From: Jerry Silberman <ajs805ph...@verizon.net>
Date: October 14, 2011 10:26:55 AM EDT
To: protectingourwat...@lists.riseup.net
Subject: Unanimous City Council vote YES. Letters needed to protect
our air!.
Reply-To: protectingourwat...@lists.riseup.net
Dear Protectors,
You did a fantastic job calling Philadelphia City Council and
packing the hall.
Yesterday, after articulate testimony by Dr. Walter Tsou, Rabbi
Mordechai
Liebling, Denise Dennis, POW organizer Aaron Birk, and Julie Edgar of
Gas-Truth, Council unanimously voted YES on the resolution to join
the lawsuits
against the DRBC to stop DRBC from lifting their moratorium on
fracking on
November 21st. (Not a done deal; Law Department must actually file
the Friend
of Court brief). Please give Council thank-you calls! Check out, and
circulate, our Press Release and background info on POW blog:
http://protectingourwaters.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/philadelphia-city-council-unanimously-passes-resolution-to-sue-drbc-demand-impact-studies-forbid-fracking-for-now/
Now we need you to step up once again, this time with letters
emailed to
protect our air: Deadline Monday Oct. 17th. As soon as possible,
write using
the sample letter and format below. Demand a public hearing and
stricter
regulations before this new compressor station is approved and
begins emitting
greenhouse gasses, formaldehyde and other noxious air emissions.
The compressor stations are part of Marcellus Shale gas drilling
and have
contributed to the increase in asthma and other health problems out
West where
they have been operating longer. They are not regulated as an
aggregate, as
they should be; the existing regulations fail to address their real-
life impact
on air quality, climate, and health.
This particular compressor station is in Penn Township, Lycoming
County. Any
resident of the tri-state area – Pennsylvania, New York, and New
Jersey --
can comment regardless of where you live. Air travels freely and
impacts
quality of life for people and all living things. The letter below
was
developed in careful consultation with the Clean Air Council's Matt
Walker as
well as concerned residents of "shale country."
Thanks to all you Protectors for working so hard this week! Here
is your
sample letter. Email all letters by 5 PM Monday Oct. 17th to Mr.
Zaman,
mza...@state.pa.us
Your name
your address
your phone #
October ___, 2011
Via Electronic and First Class Mail
Email to: "Mr. Zaman" mza...@state.pa.us
Muhammad Q. Zaman, Environmental Program Manager
Department of Environmental Protection
Air Quality Program, North-central Regional Office
208 West Third Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, PA 17701
Re: Chief Gathering, LLC, Plan Approval No.: 41-00078C
Dear Mr. Zaman,
I am a concerned citizen and have several points and suggestions to
make about
the proposed additions to equipment at the Barto Compressor
Station, including
concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts. For
instance,
VOCs and nitrogen oxides from natural gas operations mix to produce
ground-level ozone, which causes a variety of respiratory problems
including
asthma. The emission of hazardous air pollutants is linked to
elevated levels
of cancer and neurological health issues.
I support the DEP’s decision to regulate the Barto Compressor
Station under a
Title V permit due to the Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, requiring
specific
technologies to reduce air emissions. While these technologies
decrease
pollution, the DEP should require even more efficient equipment,
including
commercially available Best Control Technologies and Best
Management Practices,
that would bring emissions closer to zero (the ideal target).
Please see the
extensive lists and presentations about recommended technologies
and practices
on the EPA’s website for some specific ideas
(http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/tools/recommended.html).
I am happy to see that there are emissions monitoring requirements
for specific
pieces of equipment, but why can’t the DEP require monitoring past
the
proposed 120 days? It is imperative to test the quantity of
pollutants coming
from natural gas equipment rather than just calculating it. I urge
the DEP to
require constant air monitoring on equipment for the entire
operating life of
this station.
In addition, I urge the DEP to perform a proper aggregation
analysis to
determine the cumulative effects of all equipment and to ensure
that emissions
are kept under the thresholds set for major sources. This will help
protect the
air and health for communities close to the Barto Station, those
living
down-wind, and other Pennsylvania residents.
I am requesting the DEP to host a public hearing for this permit
application.
Chief has applied for a lot of permits in this region, and I’m
concerned
about the cumulative effects of all of the related natural gas
equipment. I
think a hearing would provide more opportunity for the public to
comment, as
more people would attend who wouldn’t necessarily send in written
comments. A
public hearing is likely the DEP’s most efficient way to respond to
public
comments as people can have their concerns answered directly and
instantly. I
am also very interested to hear the responses to my comments, and
in the
opportunity to have an open dialogue and discussion about these
issues. Thank
you for this opportunity to comment, and please keep me updated on
any actions
related to Plan Approval No. 41-00078C
Sincerely,
Name
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Note: Send above letter as is if you are too rushed. If you have
a few
minutes, please customize the letter using the pointers below!
Include your address, his name and address as above, and email to
"Mr. Zaman"
mza...@state.pa.us, Re: Chief Gathering, LLC, Plan Approval No.:
41-00078C
• If you live close, describe your family, your history living
in the
area, observations or concerns about health or environmental
impacts from poor
air quality
• potential environmental and health impacts of existing and
additional equipment
• Support the Title V requirements for more efficient
technology, but
urge DEP to require even stricter
• Support emissions monitoring requirements but want DEP to
require
constant air monitoring for the entire operating life of this station
• The DEP did not perform a proper aggregation analysis to
determine
the cumulative effects of all equipment -- they must do so; it's
essential
• Request a public hearing
o High volume of Chief permits in this region
o more opportunity for the public to comment
o most efficient way to respond to public comments
o opportunity to have an open dialogue and discussion about these
issues
Thank you for this opportunity to comment, and please keep me
updated on any
actions related to Plan Approval No. 41-00078C
Sincerely,
Name
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Thanks Protectors and congratulations on all your victories along
the way!
from Iris, abe, Poune, Gerry, Jerry and all the POW organizers
--
Iris Marie Bloom
Director, Protecting Our Waters protectingourwaters.com
Organizer, Shale Gas Outrage shalegasoutrage.org
Phone: 215.840.6489 ~ Email: protectingourwat...@gmail.com
"The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives"
--Teton Sioux
• Unanimous City Council vote YES; Letters needed to protect our
air!,
Protecting Our Waters, 10/14/2011
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