HomeMy WebLinkAbout050824 email - Cement Plant Proposal CommentsALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Hello,
My objection to the land use proposal regarding the cement plant in Gardiner is as follows.
#1, the proposed site is within 20 miles and possess a significant health threat to the people of the following cities; Port Townsend, Sequim, Port Angeles with a population over 40,000.
Many studies show significant health impacts from the air pollution cement plants create.
This study shows a large increase in hospitalizations directly linked to cement plant air byproducts."an attributable risk of 38% of hospital admissions due to the exposure to cement
plant exhausts." And "These results showed an association between the exposure to plant emissions and the risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular or respiratory causes; this association
was particularly strong for children." Source,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22245540/
#2, the air quality that brings tourists and drives the economy will be directly affected. The air quality index directly relates to the amount of particles in the air. When people from
major cities see sunny weather and good air quality they want to visit. When the air quality is bad, such as during wild fire seasons, or from the proposed cement plant, it will dissuade
many tourists from visiting. Those with respiratory issues will head towards Leavenworth and clean are. Those tourists with nice vehicles will be upset when an alkaline dust settles
on their cars and causes paint damage when washed. As many of business in Jefferson county rely on tourism, a cement plant that directly threatens every business within the area should
be blocked.
"The presence of total suspended particulates (TSP) coming out of the stack causes a high accumulation of dust in residential areas."
"Total suspended particulate concentrations were measured with a maximum value of 133.24 μg/m3 and a minimum value of 18.48 μg/m3. This maximum value exceeds the minimum acceptable level
from Canadian National Ambient Air Quality Objectives (C-NAAQOs)"
"The cement plant may significantly contribute to total TSP concentrations in air and may potentially have adverse effects on human health. Communities near the cement plant are vulnerable
to TSP exposure and measures" source, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34268002/
#3, the health care system in Jefferson county has a limited capacity. With an average of 52-64% of ICU beds being occupied on a given week. The additional risks of a cement plant emitting
high levels of tsp/air pollution are unacceptable with a large elderly population in a close vicinity. Source; https://data.statesmanjournal.com/hospital-capacity/facility/jefferson-healthcare/50132
3/
#4, cement plant dust will directly harm the fish and water ecosystem. There has been a massive effort to restore natural fish habitats and increase the levels of fish stock. This cement
plant will directly harm and hinder that effort. Specially the dust as proven in point #2 will also enter the nearby water ways and will damage fish gills. Fishing is a major tourism
driver and less fish means lower catch limits which brings less anglers who shop and stay in the area during the short fishing seasons.
"Portland cement powder in solution on the test fish Oreochromis niloticus respectively. The most common gill changes at all doses of Portland cement powder in solution were destruction
of gill lamella, epithelial hyperplasia and epithelial hypertrophy" source,https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281840159_TOXICITY_AND_HISTOPATHOLOGICAL_EFFECTS_OF_PORTLAND_CEMENT_POWDER_IN_SOLU
TION_ON_THE_STRUCTURE_OF_THE_GILL_AND_LIVER_TISSUES_OF_THE_NILE_TILAPIA_OREOCHROMIS_NILOTICUS_A_MICROSCOPIC_STUDY
#5, the benefit to the local economy from a cement plant will be vastly outweighed by the additional burden on the health care system, the damage to the local Eco systems, the reduction
of the local tourism industry and the resulting job loss as tourism drops.
This cement plant proposal should be denied as it will negatively impact the community to a large degree
Thank you for your time,
- Daniel Steele