NWDA Air Quality Committee Minutes, 5.14.12
5.14.12
Minutes, Air Quality Committee
Present: Mitch Ritter, Bob Amundson, Caroline Skinner, Bob L, Sharon Genasci
Bob L Talked to the group about some problems with the odor survey form and data collection arrangements. He described an odor complaint he filed that went as usual to the AQ Chair and himself and to DEQ. However, DEQ modified the complaint information, removing some of the data collected and then sent the modified complaint on to ESCO, who forwarded it to all NAC representatives. He then received an email offering follow up data from Ethics Point System. However, when he tried to access this data a password was required, which he did not have.
Next, Bob Amundson talked with us about the Follow-up Review of Cancer Data for
NW PDX, that we requested a year ago from Sujata Joshi at Oregon Health Division, which we recently received. It compares various cancers in NWDA voter districts with Metro and statewide cancer data. We are sorry that it did not also compare with national cancer statistics. We will ask Sujata if we could get this as well.
Some distinctive findings were: “The rate of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in NW PDX men was 1.7 times higher than the rate among other men in PDX and 1.9 times higher than the rate among other men statewide. These findings were statistically significant.”
“The rate of melanoma among Northwest PDX women was 1.4 times higher than the rate among other women in PDX, and 1.6 times higher than the rate among other women statewide. These findings were statistically significant.”
“While the rate of breast cancer among NW PDX women was similar to the rate among other PDX women, it was 1.2 times higher than the rate among other women in Oregon. This finding was statistically significant”
Sharon talked about the document that she and Bob Amundson are writing, that
summarizes achievements of the Health & Environment Committee renamed the NWDA Air Quality Committee over the period 1992-2012. She will post this on the website soon.
The June AQ Committee meeting was rescheduled to June 25th, at 7:00, because
of holiday disruptions. And people were reminded to attend the NWDA Annual meeting on May 21, 2012 from 6:00-7:15 at Legacy Good Samaritan, Wistar Morris Room, 1015 NW 22nd Ave.
Finally, Caroline sadly said goodbye to the group after over ten years of working with us.
Sharon Genasci
ESCO Website Information per the GNA
Good afternoon, Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
I am pleased to report that effective today, May 1, 2012, we have launched two key programs as required by the Good Neighbor Agreement.
1. The NAC web page is now live. You may access it by going to www.portlandnac.com or www.escocorp.com/sustainability/portlandnac. Please go online as soon as possible to review the page and provide comment or feedback. As part of the initial launch, the site provides access to all of the requirements stated in the GNA, including:
a. A list of all NAC principals, representatives and their alternates
b. A calendar of all scheduled NAC meetings
c. A location to post the minutes or summaries of NAC meetings
d. An email address that will allow the public to submit comments or questions to the NAC.
We will update the site as needed and add other information identified for publication by the NAC.
2. The ESCO Environmental Hotline is also available to accept neighborhood concerns. You may access the system by going to www.escoenvironmentalhotline.com or by calling 503-597-4341 to access a live representative. The system is available 24-hours a day, and contact information is posted on the NAC Website, on both of our Portland foundry main gates and with our receptionist.
For questions or information about either the web page or the Hotline, please contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Kelley Egre
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
ESCO Portland
World Headquarters
Phone: (503) 778-6456
kelley.egre@escocorp.com
www.escocorp.com
Report on first (GNA) NAC Meeting & EPA Conf. in Seattle Last Week
Last week was the first NAC meeting (Neighborhood Advisory Committee) under the GNA with ESCO. Jorjan had work commitments, that prevented her being there on a Tu., but in future she will be, as they are moving dates to Friday. It went quite smoothly. Aubrey Baldwin agreed to be Chair and facilitator of the group. Esco had organized the meeting at Friendly House, and they reported on two of the scheduled GNA pollution controls being finished and ready for NAC inspection, nos. 4 and 8 on Attachment A of the GNA.
These are 4: Seal leaks and opening on P3 Pouring Cooling Shakeout (which was already reported as completed in October, but has not had the NAC inspection). The other was no. 8: Modify operational specifications to limit door and other openings to improve capture on EAF and AOD processes. NAC reps will be invited in to inspect the records and the process for fugitive emissions. I suggested we invite Bob Holmstrom to carry out some of the inspections on our behalf, as he is a trained engineer, and is very familiar with the plant. I am ccing this to Ron Walters to get that process in order with the Board.
Finally, on Friday I attended an all day Conference on outdoor air pollution at EPA HQ in Seattle. There were a number of air quality activists there from the region, as well as a number of EPA personnel. The EPA outlined in detail their programs to assist activists in the field. I found the presentations interesting, but mainly enjoyed meeting the activists, who are working on a variety of problems and in a variety of situations. Some were like ours, where neighborhoods are next to polluting industries, others were dealing with pig farms, field burning and other agricultural pollution problems. One was working on nuclear emissions, others live near landfills etc. I think the overriding feeling from the activists was that we have lots of information about our pollution problems, but not the kind of help we need from the regulatory bodies (DEQ, EPA) to actually achieve reduction in emissions into our common air shed. It was gratifying to know that these good people are out there working hard. Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA Air Quality Committee
AQC Cover Letter for Minutes 4.9.12
4.9.12
To: The NWDA Board
From: The NWDA Air Quality Committee
Re: The AQC Work Plan
At the AQC meeting tonight we decided to support our work plan with the amendments from Ron Walters NWDA President. We would like, however, to comment on the process which has extended over a period of almost two years.
We make these suggestions because of the precedent set for other board committees by our experience. As you know, the Committee has worked very hard on the work plan, and we are hopeful that the Board will accept our plan with the
few changes suggested by Ron.
However, as a precedent for other volunteer committees of the NWDA Board, it is important to acknowledge that this is unpaid work, and the board cannot force its members to take on tasks that do not interest them. It also creates an atmosphere of disrespect, which I know that Board members would not want.
NWDA is extremely fortunate to have many volunteers with special expertise who are doing interesting work in planning, transportation and other areas. The relations between Board and committees should be respectful and encouraging to enable the work to continue with good spirit.
The work plan is the guiding instrument for the committee, and it is the committee members who draw upon their respective expertise to do the work. Therefore, we strongly recommend that work plans originate from, rather than be provided to, the committees.
Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA Air Quality Committee
NWDA Air Quality Committee Cover letter
3.13.12
Ron Walters, President, NWDA Board
Dear Ron,
I will cc this cover letter and our Work Plan draft No 10 to all the members of the Board. Today we posted our minutes for our meeting last night.
At last night’s meeting the Committee asked me to write a cover letter from our Committee to you and all Board members to remind you that our work on the committee is voluntary and unpaid. We are finding many of the suggestions offered to change our work plan overly broad and ambitious. In fact some of the suggestions are for a work plan suitable for the DEQ at a cost beyond what we can realistically hope to fund.
During the over fifteen years of our operation as a Board committee, we have acquired a list of air quality controls that Esco put on the two plants since 1994, when we began working on neighborhood air pollution issues. And in addition to the work already accomplished at Esco, we were instrumental in getting DEQ to adopt a rule requiring capture equipment when loading and unloading fuels along the riverfront. This prevented tons of benzene and other contaminants going into the neighborhoods (CA & WA states already had this rule at the time). We were instrumental in getting Faulkner on 28th & Thurman to drastically reduce emissions of Styrene. A pregnant woman lived directly across the street.
These are some of our accomplishments. But during the last two years of writing this work plan (our one pager had been good for years) we have been able to do little else than respond to demands for rewrites, attend meetings etc.
We are now wanting to get back to the work of the Committee. In addition to passing the work plan 10, which responds to many of the demands made to us,
we are asking you to place on the agenda a motion from our Committee to change the website to reflect our name change to the NWDA Air Quality Committee. Please remove Health & Environment from the website, as there is no functioning H & E
Committee now.
With thanks,
Sharon Genasci, Chair, NWDA Air Quality Committee
NWDA Air Quality Committee Work Plan (draft10)
2012 Work Plan (draft 10)
NWDA Air Quality Committee
March 13, 2012
Mission Statement:
The protection of public health and environment in the Northwest District encompasses a number of needs as outlined in the Northwest District Plan. The greatest health and environment concern for the neighborhood, however, remains the quality of air in our urban neighborhood due to:
- The neighborhood’s adjacency to the Northwest industrial district,
- The neighborhood being surrounded on two sides by an urban freeway, and
- The concentrations of emissions from the great mix of activities associated with an urban community – traffic, construction, household emissions, etc.
The density of Northwest populations, the concentrations of children, senior citizens and those with health concerns focuses these air quality concerns. NWDA Air Quality Committee is dedicated to monitoring and promoting a clean and healthy air shed in which Northwest neighbors can live and work. The Committee evaluates health and environmental issues affecting Northwest District air quality, communicates with neighbors about air pollution and health impacts, promotes public health and works with the community, DEQ, legislature and other public officials to improve the quality of NW neighborhood air.
The committee will continue to focus energies and resources on the reduction of toxic air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (dust) that settles on neighbor’s homes and gardens.
Background:
This dense, mixed use, residential neighborhood, next to an historic industrial area along the Willamette River, is bounded by I-405, West Burnside Street, the West Hills and Highway 30. Its northern edge abuts the Northwest Industrial Neighborhood, an industrial zone characterized by factories and distribution centers, some old and not up to modern standards that potentially emit air pollution. There is no buffer zone; the industrial sanctuary is directly adjacent to Northwest’s dense, residential neighborhood. On the east and northeast side the northwest district lies next to the I-405 freeway. Heavy car and truck travel have historically emitted high levels of air pollution into the neighborhood.
Air shed pollutants include heavy metals, particulate matter and VOCs from many large industrial sources and emissions from mobile sources such as trucks, cars and buses. These pollution sources impact the quality of life in the NW neighborhood. Potential health impacts of the known pollutants are of particular concern for young children, the elderly and anyone with respiratory health problems. Health concerns for some of the known pollutants include cancer, asthma, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological ailments. Several of the known pollutants such as manganese and lead are neurological toxins. The NWDA tracks odor complaints, which support these concerns.
2012 Work Plan:
- on industrial pollutants, which historically and continue to pose the greatest concern for neighborhood health.
- Promote with the City and ODEQ the adoption of the Precautionary Principle, requiring that permitted polluters prove their emissions are safe for a residential neighborhood. For many years it has been the role of the neighborhood to ask for protective regulatory help to clean up the air shed. Enough is known now about the types of emissions and emitting industries that the Precautionary Principle should be in place statewide.
Outreach, Education and Awareness:
• Continue air pollution educational outreach to neighbors, schools, other organizations and neighborhoods through meetings and events.
• Continue to improve the NWDA odor complaint form and website and utilize the submittals to improve an understanding for the Committee, the Board and for the Oregon DEQ of air shed problems in the NW neighborhood.
- Track odor complaints received from the NWDA website. Continue to investigate and work with neighbors to identify the source of potentially harmful emissions, odors and particulates that come into the neighborhood and work with suspected sources on the elimination or reduction of those pollutants.
- Work with the Planning Committee’s Conway planning project on including a clean diesel proposal in the Leeds agreement of the Master Plan. This would propose that a portion of the total construction cost go to upgrading exhaust controls on construction vehicles, generators and other construction equipment to reduce diesel emissions.
- The NWDA Air Quality Committee will work with the NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee of the GNA) to monitor neighborhood air pollution, and will also continue to do community monitoring when possible to watch for changes and increases in neighborhood air pollutants from all sources.
ESCO Good Neighbor Agreement:
- Work with ESCO and other groups to fulfill the commitments contained in the recently signed Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), that promises to reduce overall air emissions by about 20 per cent over the five years of their new permit, which was issued by DEQ on March 1, 2012.
- Actively participate on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC). Report on Committee activities and seek feedback from the Air Quality Committee and the NWDA Board.
Enforcement & Support:
• Seek opportunities to work with the Mayor’s Office to promote awareness of air pollution problems in NW Portland, and where possible, strengthen enforcement.
• Seek opportunities to work with the legislature to develop new air quality related legislation.
• Continue to testify at ODEQ and other hearings and legislative committee meetings on air pollution.
• Fundraise where necessary, (i.e. from health directed foundations) in support of the Committee’s activities.
Organization and Conduct of Committee:
• As a standing NWDA committee, the Air Quality Committee shall recruit members, not less than 3 and not more than 15.
• Shall provide notice of all meetings and shall post both agendas and minutes.
• Shall review membership and the chairperson annually for reporting to the NWDA Board.
• Shall provide updates on a monthly basis at the NWDA Board meeting.
• Shall hold meetings at a public and ADA accessible location.
Appendix
Committee Work to Date on Air Quality Problems:
Under the direction of Dr. Robert Amundson the Health & Environment Committee (as it was then named) in 1997 began conducting neighborhood air monitoring studies. Dr. Amundson has conducted air quality monitoring since 1969 and has specialized in quantifying effects of air pollution on managed and unmanaged ecosystems. Under Dr. Amundson’s guidance, northwest neighbors monitored the air at their homes and at sites throughout the neighborhood. Funding came from various grants, including an EPA grant and a legal settlement (Chevron vs. Genasci). Some studies were conducted in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), while others were independent neighborhood efforts. Particulates (dust), metals and toxic gases were monitored.
The following data compiled over the years yielded results that clearly indicate a serious air pollution problem in Northwest Portland:
• Over 70 toxic compounds were found to be in the air, including compounds known to cause cancer, respiratory and endocrine problems. The aggregate health effect of such a mix of toxic substances is unknown.
• Dust samples collected in the neighborhood contained concentrations of lead that far exceeded the EPA’s indoor standard of 40 micrograms per square foot. (see http://www.nchh.org/Media/Press-Releases/Lead-Dust-Standard.aspx which recommends a standard of 10 micrograms per square foot).
• Many heavy metals such as lead, manganese, nickel, and chromium 6 (hexavalent chrome) were found in particulates. These metals can cause serious health problems. Studies have consistently shown the level of lead and other heavy metals to be higher in locations closer to the NW industrial area, indicating a “hot spot” for industrial sources of pollution.
• The most recent monitoring showed concentrations of three VOCs – benzene (a Class A carcinogen), butadiene, and acrolein – high enough to be of concern. All three compounds exceeded EPA and California health benchmarks. Benzene concentrations, for instance, varied from 16 to 73 times the EPA cancer benchmark and from 67 to 293 times the California benchmark. (See H & E air monitoring data at the NWDA Office)
• Fuel & diesel emissions. Fuel odors are a priority because benzene, a known carcinogen, is a component of fuel. The Committee worked with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), city officials, some state legislators and a few industrial polluters. The Committee performed community outreach through neighborhood events, meetings, mailings and leaflet distribution to increase awareness of the problem and organize the efforts of concerned community members.
Odor Complaints:
The Committee’s online odor complaint form (www.portlandair.org) supplements the NWDA’s new general-purpose form and allows neighbors to report odors that may be associated with toxic air borne pollutants. Complaints go to the Committee Chair and Oregon DEQ. The Committee uses the complaints to work with ODEQ to identify the source of problem odors, which are not only irritants, but may also indicate dangerous air pollutants. From June 2, 2005 through February 3, 2012 the Committee received 1050 odor complaints. Of these, there were 775 complaints submitted by approximately 120 people, that mentioned Esco Corporation as the source (73 per cent).
Major Sources of Air Pollution:
ESCO, a multinational steel foundry is located at NW Vaughn and 25th with a second plant on NW Brewer. Part of the concern is their location near Wallace Park, Chapman Elementary School and other schools. Built in 1913, the buildings are old and not air-tight. ESCO emits a suite of heavy metals and toxic gases, as well as particulate matter in the form of black dust. It is thought that the distinctive, noxious odors from the plant come from the binders used in the molding process at ESCO. Following a USA Today article (http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/search/OR/), parents were concerned about a possible link to health problems in the schools’ communities near industrial air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable to harmful effects of these air pollutants. The 775 complaints or 73 percent of odor complaints received by the Committee are attributed to ESCO Corporation’s two plants in NW Portland.
The other major source of odors that neighbors complained of in recent years was very strong fuel smells that came into people’s homes and gardens, sometimes over a several day period. Eight oil companies operating in Portland use above ground fuel storage tanks, some at least fifty years old. These are located in a “tank farm” near the Willamette River. Fuel is transferred from ship-to-port and from ship-to-ship. ODEQ requires the use of capture equipment during the on shore transfers, but not the transfers from ship-to-ship. More work is needed to document the sources of these odors.
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee
Minutes, NWDA Air Quality Committee
3.12.12
Present: Kathleen Sharp, Mitch Ritter, Bob L, Myriam Alaux, Caroline Skinner, Jorjan Parker, Evan Farnham, Bob Amundson, Allan Classen (Examiner) Sharon Genasci
The First part of the meeting was taken up by a discussion about the revised draft 9 of the Committee’s work plan. Particular attention was paid to the section on air pollution monitoring plans. That section was revised, voted upon (unanimous) and added to the new draft 10 of the work plan, which will be presented to the next Board meeting on Monday, March 19th. A cover letter to the Board will accompany the new draft work plan.
It was also pointed out that details about the odor complaints were omitted in the last draft, and these will be replaced.
Bob Amundson brought data sheets and maps to explain the results of the last dust sampling from August 19-30th September, 2011. The lab, which in previous years did good work with the Committee, mistakenly failed to carry out some analyses on the dust, leaving only the highest concentrations of heavy metals, and lacking the lower, background levels necessary for a thorough understanding of the distribution of metals such as lead throughout the neighborhood. It did, however, confirm a lead & metals “hotspot ” close to Esco, as we have found in previous years.
This same lab (Kelso) “lost” all the samples we provided in 2010, and had offered to do the analyses on these samples for free.
Bob L spoke about necessary changes to the NWDA website, since our Committee is now called NWDA Air Quality Committee (after the February NWDA Board decision) Health & Environment Committee remains on the website, though there is no longer a committee by this name.
The group voted (unanimous) to place a motion on the March NWDA Board agenda as follows:
“The NWDA Air Quality Committee would like to see the NWDA website changed to reflect the new NWDA Air Quality Committee name. Health & Environment Committee should be removed”.
Caroline Skinner described an incident this week in the neighborhood, when a TV film crew attempted to film a burning car. The black smoke and odor of burning plastics was highly inappropriate in our residential neighborhood, near low income housing and schools. Following is her explanation:
“I have to clarify what happened on the Leverage set on March 7th. I heard from Robert at DEQ that they intended to have the appearance of a burning car, via remote controlled flames, but then it got away from them and actually did burn a car. They had not intended for the car to catch on fire. They were using a new pyrotechnician and won’t be using him again.”
Sharon Genasci, Chair
NWDA Air Quality Committee Work Plan (7)
DRAFT 7
Work Plan, NWDA Air Quality Committee, 2012
3.6.12
Mission Statement:
The protection of public health and environment in the Northwest District encompasses a number of needs as outlined in the Northwest District Plan. The greatest health and environment concern for the neighborhood, however, remains the juxtaposition of heavy industry adjacent to a densely populated neighborhood. The NWDA Air Quality Committee is thus dedicated solely to monitoring and promoting a clean and healthy air shed in which Northwest neighbors can live and work. To achieve this goal the Committee evaluates health and environmental issues affecting Northwest District air quality, communicates with neighbors about air pollution and health impacts, promotes public health and works with the community, DEQ, legislature and other public officials to improve the quality of NW neighborhood air.
The NWDA supports the continued work of this committee and its focus of energies and resources on the elimination or reduction of industrial and other toxic pollutants and related odors that impact the community’s quality of life and health. This work will focus on the mitigation of hazardous air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (dust) that settles on neighbor’s homes and gardens.
Background:
This dense, mixed use, residential neighborhood, next to an historic industrial area along the Willamette River, is bounded by I-405, West Burnside Street, the West Hills and Highway 30 (servicing the industrial area) Its northern edge abuts the Northwest Industrial Neighborhood, an industrial zone characterized by factories and distribution centers, some quite old and not up to modern standards, that emit air pollution. There is no buffer zone; the industrial sanctuary is directly adjacent to Northwest’s dense, residential neighborhood. On the east and northeast side the northwest district lies next to the I-405 freeway. Heavy car and truck travel have historically emitted high levels of air pollution into the neighborhood. To the west, the Willamette Heights area is characterized by hilly slopes, with less dense development. As of February 3, 2012, the Committee received 1050 odor complaints mostly about odors attributed to the industrial district, reaching as far out as Forest Park.
Air shed pollutants run the gamut from heavy metals, particulate matter and VOCs from many large industrial sources, to emissions from mobile sources such as trucks, cars and buses. These pollution sources seriously impact the quality of life in the NW neighborhood. Potential health impacts of the known pollutants are of particular concern for young children, the elderly and anyone with respiratory health problems. Health concerns for some of the known pollutants include cancer, asthma, parkinsons, and other neurological ailments. Several of the known pollutants such as manganese and lead are neurological toxins.
Fundamental to Committee beliefs is that the City and ODEQ should adopt the Precautionary Principle, requiring that permitted polluters prove their emissions are safe for a residential neighborhood. For many years it has been the role of the neighborhood to ask for protective regulatory help to clean up the air shed. Enough is known now about the types of emissions and emitting industries, that the Precautionary Principle should be in place statewide.
Committee Work To Date on Air Quality Problems:
Under the direction of Dr. Robert Amundson the Health & Environment Committee (as it was then named) in 1997 began conducting neighborhood air monitoring studies. Dr. Amundson previously has conducted air quality monitoring projects since 1969, and has specialized in quantifying effects of air pollution on managed and unmanaged ecosystems. Under Dr. Amundson’s guidance, northwest neighbors monitored the air at their homes and at sites throughout the neighborhood. Funding came from various grants, including an EPA grant and a legal settlement (Chevron vs. Genasci). Some studies were conducted in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), while others were independent neighborhood efforts. Particulates (dust), metals and toxic gases were monitored.
The following data compiled over the years yielded results that clearly indicate a serious air pollution problem in Northwest Portland:
◆ Over 70 toxic compounds were found to be in the air, including compounds known to cause cancer, respiratory and endocrine problems. The aggregate health effect of such a mix of toxic substances is unknown.
◆ Dust samples collected in the neighborhood contained concentrations of lead that far exceeded the EPA’s indoor standard of 40 micrograms per square foot.
(see, http://www.nchh.org/Media/Press-Releases/Lead-Dust-Standard.aspx) which recommends a standard of 10 micrograms per square foot).
◆ Many heavy metals such as lead, manganese, nickel, and chromium 6 (hexavalent chrome) were found in particulates. These metals can cause serious health problems. Studies have consistently shown the level of lead and other heavy metals to be higher in locations closer to the NW industrial area, indicating a “hot spot” for industrial sources of pollution.
◆ The most recent monitoring showed concentrations of three VOCs–benzene (a Class A carcinogen), butadiene, and acrolein–high enough to be of concern. All three compounds exceeded EPA and California health benchmarks. Benzene concentrations, for instance, varied from 16 to 73 times the EPA cancer benchmark and from 67 to 293 times the California benchmark. (see H & E air monitoring data at the NWDA Office)
◆ and diesel emissions. Fuel odors are a priority because benzene, a known carcinogen, is a component of fuel. The Committee worked with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), city officials, some state legislators and a few industrial polluters. The Committee performed community outreach through neighborhood events, meetings, mailings and leaflet distribution to increase awareness of the problem and organize the efforts of concerned community members.
Odor Complaints:
The Committee’s online odor complaint form (www.portlandair.org) supplements the NWDA’s new general-purpose form and allows neighbors to report odors that may be associated with toxic air borne pollutants. Complaints go to the Committee Chair and Oregon DEQ. The Committee uses the complaints to work with ODEQ to identify the source of problem odors, which are not only irritants, but may also indicate dangerous air pollutants. From June 2, 2005 through February 3, 2012 the Committee received 1050 odor complaints. Of these, there were 775 complaints submitted by approximately 120 people, that mentioned Esco Corporation as the source.
Major Sources of Air Pollution:
The 775 complaints about Esco Corporation’s two plants in NW Portland make up 73 per cent of odor complaints received by the Committee. Esco, a multinational steel foundry is located at NW Vaughn and 25th, and a second plant on NW Brewer. Part of the concern is their location near Wallace Park, Chapman Elementary School and other schools. Built in 1913, the buildings are old and not air-tight. ESCO emits a suite of heavy metals and toxic gases, as well as particulate matter in the form of black dust. It is thought that the distinctive, noxious odors from the plant come from the binders used in the molding process at Esco. Following a USA Today article http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/search/OR/. Parents were concerned about a possible link to health problems in the schools’ communities near industrial air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable to harmful effects of these air pollutants.
NWDA and other groups recently signed a good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) with ESCO, who promises to reduce overall air emissions by about 20 per cent over the five years of their new permit, which was issued by DEQ on March 1, 2012.
The other major source of odors that neighbors complained of in recent years was very strong fuel smells that came into people’s homes and gardens, sometimes over a several day period. Eight oil companies operating in Portland use above ground fuel storage tanks, some at least fifty years old. These are located in a “tank farm” near the Willamette River. Fuel is transferred from ship to port, and from ship to ship. ODEQ requires the use of capture equipment during the on shore transfers, but not the transfers from ship to ship. More work needs to be done to document the source of these odors.
NWDA Air quality Committee Priorities for 2012 are:
• Development of Priorities:
• Identify air quality concerns impacting the Northwest District from all sources, with particular focus on industrial pollutants, which historically and continue to pose the greatest concern for neighborhood health.
• Outreach & Information Gathering:
• Continue air pollution educational outreach to neighbors through meetings and other events.
• Continue air pollution educational outreach to schools, non-profit organizations and other neighborhoods.
• Continue to improve the Committee’s odor survey form and website and utilize the data from the odor complaints received to improve an understanding of air shed problems in the NW neighborhood.
• Build on Current Work:
• Continue community monitoring to watch for changes and increases in neighborhood air pollutants from all sources
• Continue collaborative work with ODEQ, particularly on implementation of the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) with ESCO Corporation. This will include establishment of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC).
• Through the NAC oversee the installation of new emissions control technology at ESCO as described in the GNA
• Work with the Planning Committee’s Conway planning project on including a clean diesel proposal in the Leeds agreement of the Master Plan. This would propose that a portion of the total construction cost go to upgrading exhaust controls on construction vehicles, generators and other construction equipment to reduce diesel emissions.
▪ Continue to investigate and work with neighbors on the source of strong fuel odors that come into the neighborhood.
• Enforcement & Support:
• If possible work with the Mayor’s Office to promote awareness of air pollution problems in NW Portland, and where possible, strengthen enforcement.
• Work with the legislature where possible to develop new air quality related legislation.
• Continue to testify at ODEQ and other hearings and legislative committee meetings on air pollution.
• Fundraise where necessary, in support of the Committee’s activities.
NWDA Air Quality Committee Agenda
NWDA Health & Environment Committee Minutes
2.13.12
Minutes, NWDA Health & Environment Committee
Present: Bob Davies, Mitch Ritter, Yochai Kolissar, Bob L, Myriam Alaux, Caroline Skinner, Jorjan Parker, Evan Farnham, Sharon Genasci
We started off the meeting with a thorough discussion about the H & E work plan. A number of suggestions, including improvements in certain areas were agreed upon and then a quorum voted unanimously in favor of the work plan as amended.
Next, we talked about representatives to the NAC from our Committee. Sharon told the group that she and Bob Amundson were two candidates so far. Jorjan Parker then agreed to become a third member of the NAC from the H & E Committee.
A unanimous vote in favor was taken.
Finally, we talked about changing the name of our Committee from the NWDA Health & Environment Committee to the NWDA Air Quality Committee. The new name we felt more closely describes the Committee’s work. Again, it was decided unanimously to change our name.
It is understood that the work plan, candidates for the NAC and a name change for the Committee will be put to a vote by the Board at its next meeting.
Sharon Genasci, Chair
