Rendell Visit Sparks Call for Protest
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is visiting the Hometown area this week, and local environmental health advocates plan to give him a piece of their mind.
Rendell will attend the Coaldale Volunteer Fire Co.'s rededication ceremony on Wednesday, April 26, the Times-News reports. He's scheduled to arrive at the at the Coaldale borough's firehouse at 6:30 p.m. and address the gathering at 7:25 p.m. Other speakers include state Rep. Dave Argall, Coaldale Mayor Claire Remington, former Schuylkill County Sheriff Paul Sheers, Fire Chief Richard Marek and fire company President Daniel Urban.
Those attending can expect a protest from the Army for a Clean Environment, a local citizens' group that's been battling Rendell over his administration's enthusiastic support for the dumping of toxic river dredge and residue from coal-burning power plants into area mine pits, including the massive Springdale Pit overlooking the boroughs of Tamaqua, Coaldale and Lansford.
"We would like to greet [Rendell] with as many people as possible carrying 'Stop the Dumping' signs," said a recent e-mail dispatch from ACE Director Dante Picciano. "I hope that you and as many of your friends as possible can be there to greet the governor."
Environmental health advocates have long warned of the hazards of river dredge and coal combustion residue. A 2000 report by the Clean Air Task Force noted that CCR is highly toxic, containing "concentrated levels of contaminants like arsenic, mercury, chromium and cadmium that can damage the nervous systems and other organs, especially in children." The National Academies' Research Council last month released a study detailing risks associated with placing coal-combustion residue (CCR) into mines. The study pointed out that little is known about minefilling's potential to adversely affect groundwater and surface water over time. It also called for better characterization of CCR before placement and a more robust program to monitor sites where CCR has been placed.
Meanwhile, Rendell and the Army Corps of Engineers have been pushing a plan to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet from the bay to Philadelphia, creating about 22 million cubic yards of dredge spoils. The Corps’ own studies have found that the sediment contains a possible 128 different contaminants including cadmium, lead, mercury and PCBs. It's likely that some of the spoils would end up in the Hometown area, as dredge material's already been dumped in coalmines in Tamaqua despite residents' objections.
Rendell will attend the Coaldale Volunteer Fire Co.'s rededication ceremony on Wednesday, April 26, the Times-News reports. He's scheduled to arrive at the at the Coaldale borough's firehouse at 6:30 p.m. and address the gathering at 7:25 p.m. Other speakers include state Rep. Dave Argall, Coaldale Mayor Claire Remington, former Schuylkill County Sheriff Paul Sheers, Fire Chief Richard Marek and fire company President Daniel Urban.
Those attending can expect a protest from the Army for a Clean Environment, a local citizens' group that's been battling Rendell over his administration's enthusiastic support for the dumping of toxic river dredge and residue from coal-burning power plants into area mine pits, including the massive Springdale Pit overlooking the boroughs of Tamaqua, Coaldale and Lansford.
"We would like to greet [Rendell] with as many people as possible carrying 'Stop the Dumping' signs," said a recent e-mail dispatch from ACE Director Dante Picciano. "I hope that you and as many of your friends as possible can be there to greet the governor."
Environmental health advocates have long warned of the hazards of river dredge and coal combustion residue. A 2000 report by the Clean Air Task Force noted that CCR is highly toxic, containing "concentrated levels of contaminants like arsenic, mercury, chromium and cadmium that can damage the nervous systems and other organs, especially in children." The National Academies' Research Council last month released a study detailing risks associated with placing coal-combustion residue (CCR) into mines. The study pointed out that little is known about minefilling's potential to adversely affect groundwater and surface water over time. It also called for better characterization of CCR before placement and a more robust program to monitor sites where CCR has been placed.
Meanwhile, Rendell and the Army Corps of Engineers have been pushing a plan to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet from the bay to Philadelphia, creating about 22 million cubic yards of dredge spoils. The Corps’ own studies have found that the sediment contains a possible 128 different contaminants including cadmium, lead, mercury and PCBs. It's likely that some of the spoils would end up in the Hometown area, as dredge material's already been dumped in coalmines in Tamaqua despite residents' objections.
posted by Sue Sturgis at
2:20 PM
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