Letter to the Editor: Jasper should protect citizens not interests
Dr. Shrader-Frechette’s second article predicts conservatively 40 deaths (compared to 2 from coal), 75 heart attacks, 730 asthma attacks, and greater than 4000 lost work days annually from the Jasper Clean Energy Center. Her first article revealed ultrafine particulates are 65 times more toxic than equivalent mass coal particulates.
Multiple independent university scientists reviewed both articles prior to publication which suggests how the public health world would judge Jasper’s biomass incinerator. Both the city’s response and local media coverage failed to mention the multiplier from the first article and the second article’s projected tragic human toll.
Last week, Southern Indiana’s ozone unhealthy zone was 3 times larger than the unhealthy area for the other 49 states combined (EPA website, 6/20/2013). IDEM deserves another “F” because Indiana currently boasts more counties with particulate non-attainment levels than California (8 vs. 7, from Bingham-Greenebaum-Doll’s website); Dubois County ranks among the nation’s worst 2 percent, one of only 66 failing of 3142 counties.
Yet our city officials are not only paying lawyers to find “any way” to retaliate against HDC members (12/2012 USB meeting), but stated publicly they will consult lawyers first regarding “their best interest” before responding to articles from Dr. Shrader-Frechette, a Catholic Digest “Hero” and 2004 World Technology Award in Ethics winner.
The recent Beaver Lake issue has been interesting to witness given the past 2-3 years of biomass controversy. Beaver Lake is ironically just downwind of the power plant when the pollution blows east.
The reality of the current water level appears to differ from city calculations and measurements, yet property owners’ reports that the math doesn’t match haven’t been met with cries of “misinformation”; pictures are worth a thousand words. An apparently unaccounted-for factor has affected the final water level from the new spillway, costing property owners who deserve to be heard.
Whatever affected the water levels appears unintentional but should be a wakeup call for Jasper officials to account for ultrafine toxicity and instead respect–rather than retaliate against–concerned citizens. The intentional and inevitable future “fallout” from their biomass incinerator will be far more deadly than Beaver Lake’s exposed docks.
Respectfully, Norma Kreilein MD, FAAP
Has IDEM or the EPA ever stated where the pollution in Dubois county is coming from? Why is our pollution so high compared to other counties adjacent to us?
great question. Long answer. EPA only provides the standards, lately at the mercy of industrial manipulation rather than with the public’s best interest. IDEM is in charge of monitoring and enforcement, and more information about their performance and agenda WILL BE FORTHCOMING, but it is safe to say that their math and science would not pass the classes our children are expected to, much less medical school and pediatric boards. IDEM’s marching orders appear to be summed up in one word: PERMIT. Southern Indiana lacks adequate monitoring sites and frequency to establish qualified data, yet IDEM categorically insists our air is “healthy.” Imagine if the police used one radar detector in Jasper operating every 6 days and pointed the wrong direction to make the conclusion that all motorists in a surrounding 5 county area were under the speed limit. . . . . .you get the picture. Sadly, the news people hear is censored far more effectively than the air we breathe is filtered.
Sounds to me like leaving Dubois county could only benefit one’s health.
Hence what I have heard FREQUENTLY in Jasper “If you don’t like it you can leave.” Such a friendly solution. However, you would have to travel far, because the entire southern part of the state is an air pit but IDEM simply quote (as above) that they “comply.” In the past 25 years I could draw you a line south of Terre Haute over to Cincinnati, south through Kentucky and to the Tennessee boarder as to where people start getting sick, or notice a difference when they move here, or beyond which they are fine on vacation. Little did I know that it corresponded to the largest concentration of power plants in North America. Never could understand why trees should be toxic, but it’s those things taller than trees that are guilty. I personally think leaders should not marginalize, discredit and slam those that question such questionable answers. . . . .but they continue to act that way when the media and government watchdogs that guard other areas don’t bark. Maybe it is part of the solution to create kids who don’t pay attention and don’t complain. . . .but they are not that cheap or employable. Check out rising special ed rates over the past 20 years and tell me this area is healthy. Keep asking questions and demanding better treatment and accountability. Not that we have changed much yet, but hopefully people aren’t robots that believe everything that governments tell them!