H&E Minutes – January 11, 2010

Present: Bob L., Caroline Skinner, Kitty Midson, Bob Holmstrom, Paul Koberstein, Sharon Genasci

Bob Holmstrom reminded the group that four oil companies with tanks in the tank farm are coming up for new permits. Sharon agreed to formally ask DEQ for a hearing.

Paul Koberstein was congratulated for another excellent article, this time on past monitoring in the neighborhood, carried out by the NWDA Health & Environment Committee. Dr. Robert Amundson, the scientist who worked with us for many years, was in charge of the monitoring. Paul pointed out how well that data held up over the years in light of new research on air pollution in NW Portland. Part of the monitoring was financed by a $20,000.00 EPA grant raised by the committee, and three years of monitoring was financed by a settlement between Chevron and Don and Sharon Genasci.

Bob Holmstrom reported on the tour of Esco he and Mary Peveto made in December. Fugitive emissions are a problem. Esco’s Carter Webb, stated in a letter to the Examiner that 80 per cent of Esco’s manganese emissions are fugitive – not coming through a stack or any permitted route. He was quite upbeat that Esco seemed interested in making changes to reduce their emissions.

He described the process inside the plant: A major concern is the argon/oxygen process at the eastern end of Plant One, located across from the distillery. This process gets rid of impurities from the scrap in the melt, resulting in a plume of smoke. He suggested the capture hood needs to be significantly improved to reduce fugitive emissions. Another problem area for fugitive emissions is large vents in the roof with fans to push the toxic emissions outside the building.

At the eastern end of the building, where large components are made, he noticed a plastic sheet being used to compact the sand molds. Emissions from burning the plastic were not captured. Nor was there a description of chemicals in the plastic. The group was concerned about possible dioxin emissions.

There was discussion about the scrap used, the need to know where the scrap comes from and what it includes, as the toxics emitted in the foundry process vary depending on paint and other components in the scrap. Pours take place in various parts of the plant, but not all of them have good emission controls.

It was felt overall that there were four main areas for improvement, that could make a difference for the neighbors, 1. The plastic melt needs capture 2. Esco needs to improve control of odors. They say they have been working on this for some time, but odors remain a serious problem for the neighbors. Some say odors are getting worse. 3. Need better capture at the argon/oxygen process. 4. Some type of capture should be placed on the open roof vents with the fans.

The plant does have detectors for radioactive materials at various points on the premises.

There was a discussion about the DEQ Science Advisory Committee meeting to set new benchmarks for manganese. Dr. Matt Brodsky, the neurologist who testified at the last Esco hearing for the H & E Committee, spoke to the Science Advisory Committee about the health effects of manganese exposure. He urged the group to set the lower California benchmark, which they adopted. However, some in the neighborhood would have preferred a benchmark of 0, since there are no safe levels for manganese.

We will examine the Cooper Environmental data for manganese. All present felt the need to place future DEQ monitors near sources where toxics such as manganese are peaking, rather than areas with average levels, which is the DEQ normal process.

- Sharon Genasci, Chair, H & E Committee