H&E Minutes – August 3, 2009

NWDA Health & Environment Committee
Minutes – August 3, 2009

Present: Caroline Skinner, Monica Russell (DEQ) John Krallman (Lewis & Clark Law School) Kitty Midson, Elizabeth Patte,Bob L, Allan Classen (Examiner), Seshu Vaddey, Marcelle Catuvid, Stacey Vallas, Chuck Johnson, Lisa Selman, Mary Peveto, Paul Koberstein (Cascadia Times), Chandra Bird Tucker, Biljana Milkovska, Sharon Genasci

The meeting opened with a report from Monica about the status of the Esco permit. The permit expires in August. And though the permit application Esco submitted is far from complete, DEQ will not work on drafting the new permit or planning a hearing for the neighbors for at least six months.

Mary Peveto reported on her meeting with Dick Pederson, Head of Oregon DEQ, after consulting with neighbors on ‘asks’. Following are some bullet points from the meeting:

- She asked DEQ to put their Title V permits on-line (they are currently working on doing this).

- Mr. Pederson is concerned about the neighborhood’s lack of confidence that DEQ will use its discretion to force industry to clean up air emissions.

- He will investigate the source (s) of unburned fuel and natural gas odors reported in H & E odor complaints.

- He will investigate the possibility of facilitating an independent audit of Esco Corporation.

- He promised to get back to her in good time with answers to her questions.

The group discussed the upcoming meeting of the Portland Air Quality Workgroup organized by Representative Mitch Greenlick. Several neighbors at the meeting will attend and contribute, including Mary Peveto, (Neighbors for Clean Air). Carter Webb from Esco is also presenting at the meeting.

The group discussed the idea of approaching EQC (Environmental Quality Commission, which oversees ODEQ) with a proposal to adopt the Precautionary Principle. This principle, more widely used in Europe, holds industry to proof that industrial emissions will do no harm.

Sharon reported 66 odor complaints received between June 16.09 and July 30 09. 39 of these were for Esco, 2 for Greenway Recycling, 9 for “natural gas, unburned fuel smells”, 2 for an unknown industrial area source and 4 for Papa Hyden’s smoke. Several of these said the odors were daily – too many to report, and that the odors are getting worse.

Monica spoke about TRI data (Toxic Release Inventory) the source for the USA Today article on industrial air pollution and schools. She said DEQ has no oversight authority for TRI reporting – to test the truthfulness of the reports.

Finally, ODEQ plans a 4.6 percent increase in permitting costs. Title V permitting is fully funded by mainly the costs to industry of the permits.

- Sharon Genasci