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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM021612JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:30 PM — 4:30 PM Pope Marine Building, 100 Madison 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 Director Catharine Robinson, Port Townsend City Council Veronica Shaw, Deputy Director/Chief Operations Director Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Vice Chair, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Member Frissell moved to nominate Member Austin as Chair Pro Tem, Member Sullivan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Member Austin called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:38 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: John Austin, Roberta Frissell, Jill Buhler, David Sullivan, Sheila Westerman, Phil Johnson (arrived at 3:00 and resumed Chair duties), Catharine Robinson Staff Present: Dr. Thomas Locke, Jean Baldwin, Veronica Shaw, Jared Keefer APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved and seconded to amend the Agenda to move the Biomass — Overview of Health Effects as the first order of business under Old Business and Informational Items. The motion passed unanimously. ELECTION OF BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 2012 Member Frissell nominated Member Johnson as Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Health for 2012. Member Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Member Westerman nominated Member Buhler as Vice Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Health for 2012. Member Robinson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Robinson requested that the name of the minute taker be added to the end of the meeting minutes. BOH Minutes — February 16, 2012 Member Westerman moved to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2011 BOH meeting. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS The following is a summary of comments made by citizens in attendance at the Board of Health Meeting. A citizen presented and handed out copies of a petition for a moratorium of the Port Townsend Paper Corporation Biomass project due to potential health risks, which has been signed by over 600 community members. A citizen expressed her concern regarding cardiopulmonary and neurological health effects caused by the emissions from burning wood biomass and also read from an article on the effects of air pollution caused by sources of energy written by Dr. Mark Jacobsen, Director of Atmosphere and Energy Program and Professor of Engineering at Stanford University. She also urged for the support of the moratorium proposed by the Sierra Club. A Citizen requested the Board's support of the Sierra Club Moratorium and with keeping people educated on issues such as the Biomass project in connection with Port Townsend Paper. A citizen expressed his concern over the monitoring station being moved to Grant Street School from the Blue Heron Middle School, because there is data that shows the air quality is worse at Grant Street School. Finally, he urged the Board to oppose the project or get the Mill and/or DOE to provide accurate monitoring in the community. A citizen referred to Medical Journal articles regarding the link of strokes, cardiac effects, and cognitive damage due to small particles. A Citizen stated that her family and many others will move from Port Townsend if the Biomass project moves forward because of the air pollution it would produce. She read several letters from other community members that were not able to be in attendance of the meeting. A citizen presented a chart showing that burning wood is dirtier than burning coal. She urged support of the Biomass project being put on hold until new EPA rules, which would require cleaner operations be put in place, accordingly the entire plant would have to adhere to the new EPA rules. She requested support in requiring the mill to use a portion of their tax payer subsidies they receive for burning black liquor, to upgrade their technology, so that they are running more cleanly. A Citizen expressed her concern regarding the pollution that will be coming from the increase in diesel trucks, barges, and ash. She was also concerned that trees will start to be cut to provide the biomass. BOH Minutes — February 16, 2012 A citizen urged the Board to investigate the biomass issue thoroughly, oppose the project, and favor the moratorium. He also stressed that this is not only an issue for human beings, but for all living creatures. A citizen feels that the biomass project is being done to benefit an out of area investment bank that owns the mill, for the purpose of obtaining grants that have been made available for biomass projects. He feels this is not a sustainable project and it will not help the mill. A citizen stated that she does not feel that her health and well-being are being protected by DOE, so she is turning to the Board of Health to call for a moratorium until there are more definitive answers on the issues. A citizen urged the Board to research the issue and do an environmental impact statement until the project moves forward any further. A citizen feels that this is a Health Department issue and urges the Board to take care of the health of the community. A citizen expressed his concern for the health of the animals in the community. He also feels the need for more reliable information on the health hazards and consequences the biomass project will have on all living creatures in the community. A citizen expressed the need for the Representatives to protect the community. A citizen urged the Board to protect the community by not just looking at the rules and regulations but by doing what is morally right. OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Biomass — Overview of Health Effects from Particulate Pollution and Regulatory Framework: Department of Ecology Perspective Gary Palcisko, Risk Assessor/Toxicologist for the Washington State Department of Ecology gave a presentation on the known health effects of fine particulate matter and how it is regulated. Mr. Palcisko defined particulate matter as any particle that is able to be suspended in air. His presentation focused on particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), since those are the particles that have the greatest effect on people's health. PM2.5 exposure is associated with an increased risk in mortality causing cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and developmental effects, and links to cancer. He presented estimates of deaths and disease rates that were attributed to PM2.5 in Washington with a projected cost of about $190 million per year for the State of Washington. The presentation covered the history of the regulation of air pollution, the acts passed and historic pollution episodes that led to Federal Legislation on air pollution. Next, he discussed how particulate matter is regulated. The EPA sets a standard, which is intended to protect the public health. As information is collected and new health effects are discovered, the standards must be revised. The last revision was in 2006. Revised standards are to be issued BOH Minutes — February 16, 2012 every 5 years and the EPA is in the process of finalizing revisions to the air quality standards that are currently in effect. Mr. Palcisko discussed some of the main sources of PM2.5 in Washington and the tools that are used to control some of the emission. Some of the controls that are set in place are the permitting process, new source review, the Clean Car Law, diesel engines running cleaner, wood burning device regulations and burn bans. Mr. Palcisko showed a map of the monitoring network and discussed the monitor that is located at Blue Heron Middle School. He pointed out from the graph of the monitor at Blue Heron the PM2.5 is measuring at about '/z of what the standard is for an annual average, with highest events occurring between the months of October through March. At the end of his presentation Mr. Palcisko fielded several questions from both Board Members and citizens that were in attendance. Member Austin moved for a letter to be drafted to the mill and ORCA suggesting that our community would appreciate more than 1 monitor and expressing the concerns of the community. He asked that the Board members sign the letter. Member Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Member Sullivan moved to amend the agenda and move the Public Hearing on Jefferson County Public Health Fee Updates for 2012 to the next item of business. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Public Hearing on Jefferson County Public Health Fee Updates for 2012 Chair Johnson requested a staff report from Ms. Baldwin on the fee update. Ms. Baldwin stated that there is only one fee change, the rest of the fees reflected Consumer Price Indexing and are not open to an ordinance change today. Ms. Shaw informed the Board that the only new fee is the Well Inspection and Water Sample for fee of $130.00. Member Frissell moved that the Jefferson County Public Health Fees for 2012 be adopted. Member Buhler seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Introduction of New Environmental Health Director Ms. Baldwin introduced Jared Keefer, the new Environmental Health Director and asked him to update the Board on the work he has been doing. Mr. Keefer announced his Department is currently working on food program information sessions, the Water Quality Program has presented public meeting on Mats Mats Bay, initial public meetings have been held on the Hood Canal Watershed and there have been public meetings on the NE Jefferson project. Public Health Heroes 2012 — A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement Ms. Baldwin asked for a volunteer for the committee to read application for Public Health Heroes. Member Buhler volunteered to be on the committee. Member Sullivan moved to adjourn the February BOH meeting. Member Westerman seconded. The motion passed unanimously. BOH Minutes — February 16, 2012 AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held March 15, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johnson adjourned the BOH meeting at 4:30 PM JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Philohnson, Chair oAJ ustin, Member oberta �rissell,�Mem�ber Catharine Robinson, Member Respectfully Submitted: Stacie Reid 11 Buhler, Vice Chair Davi WfiX,46meber— Sheila Westerman, Member BOH Minutes — February 16, 2012