Carol Pass, Chair, EPIC
eastphillips-epic.com
Friends of East Phillips and near by neighborhoods,
First, we have lawn signs to oppose the Midtown wood burning power plant if you choose to do so. Call if you want one. We could use a donation in return, but it is not necessary.
Then, here is stuff to help compose a letter to the Mayor and City Council. The extension of the option to buy the burner site is on Friday, so if anyone writes an email before Friday, that should be the request to the Council and Mayor, based on the points listed. People should try to sound uniquely different if possible, and use letterhead if they can.
We also need to write the legislators, especially these on this list. Soon! It is some work, but it is all crucial to our neighborhood.
It would be good if folks could add these letters to our archive of letters. We have been sending a stack of these to other people, like various members of the MPCA and other potential supporters. If you are willing to share your letter, email it to cpass@runbox.com.
If you have questions, you can call me at 612-280-8418.
With regard to the legislature:
Today, the Senate Committee on the Environment today gutted our senate bill, SF 3393, which previously said:
Under Permits.
(a) the MPCA may NOT grant a permit in a community with the following conditions:
1) the facility is within a half mile of a federally designated super fund site,
2) has a majority of low-income people of color and Native Americans,
3) has a disproportionate number of children with lead poisoning, asthma, and other environmentally related health problems,
4) is located in an urban area that has had numerous air quality alert days of dangerous air quality for sensitive populations between Feb. 2007 and Feb. 2008, and
5) is located near he junctions of several heavily trafficked state and county highways and two one-way streets which carry both truck and auto traffic.
The committee eliminated the word “NOT” and said the MPCA MAY permit under these circumstances. Unbelievable!! Most of these new “concessions” of the developers had already been agreed to and/or were already required by the MPCA anyway, so they conceded almost nothing.
Here are the conditions they added:
“Paragraph (b) the facility agrees to
1) Also they changed “5 or 6 jobs” to 35 % of all jobs. This sounds a lot bigger. The senate committee thought this was a concession, not knowing there were only 20 jobs in all, so 5 or 6 come here and 15 go elsewhere. Most of us believe that the pollution is not worth 5 or 6 jobs.
2) Equip all diesel trucks bring fuel to the plant with advanced filter systems that reduce emissions from diesel exhaust;
3) Report quarterly to the community where the facility is located on actual emission levels as measured by the PCA’s 24-hour emissions testing; and
4) Refrain from using refuse-derived fuel (RDF) (i.e. garbage)
First, 1) and 4) were part of the project already, so they conceded little new.
Second, and this is most important, none of this addresses the pollution coming out of the stack itself. That is the real objection, nearly a million pounds per year, plus the fact that, if the developers spent more on pollution control, the community would be protected more.
Third, the MPCA has acknowledged on p. of their Technical Support Document (TSP) and in testimony before the State Senate and House, that they do not even know how to test for some of the worst pollutants such as Mercury, Dioxins and others (TSP, pps. 145-149). The documents are full of “build-first-and-test-later” statements for the worst of the emissions (TSP p. )
Fourth, even though the MPCA tests the facility and reports to the community, there is nothing here that allows the community to do anything about what is going on. It is powerless.
Fifth, while Refuse-derived fuel is prohibited by this, but treated wood, such as plywood, is not and this is just as bad. Kandiyohi has agreed not to burn wood products with added polluting materials mixed in, but this has not been included in the legislation. They also wish to do experimental burns on various materials.
Basically, add all this up and it amounts to gambling with the lives of the families and children here, lives already being gambled on by the pollution already here. The real beneficiaries of this project will be the financial gainers on the other side of town. The losers paying for this in terms of risk to their health and the health of their children are all on this side of town, the poor part of town. This is not a pretty picture, but this is what is going on.
More info on burner and letter writing - go here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd9thxh2_48gfvnmb8p
Thanks for helping.
-Carol Pass
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Letters needed to stop the burner!!
To Supporters of the Residents of East Phillips: PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING A LETTER RIGHT AWAY.
In case you hadn’t heard, a wood burning power plant, Midtown Eco Energy Biomass Plant, has been proposed by Kandiyohi Development Partners (KDP) for the East Phillips Neighborhood, but impacting the Corcoran, Powderhorn, Midtown and West Phillips Neighborhoods, Longfellow, Central and Seward Neighborhoods as well. It would be built on the site of the old incinerator at 28th St. and 20th Ave. S. and would be “a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants” according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (p.2, Tech Support Doc.). The members of the East Phillips Improvement Coalition have voted to oppose this project, believing that it is entirely inappropriate for an area so burdened by pollution already and so filled with minority children and struggling families. The following page contains the basic points that should be included in a letter of opposition, which we hope you will consider writing very soon, regarding this project. Use letterhead if possible, Regardless of where one lives, we should all protect one another from such things as a general moral obligation.
We do not intend to take on the entire Biomass industry, but since the MPCA has clearly stated that the plant will be a “major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants”, we believe it is our obligation to protect the people here, especially since there is no real social or economic benefit for them. It fits the “Environmental Justice Policy” of the MPCA exactly. However, when I called the Minn. Pollution Control Agency’s Senior Engineer for this project, Paula Connell, and asked her how this would apply, she stated, ”I don’t know, that is my great frustration, I don’t know”. I asked her for guidance and she said she didn’t have any. Apparently this policy has never been implemented or stopped anything. We have discovered that the MPCA does not even know how to do a cumulative impact study of this sort of thing. This was just stated by MPCA officials at the Legislative public hearing on the subject last week. This is very disturbing and leaves us no way to protect the people.
So we are on our own and only public pressure can do anything. Another important fact is that the major investors who stand to make a lot of money from this all live in the wealthiest sections of town and it is the poorest and greatest minority population of Minneapolis that will be compelled to bear the entire burden of health risks and negative consequences to their property values and their quality of life. We also know that more money could be spent in the project for pollution control. I don’t say this easily, but the obviousness of environmental and economic racism is compellingly clear in this case.
People of conscience should not stand by and say or do nothing. The residents of East Phillips are asking you to write the Mayor and all City Council Members immediately and call on them to oppose the proposed power plant. In particular, if you are writing to the Mayor and Council, ask them each to NOT extend the option to buy the land and building, which would house the power plant. The option ends at the end of March. This could possibly stop the project right now. We need to make these points and insist that the Council and Mayor not extend Kandiyohi Developers’ option to buy the site. If we write early this week, we may be able to influence this vote which could come up this week or next. Thank you for whatever you do. Also the East Phillips organization would appreciate copies of whatever you send for our file to help prepare this case for the future. If you would, please email a copy to EPIC at: Carol Pass, Chair, EPIC cpass@runbox.com. Contact at: 612-280-8418. Addresses of Public Officials to be contacted are:
Mayor R.T. Rybak (612) 673-2100 Mayor.Rybak@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Minneapolis City Council Members
Ward 1: Paul Ostrow (612) 673-2201 Paul.Ostrow@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 2: Cam Gordon (612) 673-2202 Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 3: Diane Hofstede (612) 673-2203 Diane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 4: Barbara Johnson (612) 673-2204 Barbara.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 5: Don Samuels (612) 673-2205 Don.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 6: Robert Lilligren (612) 673-2206 Robert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 7: Lisa Goodman (612) 673-2207 Lisa Goodman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 8: Elizabeth Glidden (612) 673-2208 Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 9: Gary Schiff (612) 673-2209 Gary.Schiff@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 10: Ralph.Remington (612) 673-2210 Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 11: Scott Benson (612) 673-2211 Scott.Benson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 12: Sandy Colvin Roy (612) 673-2212 Sandy.ColvinRoy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 13: Betsy Hodges (612) 673-2213 Betsy.Hodges@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Dear Letter Writers: Do not Copy this letter. Rearrange its contents and put it in your own words. These are the main points to be covered, but your letter needs to reflect your own perspective and voice. Letters need to go out or be emailed early this next week or as soon as possible. Use letterhead, if you have it. Your letters for our files would be much appreciated. We would like to know who has written and why. Your help is invaluable. If you would, please email them to EPIC at: Carol Pass, Chair, EPIC cpass@runbox.com. Contact at 612-280-8418.
To the Mayor and City Council:
I am writing to insist that the City of Minneapolis conform to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s “Environmental Justice Policy”(http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications /policy-environmentaljustice.pdf) which states that:
“The MPCA will, within its authority, ensure fair and equitable treatment and meaningful involvement of all Minnesota citizens in the implementation of federal and state environmental laws, rules, programs, and policies to insure that: Minority and economically-disadvantaged communities in Minnesota do not bear a disproportionate share of the involuntary risks and consequences of environmental pollution...”
I am requesting that the City Council and Mayor rescind all support for the Midtown Eco Energy Power Plant proposed by Kandiyohi Development Partners and commit to stopping its construction in the East Phillips Neighborhood for the following reasons:
1) We are aware that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has stated that the proposed Midtown EcoEnergy facility (wood burning power plant) proposed for the East Phillips Neighborhood (near Hiawatha Ave and East Lake St.), “will be a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants” (MPCA Tech. Support Doc. p. 2) (November, 2007)
2) Public exposure of this statement has not occurred in any of the presentations by the developers of this project, nor has this truth been contained in any of the many advertisements or statements by the developers in area media. In addition, almost all official approvals took place before this information was publicly available on November 11, 2007. Because of this lack of public information, informed consent has not occurred. This is especially true of the people who live in the area which would be most impacted. For example, Little Earth of United Tribes heard nothing of this before approvals were given.
3) The same area in East Phillips is already the site of an asphalt plant, a foundry, an Arsenic Superfund Site, a roofing company’s hot asphalt storage, the future site of the City’s hot asphalt storage and high levels of lead contamination in homes and yards. The facts are that no one, in preparation for authorizing construction of the power plant here, has done a full analysis of the major pollution already here or even begun to understand its impact on the many minority and Indigenous families and children of Phillips. Rep.Karen Clark is working on a full study of all the families and children to determine the causes of large health disparities among the Phillips population with respect to the rest of the City of Minneapolis to accomplish this missing piece. This neighborhood has already been determined to be one of the most polluted locations in the 5 county metro area and the power plant proposal would bring even more “major hazardous pollutants. to the neighborhood.
4) 40% of the neighborhood population are children, 40% of whom live in poverty. These children have a disproportionately high rate of asthma and other chronic health problems, many potentially related to area toxins and particulate matter. The drop out rate of 9th graders living in Phillips is much higher than elsewhere in Minneapolis and asthma is one of the major causes of poor school attendance.
5) There are no significant direct economic or social benefits from this project sufficient to balance the serious public health risks the economically challenged minority and Indigenous population of East Phillips as well as the residents of near by surrounding neighborhoods would be compelled to bear.
Therefore, the proposed construction of the Midtown Eco Energy Power Plant and the granting of its Air Emission Permit constitute a clear violation of the MPCA Environmental Justice Policy and an example of environmental racism and injustice to the people of East Phillips and surrounding neighborhoods.
Mayor R.T. Rybak (612) 673-2100 Mayor.Rybak@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Minneapolis City Council Members
Ward 1: Paul Ostrow (612) 673-2201 Paul.Ostrow@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 2: Cam Gordon (612) 673-2202 Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 3: Diane Hofstede (612) 673-2203 Diane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 4: Barbara Johnson (612) 673-2204 Barbara.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 5: Don Samuels (612) 673-2205 Don.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 6: Robert Lilligren (612) 673-2206 Robert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 7: Lisa Goodman (612) 673-2207 Lisa Goodman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 8: Elizabeth Glidden (612) 673-2208 Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 9: Gary Schiff (612) 673-2209 Gary.Schiff@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 10: Ralph.Remington (612) 673-2210 Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 11: Scott Benson (612) 673-2211 Scott.Benson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 12: Sandy Colvin Roy (612) 673-2212 Sandy.ColvinRoy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Ward 13: Betsy Hodges (612) 673-2213 Betsy.Hodges@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
MPCA paula.connell@pca.state.mn.us mark.sulzbach@state.mn.us
651-282-2605 651-296-7768
Governor Tim Pawlenty tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us 651-296-3391
State Legislators
House
58A Joe Mullery 651-296-4262 rep.joe.mullery@house.mn
58B Augustine (Willie) Dominguez 651-296-8659 rep.augustine.dominguez@house.mn
59A Diane Loeffler 651-296-4219 rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn
59B Phyllis Kahn 651-296-4257 rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn
60A Margaret Anderson Kelliher 651-296-0171 rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn
60B Frank Hornstein 651-296-9281 rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn
61A Karen Clark 651-296-0294 rep.karen.clark@house.mn
61B Neva Walker 651-296-7152 rep.neva.walker@house.mn
62A Jim Davnie 651-296-0173 rep.jim.davnie@house.mn
62B Jean Wagenius 651-296-4200 rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn
63A Paul Thissen 651-296-5375 rep.paul.thissen@house.mn
Senate
58 Linda Higgins 651-296-9246 sen.linda.higgens@senate.mn
59 Lawrence Pogemiller 651-296-7809 Use mail form*
60 Scott Dibble 651-296-4191 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn
61 Linda Berglin 651-296-4261 Use mail form*
62 Patricia Torres Ray 651-296-4274 sen.patricia.torres.ray@senate.mn
Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
50 Satveer Chaudhary *205 Cap 651-296-4334 sen.satveer.chaudary@senate.mn
66 Ellen Anderson *120 Cap 651-296-5537 sen.ellen.anderson@senate.mn
60 Scott Dibble *111 Cap 651-296-4191 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn
18 Steve Dille 103 St Off 651-296-4131 sen.steve,dille@senate.mn
21 Dennis Frederickson 139 St Off 651-296-8138 sen.dennis.frederickson@senate.mn
11 Bill Ingebrigtsen *123 St Off 651-296-8063 sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn
4 Mary Olson 124 Cap 651-296-4913 sen.mary.olson@senate.mn
3 Tom Saxhaug *124 Cap 651-296-4136 sen.tom.saxhaug@senate.mn
23 Kathy Sheran G-4* Cap 651-296-6153 sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn
57 Katie Sieben *321 Cap 651-297-8060 sen.katie,sieben@senate.mn
1 Leroy Stumpf *208 Cap 651-296-8660 senate.mn/senatorstumpfemail
22 Jim Vickerman 226 Cap 651-296-5650 senate,mn/senatorvickermanemail
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