|
^� �
<br />TIPS ON �RITING AN EFFECTIVE LETTER TO THE MPCA
<br />By Megan Dushin with Research Assistance of Tam McGehee, SW Roseville Residents
<br />The MPCA's Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAV� and Air Emissions Permit docu-
<br />ments for Bituminous Roadways asphalt proposal are lengthy and technical, but if you read them, they'll
<br />give you a sense of the enormity of this proposed project.
<br />For instance, this plant will be allowed to:
<br />• Have 594-674 truck trips (going in and leaving) per day (EAW sect. 2i, p. i�) (trucks fumes are not
<br />considered in air emissions permit),
<br />• Produce 3k-5k tons of asphalt per day (EAW pp. i�, i9) or �589k tons/year (EAW pp. 25, 2�),
<br />• Operate 24/�, as needed (with restrictions on certain types of operation),
<br />• Pile concrete and asphalt rubble as �vell as their crushed counterparts (EAW drawing p. 42),
<br />• Operate a crusher twice/yr for up to 3 wks each to crush concrete, asphalt, and recycled shingles
<br />(which are supposedly regulated and monitored - Air Permit A-i),
<br />,• Build a second phase "tank farm" to include two 2.i million gallon tanks for hot asphalt, and more.
<br />Along with all of the dust, the plant will emit greenhouse gases, carcinogenic pollutants, and neurotox-
<br />ins, such as nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ben-
<br />zene, lead, and more (EAW sect. 23� PP• 19, 57-58� and Air Quality Permit A-i) . And do most SW Rose-
<br />ville residents know their soil is already high in lead?
<br />If you know anyone in environmental sciences, this would be a good time to contact
<br />them. We could use a few scientists to help us scrutinize and respond to these documents.
<br />When writing your letter, decide on your main concerns, then focus on the information in the document
<br />that may or may not addresses them. Just saying we don't want this plant here will not help us. You
<br />must include your name and address in your letter (email or US mail). The following are three specific
<br />tips to composing your letter.
<br />�I �) What are your concerns? Speak from your perspective, and include references to specific sec-
<br />, tions and specific reasons supporting your position. Don't be shy about speaking about a child's
<br />'� asthma or an elderly neighbors breathing problems. Speak from the heart and the head.
<br />� 2) Challenge the information. Question things that don't seem correct (assumptions used in
<br />study, comparisons, averages used, data collection, etc.) Question whether the models used are
<br />real. Suggest something is missing.
<br />3) Specify the action you wish the MPCA to take, including further investigation, if you see the
<br />need, and again, references to specific sections and specific reasons supporting your position.
<br />Comments are due at the St. Paul MPCA offices by 4:3opm on Wednesday August iith. Letters post-
<br />marked August iith will not meet that deadline. To comment on the EAW, write or e-mail Kevin
<br />Kain, MPCA, 52o Lafayette Rd N, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or Ke��in.Kain�state.mn.us. To comment
<br />on the Air Emissions Permit, write or e-mail Tarik Hanafy, MPCA, 52o Lafayette Rd N, St. Paul,
<br />MN 55155-4194, or Tarik.Hanafi-r state.mn_us. If you have comments about each in a single letter or e-
<br />mail, send it to both at the addresses given. They have said that they do not share comments.
<br />If you have any questions, contact Megan Dushin at mdushinC�gmail.com or 636-0248.
<br />A Core Group of Southwest Neighbors has affiliated with SWARM to organize an
<br />effective campaign to have our voices heard at City Hall and in St. Paul.
<br />
|