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Many express opposition to medical waste plant in Follansbee

MANY VOICES HEARD — About 200 people turned out to express opposition or hear of plans to operate a medical waste treatment plant in Follansbee at a public hearing held by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday at the Follansbee Community House. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — Officials with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality received many questions and many negative comments Wednesday regarding plans to operate a medical waste treatment plant at the site of the former Koppers plant. 

About 200 people turned out for a hearing held at the Follansbee Community House on a permit sought by Empire Green Generation. 

Its parent company, Empire Diversified Energy, has redeveloped areas of riverfront property, much of it once occupied by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel and engaged in an environmental cleanup of land contaminated by the former steel firm. 

But its proposal to dispose of medical waste through a process called pyrolysis has drawn concerns and opposition from many residents. 

Ed Andrews, a permit writer with the state agency assigned to the project, told attendees the waste will be screened, shredded, dried and reduced to gas using high heat. 

“Think of it as an oven without oxygen,” he said. 

Andrews said any solids recovered from the ashes, such as metals, will be recycled. 

He said the bulk of gases released in the process will be combusted, though an emergency flare may be used during the plant’s startup and when buildups occur. 

In a notice for the permit application, the Division of Air Quality stated the plant could release the following potential emissions: particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, 9.5 tons per year; particulate matter less than 10 microns, 18.5 tons per year; particulate matter, 31.6 tons per year; sulfur dioxide, 39 tons per year; oxides of nitrogen, 24 tons per year; carbon monoxide, 99 tons per year; volatile organic compounds, 24 tons per year; and total hazardous air pollutants, 2 tons per year. 

Bernard Brown, chief operations officer for the plant, told attendees the levels are “well below” those established by the state. 

But resident Frank Rocchio and others noted while speaking at Follansbee Council meetings and through Empire’s website, company officials stated the process involves no emissions.  

“This misrepresentation alone should be grounds for council to revoke its (building) permit,” he said. 

Empire officials also have maintained the process doesn’t involve incineration, a term used in their permit.  

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Wendy DeAngelis questioned why the process isn’t considered incineration when the word pryolysis contains a word meaning fire. 

“The way we understand this process is there’s going to be no oxygen to support combustion,” replied Andrews, who noted without oxygen, there can’t be fire. 

Resident Natalie Rocchio, one of 19 who expressed opposition to the plant, said it appears state officials aren’t clear on its potential effect, alluding to estimates in its evaluation of the process. 

She described the plant as “an experiment conducted in our neighborhood.” 

Rocchio noted plans by another company to build such a plant in Rhode Island were rejected by state officials who cited concerns about environmental health risks. 

She and others noted state officials in Rhode Island have banned such facilities within 2,000 feet of a waterway, floodplain, park, school or residential area. 

Rachel Meyer, regional coordinator for Mom’s Clean Air Force, a national group working against air pollution, noted the proposed plant would be within a half-mile of the city’s ball fields, a local school and Follansbee Park. 

Resident Tom DiBattista said he’s concerned about an anticipated five trucks carrying up to 70 tons of waste to the plant each day and asked if the local fire department is prepared for spills that may occur. 

City Fire Chief Larry Rea said when he was Brooke County’s director of emergency services, a study was done of the flow of commodities along nearby U.S. Route 22 and medical waste was among the materials transported.  

“Yes, on hazardous material, we’re trained on it,” he said. 

Natalie Rocchio asked if the firm is seeking a Title V permit from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and was told they are seeking a permit to treat up to 99 tons, just below the 100 tons that would require stricter regulations required by the EPA.  

But Andrews said state inspectors will inspect the facility as often as those with a Title V permit, which is every two years. 

When an attendee said that doesn’t seem often enough, Andrews said, “The problem is we’ve gotten a lot more sources (of potential air quality violations) and these are the resources we have.” 

Laura Crowder, director of the Division of Air Quality, said companies are required to do testing and monitor emissions on a quarterly or annual basis to the DEP and their accuracy is determined by certified emissions monitors. 

Objections also were voiced by James Kotcon, president of the West Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club: and Duane Nichols, a former chemical engineer and member of the Mon-Valley Clean Air Coalition. 

Nichols suggested the state apply its budget surplus to ensuring the state DEP is adequately staffed. 

Many acknowledged the city has endured pollution from local steel mills in the past but said it’s also become at hospitals outside the valley for its many cancer patients. 

DiBattista said then he knew that at least the pollution was a byproduct of the production of steel. 

“Who knows what’s in this stuff? All the things they’re going to burn, all the stuff they’re going to transport here?” he said. 

Donna Gorbey-Michael, a sanitarian with the state Department of Health’s infectious medical waste program, was asked if Empire has indicated plans to apply for a permit to treat Category A infectious waste, which is classified as material reasonably expected to contain a pathogen capable of causing a permanent disability or fatal disease if exposed to humans. 

She confirmed it has and that will require another permit. 

Rocchio and others have noted Empire hasn’t indicated, in its permit application, whether it will accept waste from outside the state, leaving a blank by the question unfilled. 

Gorbey-Michael said medical waste from hospitals and other medical facilities in the state is inspected before it’s transported from those sites but “Any waste that comes from outside the state we have no control over.” 

She added other states have equivalent regulatory agencies but their guidelines may differ. 

Brooke County Commissioner A.J. Thomas asked if the material will be tested for radiation and was told by Gorbey-Michael “that information will be forthcoming when they file the application with us.” 

Following the hearing, Gorbey-Michael confirmed Empire has applied for a permit with the state health department but it’s awaiting more information from the company. 

She said a public notice and hearing also will be held before issue of that permit is considered. 

It was noted the deadline for written public comments has been extended to 5 p.m. Dec. 9. 

They may be sent to edward.s.andrews@wv.gov or West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, Attention: Edward Andrews, P.E.; 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304. 

Marcus O’Shea, another resident opposing the plant, encouraged attendees to bring their concerns to local government officials also.

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