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Date Posted: 13:02:11 04/25/01 Wed
Author: Celeste
Subject: Re: Q&A the Other Way, si vous plais
In reply to: Dennis Williams 's message, "Q&A the Other Way, si vous plais" on 22:54:16 04/12/01 Thu

(If this is posted twice, sorry. But I hit the Send button prematurely. So I have added to the very end the completion of my answer to Question #3)

Dennis,

As a resident of Rinzee Rd., I want to answer your questions.

1. "Why do we not care that many people die in this country because of oil- and coal-fired plants? etc."

Speaking for myself, I do care very much. That is why I would like to see a responsible energy plan that works to resolve these problems, not compound them by adding yet another plant (and an enormous 750 megawatt plant at that) to an already polluted area.

So I ask you, since you have brought this up, as part of the Nickel Hill Power Plant project, what is the plan for replacing these plants - and which ones and when? Do we cross our fingers and hope economic drivers will prevail? I hope not. There is too much at stake here.

Nickel Hill had other alternatives in remote areas for placing a facility that would not have so impacted residents, and in areas that were not already so polluted. They chose Dracut because it was the CHEAPEST for them. (Source: Nickel Hill). Another location would have solved so much and would have equally addressed your questions and concerns - why didn't they select one of the other sites? Let's ask them what THEY care about.

The bottom line is, in the absense of a replacement plan that considers the cumulative effect of pollution in a given area, the introduction of new non-polluting technolgies such as fuel-cells, a stable replacement plan for older plants, and targetted locations based upon prudent management of potential health risks, it is all a political and economic game. Worse yet, we are allowing the profit-driven power companies to be in control because we are not united to drive best solutions.

A 750 megawatt plant does not belong in the Merrimack Valley - a valley that currently has TWO SOLID WASTE INCINERATORS that burn over 1/3 of the state's trash and some from out-of-state, the LARGEST NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATOR (2nd largest east of the Mississippi) that burns 2000 pounds per hour of medical waste from a 6 state area. (source: MVRE) Will Nickel Hill help this situation by emitting nearly 2 tons of pollutants per day? (source: Nickel Hill Final Environmental Impact Report)

Even if a plant meets standards, there are NO standards for cumulative pollution. (Source: Meeting with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs in July, 2000). As it stands now, to my knowledge, you could line up a whole set of 750 megawatt plants in the Merrimack Valley, and as long as each of them meets INDIVIDUAL standards, there are no issues. Clearly, policy must be created to resolve this, but I don't believe it is in place yet. So we can't let the "meets standards" argument hold too much weight here.
And we have to take responsiblitiy for the decision, not leaving it up to the state, who has insufficient policy, to do it for us.

Dennis, I AM concerned, in the biggest and smallest senses.
And I am in support of solving "world hunger". But right now we have problems in the Merrimack Valley. Six towns in the Merrimack Valley have hospitalization rates for asthma that are above the state average. (Source: MVRE) We are more than paying our dues by all the trash and medical waste we handle - in addition to everything else.

Are we really ready to add to this problem when other viable solutions exist that address your question?

Oh, and by the way, Nickel Hill can sell their energy to whomever they want - Massachusetts may never get the benefit of their power production. (Source: Energy Facilities Siting Board Review)

2. "Which is more harmful to your and your families' health? The current sand and gravel excavation and bituminous asphalt production, with its attendant blasting and diesel trucking? Or a state-of-the-art, highly regulated, combined cycle power plant? Which creates more particulants at ground level? Prove your answer and show your work."

First of all, let me answer your question and say that I believe the power plant would be more harmful, due to the 2 tons of pollutants per day coming out of the towers and blowing our way, the types of pollutants (formaldehyde, PM-10, etc.) the transporting and storage of dangerous amonia, the impact of noise (where Nickel Hill needs a noise variance to proceed).

Second of all, I didn't realize we had a choice! We would get both!

Worst of all, I believe you feel the power-plant is safer. That is even more distressing because you have far more data on Brox than I have. I only know (source: Nickle Hill Final Environmental Impace Report) that nearly 2 tons of pollutants per day will be emmited from 2 - 170 foot stacks that are 22 feet in diameter. (Source: Nickel Hill Final Environmental Impact Report). If you feel Brox is less safe than that, we are really in trouble.

So, who zoned this area as residential, knowing how unsafe it already is? And if it was safe when zoned, who let Brox grow to become such a hazard? I believe an investigation into Brox's activities is warranted. What steps can we take to make this happen?

With all due respect, it is not my job to prove to you that I am safe. You are the ones approving this plant, we were here first, so YOU need to prove to me that we will be safe. Money has been spent on consultation. Unless I have missed this, I have not seen details of what ground particulate matter we should see from the plant, and worse yet, to my understanding (and I have asked the EPA and have called state agencies in areas such as New Mexico and Texas where there are sandier conditions), NO ONE has even studied the combined impact of the plant and the quarry, where plant pollutants could adhere to the heavier particles from the quarry, thus increasing the ground level matter from the plant. Please point me to the documentation. I am not playing 'who knows more' games, I just want to know the facts. I will readily admit that although I have worked hard at this, there are many other folks who know more.

3. "Did you, or did you not, know how the real estate adjacent to your neighborhoods was zoned prior to your home purchase. If not, why not? Extra credit: Explain what sources you should use to get an authoritative answer int he future. (Hint: The real estate agent is not one of them. Don't get mad, Susan K!).

Yes, I did know. I was fine with the quarry being there from what I was able to learn. And for legal reasons I cannot discuss this issue further. However, I do want to make two points:

- I have in front of me Figure 3.2-1 from the Nickle Hill Final Environmental Impact Report. This was prepared by Epsilon Associates, Inc. This property is clearly marked as "light industrial". A 750 megawatt power plant, 80,000 sqaure feet, with 12 cells of cooling towers, huge turbines and 2 - 170 foot towers that are 22 feet in diameter does not feel too "light" to me.

And further, if it was already zoned for this, why was Article #21 put before the town at the June 7, 1999 Annual Town Meeting ( just after we purchased our property) that changed the Zoning By Laws, Section 2.11.43 as follows:

From: "Public or Private Utility Facilities - Facilities, equipment and structures necessary for conducting a service by a public service corporation."

To: "Public or Private Utility Facilities - facilities, equipment and structures necessary for GENERATING ELECTRICITY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, or for conductng a service by a public service company.

To me, there is a HUGE difference between conducting a service by a public service company and GENERATING ELECTRICITY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. And there were no limitations put on that. So now we are facing what I last knew to be the 2ND LARGEST GAS-FIRED POWER PLANT IN NEW ENGLAND in our backyard. We did have to go for the biggest end... Unfortunately, even though I registered to vote very quickly, I was not eligible to participate in this vote or discussion at this town meeting.

I would like to close with an observation. Dracut has an incredible location near major highways, beautiful lands, and has about 7 miles of riverfront area. Given the high-technology company expansions with large campus buildings happening in neighboring towns, the recreational possibilities along the Merrimack, and the lovely home development opportunities, I just don't understand why the folks in Dracut don't want to expand in a way that would grow the image of the town and bring in new talent -- the possibilities here are very exciting. Once this power plant is here, with the bright lights, noise (and I have visited smaller plants to check out noise), large plumes, big stacks, located along the river, we are closing off more attractive opportunities.

I love my neighborhood and have so much respect for the hard-working folks here. I would like to see Dracut become a model community.

Before this is a done-deal, let's be sure that this is what Dracut residents really want for the future. I believe, from talking with people around town, so many people are unaware of the details of this plant and what it will mean to Dracut beyond the payment to the town. I challenge the Selectman to get the detailed information in front of the people so they have the opportunity to make an informed decision - and that means that all sides are represented.

One of Nickel Hill's biggest arguments before the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)in Boston as to why they (EFSB) should approve the siting plan was that THE PEOPLE OF DRACUT ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS. The EFSB stated that was a significant contributor to their decision to approve the siting.

So I ask all readers: ARE THE PEOPLE OF DRACUT SUFFICIENTLY KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT THIS PLANT TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION (have you heard all sides, including the details on the health situation in the Merrimack Valley) and ARE YOU PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR POSITION TAKEN FORWARD IN THIS MANNER?

If not, I urge you to speak up now. Call you selectmen. Ask the tough questions. No question is dumb. We are not required to know information about the power industry in order to be respected for coming forward with questions and concerns about our town, our neighborhoods, or our families. Let's unite to get the best solution. If that is a power plant, then so be it. I certainly hope not.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Respectfully,
Celeste

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