogeneration project. Several are ' car. , calling for more stringent regulations on the ; landfill. The landfill, currently about 25 acres, Al e. sits in the middle of a 250 acre parcel owned ..?-4, . by the mill. The site is located between the Here, the map shows where the landfill is in relation mill and Fort Townsend State Park. to the mill. The landfill makes up 25 acres of a 250- acre site. State and county officials are discussing Mill officials respond that the landfill is what landfill regulations are needed as Port Townsend "basic" and qualifies as an inert-material Paper Corp. attempts to expand its burning of landfill. They add that thelandfill has the biomass, which mill officials acknowledge will capacity to accept ash, even with the produce a larger volume of ash. Image by Leader increased volume that would be coming from Graphix based on map from Jefferson County Public the proposed biomass plant, for decades Health file on Port Townsend paper mill • into the future. "We still believe we have 30-plus years, Port l ownsend & Jetterson county Leauer - roil i ownsenu, Jerierson county o, viyinp.... ragc u1 7 even when we add the new ash," said Eveleen Muehlethaler, vice president of ! ,.. environmental affairs for the mill. . :.' , '),,,,, ,',,,, 'iv ` ,. 4 p , �. '" c-JAS i n ' Closer look Government regulators, however, are taking ,,,,,,c,,,,,,,,,,,,,„ a closer look. 4 f* clk.m, .A, II ,4., rei ... . ,,, p,,,,, For the past 18 months, Jefferson County , ; and DOE have discussed upgrading the landfill's regulations through a limitedis rii Lotti. tt.,,,„ 1,,y3 .,,,,v,., ,„,,.,:, 1411 ,. .. 4,.r, purpose landfill permit (LPL). Unlike the , current basic regulations that apply to an . jailmt„,,.4.„ f i - , inert landfill, the LPL would require quarterly ` testing of the groundwater beneath the Paper PT permit history It would also require financial assurance that the company has the The path that Port Townsend Paper Corp. has taken from resources to safely close the landfill. its landfill being regulated as inert to an LPL landfill and then back to inert is a long and winding road from 1989 to Although the state oversees environmental today—through changes in regulations, a state hearings board decision, a reversal of the state Department of regulations, the landfill portion falls under the Ecology (DOE) decision, and a study by the mill done by jurisdiction of the county health department. Landau Associates, which the mill points to as proof it • (DOE can appeal county health department should still be considered an inert landfill. decisions.) The county has yet to issue a 2012 permit, so the landfill is operating From an environmental history standpoint the mill's under the 2011 permit, which lists the landfill was first permitted in August 1989 by Jefferson County's Health Department under WAC 173-304. It was landfill's contents as inert. permitted as an inert landfill and not required to conduct groundwater quality monitoring, according to an April 27, Mill officials think that is appropriate. 2011 memo Lyon wrote outlining the history. "We are still an inert waste site," said A month later, in September 1989, the state was already appealing that inert permit to the state Pollution Control Muehlethaler. "The rules haven't changed. Hearings Board, arguing the waste "didn't meet the The site hasn't changed. The material hasn't definition of inert." changed. That site is an inert site." The state Pollution Control Hearings Board ruled a year "We have a basic simple permit," agreed later—in August of 1990—that the state was right. Roger A. Loney, president of Port Townsend Paper Corp. "DOE has proven that both physical and chemical reactions occur when water contacts the grit and ash. This occurs whether or not the water is acidic. Therefore, The mill tested groundwater under the the grits and ash are not inert," the Pollution Control landfill for 12 years, until 2004, according to Hearings Board ruled. DOE officials. Those tests indicated that chemicals from biomass ash and lime grit, After that, the county started permitting the mill's landfill waste products of the pulp-making process, as a Limited Purpose Landfill under WAC 173-304-460. were not leaching into the groundwater. • But then DOE started drafting new rules for solid waste handling in 1999 and WAC 173-350-990 created a County and DOE regulators say they would category for listed wastes presumed to be inert, which Port Townsend & Jetterson Loamy Leaaer - ron rownsenu, Jelrersun Loamy oc, veyrr1N1... rage J ur 7 like the mill to restart the tests. PT Paper included cured concrete, brick and things like glass and has agreed, but not yet on a permanent aluminum. • basis. In June 2003, the mill proposed that its boiler ash and In a statement released to the Leader on lime grits met the criteria for inert and hired Landau June 6, mill officials say they have agreed Associates to study that issue. "to conduct some additional groundwater In November of 2003, according to Lyon's letter, DOE monitoring to characterize current staff had recommended that the health district accept a conditions" and will do some additional request by the mill for a variance to the LPL liner groundwater sampling. They do not specify requirements for the next permit cycle, "without making a how many wells or how long the tests will determination on the character of the waste." run. Mill officials have not said whether they will object to a shift to an LPL permit. In a letter dated April 7, 2004 to Larry Fay, Jefferson County's Environmental Health Director at the time, Cris Matthews of DOE's Solid Waste and Financial Assistance Program, wrote a letter that concluded "that the boiler ash and lime grits, as characterized in the November 2003 Landfill targeted evaluation, met the criteria of WAC 173-350-990 for inert waste." Opponents of PT Paper's plans to expand That Matthews letter also suggests that Jefferson County the burning of biomass have targeted the "require some form of future periodic characterization to inert landfill permit for concern and an demonstrate that these materials remain, in fact, inert." avenue for appeal. In his letter last year, Lyon noted that"throughout the Several, including Gretchen Brewer, director review and the decision process, the reviewing staff and their immediate me of o of PT AirWatchers, and Dave McWethy, an 1989 permit appeal andanagers PCHBwere's 1990unawardecision.Ed • activist not associated with a group, spoke at the Jefferson County Board of Health As a result of that Ecology agreement with an inert meeting in May, urging an upgrade of the permit, Jefferson County issued an inert permit in mid mill's landfill permit to an LPL. AirWatchers 2004, which has remained in effect since"with some is one of several environmental groups that modifications." have appealed a permit for PT Paper's Last year, after Lyon reviewed the history, he wrote, "In biomass plans to an administrative panel view of these circumstances, Ecology finds that it is not and now the state Court of Appeals. appropriate to consider PTPC's boiler ash and lime grits as an inert waste." McWethy said the landfill permit should come up again at the June 21 county health Landfill permits are renewed annually. Jefferson County board meeting, set for 2:30 p.m. at the has not yet issued the mill for an inert landfill permit for health department, 615 Sheridan St. in Port 2012. Memos have been flying since the first of the year over what to do with it, with the director of Ecology, Ted Townsend. Sturdevant, coming to Port Townsend in February to discuss what action to take. "They are getting an unreasonable special deal that does not protect health or the "I think there are questions about whether there has been future finances of the people in Jefferson adequate monitoring of the wells," said Laurie G. Davies, Waste 2 Resources Program Manager for the state, who County," said McWethy. oversees landfills throughout the state. "It is a big issue," said Brewer. "For one, it [the landfill] is up there on top of the bluff • and there's a question over whether there's PT landfill barium tests runoff down into [Port Townsend Bay] or into the groundwater." The question about pH levels at the Port Townsend Fort 1 ownsend & Jeirerson k.,ounty Leauer - i ownsenu, Jerlerson wuiuy «, viyiiipi... rage + of 7 McWethy and Brewer question the toxicity of Paper Corp. solid waste landfill has to do, in part, with the ash and lime grit. They ask whatteethe sbarium, is leaching into the chemical gthat can be harmful to human • assurance currently exists that the mill will deal with the landfill once it is full. Eating or drinking large amounts of barium compounds that dissolve in water or in the stomach can cause Brewer noted that the landfill, because it is changes in heart rhythm or paralysis in humans, regulated by a county agency, is one of the according to a public health statement put out by the U.S. only PT Paper issues that local voters can Department of Health and Human Services in 2007. influence. All three Jefferson County commissioners sit on the county health (www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp24.pdf). board, which oversees the county's environmental health department. The The most recent water test that Ecology said it has on file department regulates not the PT Paper from the mill coversg landfill operations and monitoring in g just2004, accordinto Ecology spokeswoman Linda Kent. landfill, but seven others located in this county. "Between 1992 and 2003 barium in upgradient well (PTPC-1) ranged from 40 to 70 ug/I (highest value in McWethy has called for a public hearing on 1992) and in the downgradient well (PTPC-4) from 55 the mill's landfill. But that has never been through 246 ug/I (highest value in 1997). This compares with a Washington state groundwater quality criteria done before, according to Pinky Feria (Chapter 173-200 WAC) MCL of 1,000 ug/I," according to Mingo, the county's environmental health Lyon. specialist and the point person on the landfill. Prior to coming here, she spent 20 In layman's terms, the most recent public test of barium, years with the state hazardous waste and recorded in 2004, showed a barium level of 245 toxic reduction program. micrograms. The state's groundwater quality standard for barium is 1,000 micrograms per liter. • Although the mill is not currently required to do groundwater testing, the county does conduct biannual inspections of the mill's operating regulations to ensure it is following proper protocols, Feria Mingo said. Feria Mingo did a personal inspection of the landfill last month. She made a few suggestions for changes, but said she "did not find the mill grossly out of compliance with its existing permit." She would not specify what concerns she had until she has discussed them with the mill. "There are always improvements that can be made," she said, adding that it is typical to find minor problems and work to resolve them to ensure safety. Biomass triggers study The biomass proposal has triggered new scrutiny of all aspects of the mill's operation. Early in the process, the mill estimated that because the biomass plan would have the mill burn roughly double its current amount of biomass, it would also double the ash waste going to the landfill. That's not the case, Muehlethaler said. "It would not double the ash because it will be burned . more completely," she said. She added, however, that the volume would go up and the landfill would fill up faster. Port Townsend Jefferson Lounty Leaaer - Mort I ownsena, Jefferson county az uiyrnpi... rage J of ' Muehlethaler also said the mill has been conservative in its past calculations of how long the •landfill will be able to accept the ash. She estimated it has a life of more than 30 years. The landfill area consists of glacial till and clay, Muehlethaler said. Clay was mined from the site and used to line the treatment ponds used to aerate PT Paper's water emissions. The landfill was located there to take advantage of the clay, which seals or inhibits water filtration. In a June 7 statement, the mill said that when the landfill "reaches capacity, as identified in the closure plan, the company will notify the health department, filling will stop and the landfill will be graded, a soil cover will be constructed, and the cover vegetated." Mill officials declined to say whether they already have a fund or other instrument to pay for a closure plan. Landfills elsewhere DOE is taking a harder look at the landfill. Peter Lyon, regional manager for the Waste 2 Resources Program for the DOE, oversees landfills in 12 counties. He points to Mount Solo Landfill in Cowlitz County, where there is concern that the county could get stuck with the bill to bring the private landfill back into compliance with regulations, since the landfill isn't being monitored. The owners are facing bankruptcy, he said. "In this case, if Port Townsend Paper doesn't exist, then who is left?" asked Lyon. "I can tell you the state doesn't do this. Who's most concerned about ash? You have to ask yourself, 'Who would be responsible?" Lyon said most mills prove their compliance by pre-funding a landfill closure plan by putting money in a trust fund, insurance, a surety bond or a letter of credit. Some 47 miles west of Port Townsend, at the Nippon Paper Industries paper mill in Port Angeles, Nippon "uses the financial assurance instrument option test, based on the financial position of Daishowa North America Corp., the parent company, to guarantee the amount of the current closure and post-closure estimate, which totals $2,330,996 [USD]," Lyon wrote. For some 13 years — between 1991 and 2004 — PT Paper was permitted as an LPL, did water monitoring and was required to provide an annual audit of its financial assurance. "But our records do not show that they ever performed an audit," Lyon said. "That doesn't mean they didn't do one, but we don't have any information showing there was an audit." DOE: Not `inert' DOE has a lengthy history in how it has decided to classify PT Paper's solid waste matter. Changing regulatory language led to the more stringent LPL permit in existence between 1991 Port Townsend & Jetterson county Leaner - rort i ownsenu, Jefferson ouniy a uiynipi... rage 0 ui 7 and 2004, which was replaced by a less stringent inert permit from 2004 until the present. It is presently managed by the county health department. The county permit for inert materials has remained in effect since 2004 "with some modifications," according to Lyon. In 2011, after Lyon reviewed the history, he wrote, "In view of these circumstances, Ecology finds that it is not appropriate to consider PTPC's boiler ash and lime grits as an inert waste." Memos have been flying since the first of the year over what to do about PT Paper's permit, with DOE director Ted Sturdevant coming to Port Townsend in February to discuss what action to take. Sturdevant could not be reached for this story. "I think there are questions about whether there has been adequate monitoring of the wells," said Laurie G. Davies, Waste 2 Resources Program manager for the state. Davies oversees landfills throughout the state. Concern about pH One of the concerns Lyon raised is the pH level of ash and lime grit, and its impact on groundwater and human health. "What's happened is we've become increasingly concerned about high alkaline waste," said • Lyon. "The pH is a concern for us. Our understanding of pH has changed. "The pH [of groundwater] should not exceed pH 8.5 and the material they are putting in [the landfill] is well over 8.5, and upwards of over pH 12. That is a concern," Lyon said. Lyon said DOE began advising people in 2007 that any waste that has the potential to cause leachate with a pH of greater than 8.5 "does not meet the criteria as inert." Although Lyon said he understands the mill has done annual testing of the ash and little has changed regarding that, there is concern about the impact on groundwater. "We don't know if the Port Townsend mill is affecting groundwater and the reason we don't know is because we don't have [groundwater] samples," Lyon said. "The mill may have samples, but they haven't shared with us." Mill officials acknowledge the pH of its solid waste can get as high as pH 12 and say the pH is tested routinely. But in a written statement, officials said exposure to the landfill ash could only occur in new ways, such as "through direct contact or transport by groundwater." "These possible pathways are addressed by regulations, past and current health department permits, agency review and oversight, and the company's operations plan," the mill wrote in a statement, adding that the landfill is posted for no trespassing and locked gates block an access road. "PTPC has worked closely with both agencies to make sure that the landfill complies with the Port Townsend & JeIrerson ounly Leaucr - roil 1 uVVIISC iu, JciIC[SUii may oc, viyuiii... r agc ui 7 applicable standards and that people and the environment are protected," officials wrote. "Wen agencies requested additional measurement, evaluation and/or monitoring information, "'the company provided the requested information." Mill officials also note that Port Townsend has lower-than-state-average precipitation — 18 annual inches. "Our average annual rainfall is low," said Muehlethaler, adding that there isn't enough water to push the dense grit and ash, with a concrete-like consistency, down into the groundwater. Muehlethaler said one of the reasons the mill bought the land was because it had a clay deposit. The clay was scooped out for use in lining the mill's treatment pond. "The hole that we left behind is what we're filling up," Muehlethaler said, saying the remaining clay and glacial till is serving as a natural liner. Barium an issue Ultimately, the question about pH has to do with whether barium, a chemical that can be harmful to human health, is leaching into the groundwater. Eating or drinking large amounts of barium compounds that dissolve in water or in the stomach can cause changes in heart rhythm or paralysis in humans, according to a public health statement put out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2007. • According to DOE, one of the last tests of barium done as of 2004 showed a level of barium at 245 micrograms. The state's groundwater quality standard for barium is 1,000 micrograms per liter. Liners and politics One of the requirements for an LPL is an impermeable liner, an issue little discussed in the exchange of memos. DOE's Davies acknowledges that a liner would increase the landfill's costs. Not all landfills have liners, according to both Davies and Feria Mingo. Davies said in an interview May 31 that mill officials "had raised concerns about what a fully loaded LPL" might include. She said there are no hard estimates yet on the cost of groundwater monitoring or a liner. But, she said, "It was the company's first reaction [that] it would be an economic burden." The county's Feria Mingo said June 11 that the company could request a variance to the liner condition in the LPL. "You can request a variance and the Landau report would be a good start to support that variance," she said, referencing a study, which the mill points to as proof the landfill should still be considered inert, done by Landau Associates. Fort Townsend Jefferson i.,ounry Leauer - run ruwrrsenu, jerrersuu wuruy a vey11I 1... rage o vi 7 "They have to prove it's not going to impact groundwater or cause harm. If we get groundwater monitoring, that's the key indicator. We do have a lot less rain and that was one of the considerations for the inert permit." • At a meeting in February that DOE director Sturdevant attended, minutes indicate that Sturdevant "stated his involvement came from concerns that the decision to move from inert to limited-purposed landfill came out of left field from PTPC's perspective." Further discussions Mill officials declined to discuss the financial assurance issue in an interview, instead referring to a statement that said discussions with regulators continue. "After some discussions between the two agencies and the company, it was recognized that the waste material and site conditions remain unchanged," the mill's statement said. "It was agreed that the waste is most appropriately classified as inert and discussions continue regarding reinitiating groundwater monitoring and other operational and regulatory issues. The company will continue to work with both agencies to address any concerns they have regarding the landfill and how solid waste is managed. "The company will work closely with Ecology and the health department to ensure an accurate analysis of the waste occurs, and that the waste is appropriately classified and managed to protect human health." Inert, with benefits According to documents, state and county regulatory agencies appear to be leaning toward issuing the mill a new permit for 2012 that reestablishes environmental monitoring and financial assurances — sort of a modified LPL. "I don't think we're determined not to call it an inert," said Feria Mingo on June 11. "We want to protect public health and I don't care what it's called." DOE's Davies indicated that agency also wants to reestablish groundwater monitoring and financial assurance. "Ecology understands that [Jefferson County Public Health] plans to reissue PTPC's inert waste landfill permit with additional conditions that will reestablish environmental monitoring and financial assurance requirements," wrote Davies in a letter to Dr. Tom Locke on May 2. Locke is the county's public health officer. Once the biomass project is online, Davies indicated in that same letter that there could be discussions on how to designate the waste material. 411 "Ecology reserves the right to revisit the designation issue once PTPC produces additional Port 'Townsend & Jetterson Lounty Leaaer - Yon i ownsena, Jeiiersan county oc viyiiipi... rage 7 ui 7 data," Davies wrote. There is no deadline for the county to issue a new permit. But if the health department and the mill can't agree on the permit terms, the mill first would appeal to Locke. If Locke concludes the mill needs an LPL and the mill disagrees, the issue could end up before the Jefferson County Board of Health. For now, that decision hasn't been made. • • JEFFERSON COUNTY 11111 BOARD OF HEALTH Public Comments TITLE: Regular Meeting DATE: Thursday, June 21, 2012 2:30 -4:30 pm PLACE: Cotton Building, 607 Water St., Port Townsend, WA NAME (Please Print) STREET ADDRESS CITY Testimony? YES NO MAYBE RAEr•F LE ]dad,A' P 6 Box s02_ Pa Ar MulA;S ❑ Et ❑ -OGAA,u , .-7-2-1,42e_4:\ .92 ( 01,e_ Sr It' i . i 0 ri'--- C 4kt( ' ),(c zer P 7-ham,4, C---❑ E f- T c.e,%, _ B oi-ivo /6,tr 1s)( 97— ?14 El/ El F-------- /(6' (\-) 1 ? T f .- (_,L.Q. (3? (( si- PT ❑ ❑ ❑ • c.0 \(-‘ 1Ate.,, S t 13 N a 71,,,o., - .)-. t i El E CI /---16t/11,r7 v 5:}-QA) .. 7.s-- wovdAe0 ,,,,, -2->T- Er❑ 2.(_zz_ j kt/V) f 12 1\ 3 .7c19,ei,40-d A--)Y—h- R El El ►/ /14/ ce A /oor IL( &, P-7— CI CI (X _.-- c---;-c- e 'aAr.,-,' 41" - 1 Lim --.- ❑ CI -- -- ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ nnr S 0 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Sign-In Sheet TITLE: Hearing re: Proposed Environmental Health Fee Ordinance Revision DATE: Thursday,June 21, 2012 PLACE: Cotton Building, Port Townsend, WA NAME (Please Print) STREET ADDRESS CITY Testimony? ::) , M ' zi 1SL/ p-T( Q). 1 11 ill YES NO MAYBE , 5 di , , 11,,,) �.. bk,iA--IERTy Roo f,,,,_ 6LC.0,,M Piry C; lE ICM lYil15TE/Z HID eie\koktfici - (,,, ataKiAT0,A, fit) ro.) .5--(3.2.___ T>T. -- 111 E _ (4. pO \\\ �,► c-1-3%*c\ q c 2 3-2-') NAiYl,J .,P \''. ,r---, • f---) ( > ---- 1-4)511-- Mix i0c-e , ,a,1 -3-75-44,,i-2z) PT jxj _- E ..____ PIM I � t-r-d,,.., 2, f. ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ _ _ ❑ - ❑ C ❑ ❑ n n n • r D S 7 sltmtedw' 0 ,, Fiv-uk('Ati A erlifrv. • cu'l. - (pi veivf a s fp' k 1 oa,tit Leg( Vote' D to./ tik 4/1 Iv i 5 ,,,,pukkae-r1 Jil • �tS• USIA.,Aust s cote_ mrt2 t c t . N��.Q,µ c1,, sk L, (4, 6a(2.0 4sciero auu w . we- 14 13-( - s ? s 4 ct c Ccs St0k b caul Ltat cam px- (�wt *out criu k Nn cwE (Si-d S • S-'t- 11144r Qo 02,x c.0 Law. c ss c vk z tom.+o '1 0 orAn . Ljeto of Ala fAl.-6' van`f",cu.Qa a4 an-Q -Kiwtock_ cru c ko 11,cQ -rc ¢ii (etyma L000cL= 2 •Co -1144464 V1un° cA2i(Cc. tat 13/V1 • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-mover-phd/burn ing-trees-to-make- e l e_b_1601275.html?utm_hp_ref=green Ellen Moyer, Ph.D. Independent Environmental Consultant Burning Trees to Make ElectricityWhat Are-- They Thinking? The operative word is "they" instead of"we" because 81 percent of Americans think that other energy producing options should be explored first before biomass energy production is explored, according to a recent survey. But our public servants apparently think they know better than the public they are serving. Industry lobbyists have been hard at work selling the idea that biomass energy is clean, green, and renewable. It was chilling to listen to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearings on the Federal Clean Energy Standard (May 17, 2012), in which biomass energy was advocated while the vast potential of increasing energy efficiency to reduce our demand was barely mentioned. Wood-burning electrical power plants, or "biomass plants," as explained below, are not clean, green, or renewable. If the U.S. national park system is "America's Best Idea," as Ken Burns says, then biomass plants are America's worst idea. Biomass plants devour many things of great value -- • trees, wildlife habitat, soil fertility, water, petroleum, and money, and • produce a multitude of damaging byproducts -- greenhouse gases, other air pollutants, water pollution, ash, adverse health impacts, and economic damage. It would be a challenge to design a more damaging activity if one tried. However, recognition of the devastating effects has been slow to take hold, because the term "biomass plant" sounds "green" and due to our obsessive-compulsive desire for more energy that does not involve fossil fuels, at any cost. Biomass plants can burn trees, contaminated wood (such as "construction O and demolition wood" that can include painted or pressure-treated wood), pitch Cy, 0 tires, or just about anything that can burn. Many biomass plants burn o Nct con,Not whole trees, which biomass plant developers often refer to euphemistically as "forest debris" or "waste wood."A 2011 report estimates that there are approximately 250 biomass plants operating in the U.S., with approximately 230 more proposed. The proposed plants are typically larger and range from 25 to more than 100 megawatts in capacity. • Of all the available combustion-based electricity generation technologies, biomass plants are the least efficient, converting to electricity only 20 to 25 percent of the energy in the wood. Some of the remaining energy is used to vaporize the water in the wood, and the rest is often discharged to the atmosphere using humongous quantities of river water for cooling. A typical 5o megawatt plant requires 80o,00o gallons per day of fresh water, vaporizing 85 percent and returning 15 percent to the river heated and contaminated. Because of their supreme inefficiency, gargantuan quantities of fuel are required. If all the trees in the U.S. were burned for biomass energy, it would meet our national energy needs for only one year. A typical 50 megawatt biomass plant burns 1.2 tons of wood each minute. The impacts on forests, and the wildlife that depend on them, are devastating. In addition, when trees are mined from the forest, soil nutrients are removed rather than recycled. Nutrient depletion thus renders the process of • �.f r♦ ,r M • • • • • • biomass production for energy unsustainable. Despite industry-funded fuel supply studies to the contrary, the supply of nearby trees is quickly exhausted. A common strategy is for biomass plants to then switch to burning contaminated wood for fuel. This is how more money can be made, because rather than having to purchase a resource (green wood chips), now biomass plant owners are paid to take a waste (contaminated wood). Once the expensive incinerators are built, regulatory agencies find it hard to say no to requests for fuel switching. Also due to their inefficiency, for each unit of electricity generated, biomass plants emit more carbon dioxide than any other energy source, for example, about 1.5 times that of coal for each unit of electricity generated. This reality is often countered by arguments based on a conceptual error made early on that took on a life of its own and has been difficult to eradicate, much like how the belief that the sun revolved around the earth • was tenaciously held and only released with great difficulty. This is the notion that burning wood is "carbon neutral," that the carbon emitted during combustion is reabsorbed by growing trees. What was not considered is the mismatch in rates -- while it takes a minute to burn a tree in a biomass plant, it takes decades to grow a tree back. Oops! The science is only beginning to convince the energy establishment to correct this major gaffe. In the meantime, while it is (rightly) regarded as bad for the climate to burn tropical rainforests, somehow it is still regarded as not only acceptable but even worthy of economic incentives to burn temperate forests in an incinerator, after additionally burning fossil fuels to cut the trees, chip them into small pieces, and transport them to the incinerator. As if that weren't enough of a climate impact, often petroleum is sprayed on the green wood chips to get them to ignite. • Biomass plants thus not only emit more carbon dioxide than any other energy technology, they destroy the very trees that sequester carbon dioxide. Recent research shows that the world's forests are much more important in the carbon cycle than previously thought, soaking up one- third of all fossil fuel emissions. At the same time, forest logging releases more than one quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions stemming from human activity. When developed countries burn their own forests for electricity, it shatters their credibility when they then ask developing countries to preserve their forests in order to mop up carbon dioxide emissions that are mainly caused by energy use in the developed countries. As yet another consequence of their bottom-of-the-barrel efficiency, biomass incinerators (even after air pollution control equipment) release copious amounts of a wide array of air pollutants besides carbon dioxide, including particulates (soot), carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, radionuclides, and dioxins. Biomass plant developers admit in their air permit applications • that their projects will routinely emit air pollutants. Something they don't admit is that fuel pile fires are a common occurrence when fuel is stored uncovered outdoors, as is invariably the case due to the mammoth fuel quantities required. Fires often burn for weeks, with no emissions controls. Because routine biomass plant air emissions increase human morbidity and mortality by causing or exacerbating asthma, heart disease, and cancer, numerous medical societies have spoken out forcefully against biomass plants. For example, the Massachusetts Medical Society, with over 23,000 physicians and medical students, adopted a resolution that states that biomass power plants "pose an unacceptable risk to the public's health by increasing air pollution." Another dangerous byproduct that comes out the back end of a biomass plant is ash.A typical 50 megawatt biomass plant produces 1.5 tons of ash per hour. Ash from burning wood (even trees directly from the forest) contains dioxins and heavy metals such as arsenic. Another concern is radionuclides such as cesium-137 that are released from nuclear testing and accidents and are sequestered by trees and thus end up in the ash. Radionuclides and metals are released in air emissions or ash - those are the only two possibilities. Regulators turn a blind eye to radionuclides, however, and do not require testing for radionuclides. They likewise usually do not require testing for dioxin, a "known human carcinogen." Up to 8o percent of wood ash generated in northeastern U.S. is landspread on agricultural soils. Partly owing to their inefficiency, biomass plants also require massive infusions of cash in order to be financially viable (unless they are allowed to burn contaminated wood). They receive various forms of tax-payer and rate-payer subsidies, in the form of Renewable Energy Credits, investment and production tax credits, and loan guarantees, which cost the public billions of dollars on top of the cost paid for the electricity itself. This is corporate pork on steroids, and furthermore, these subsidies divert funds • that could instead be used to promote clean, renewable energy. g3' Proponents argue that biomass plants create jobs. However, ravaging forests destroys tourism jobs, and the biomass plant jobs created are few and costly. The investment required to create each permanent full-time job typically exceeds $3 million. Biomass plants also hurt the economy by driving down nearby property values (one reason they are invariably sited in poor communities with few resources to fight back) and driving up the price of wood needed for productive purposes. Trees are worth far more than their energy content, cleaning the air and water, moderating the water cycle, providing earth's heat shield, housing and feeding animals, nourishing our souls, and providing other services we are only beginning to understand. It is evidence of our sense of disconnectedness from the natural world that we would allow trees to be valued merely for their energy content. • • Biomass plant developers argue that biomass plants should be "part of the energy mix." Biomass plants don't belong in our modern energy portfolio any more than the muscle power of slaves or animals. They are no more appropriate than slide rules in modern computing, blood-letting in modern medicine, celestial spheres in modern astronomy, spontaneous generation in modern biology, or horses and buggies in modern transportation. We need to move from dirty combustion technologies to cleaner options such as solar, geothermal, wind, conservation, efficiency, hydropower, and fuel cells. Certainly any of these technologies must be implemented with care and intelligence. But it is past time for the combustion era to come to a close, and with increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, we need our trees now more than ever before. Ellen Moyer is an independent environmental consultant with a B.A. in Anthropology, an M.S. in Environmental Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. With over 3o years of professional experience, she is also a registered professional engineer in four states as well as a U.S. Green Bullding Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. Areas of expertise include assessment and remediation of soil androun g dwater contamination, engineering economics, sustainability, water supply protection, and project and program management. She has authored or co-authored 24 articles and two books and has co-presented over loo seminars on assessing and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater. She is currently working on her third book, this time for a non- technical audience, with the working title "Let's Survive and Thrive: It's Easier Than We Think." i Cathy Avery rom: Julia Cochrane [willowtree©olypen.com] nt: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:46 AM o: boh©jeffersoncountypublichealth.org Subject: PTPM Ash mountain I can not make your next meeting but I am there in spirit saying that uncovered ash at the scale that is happening at the mill is hurting my health. I have become so sensitive to Cedar smoke and dust that I can no longer be around a wood working facility like the Maritime Center. I believe this is due to the background of cedar particles in the blowing ash and smoke plume of the mill. I do not want the mill closed - just regulated sensibly so that I can continue to live awhile longer. Thank you, Julia Cochrane Julia Cochrane PO Box 1654, Port Townsend, WA 98368 willowtree@olypen.com 360 821-1926 11) S • r •