Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield is a grassroots organization dedicated to stopping a proposed construction and demolition debris (CDD) incinerator in Springfield MA.

Twenty years ago, Massachusetts banned all new incinerators to protect our health and our environment.  Now, Palmer Renewable Energy (PRE) wants to build a power plant in Springfield that will burn up to 900 tons of construction and demolition debris (CDD) wood contaminated with lead, mercury, and arsenic A DAY!

CDD wood isn't clean. It's sorted to remove painted and pressure-treated wood by visual inspection, then chipped for burning, but even careful sorting doesn't remove all the wood that's contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, dioxin, lead, furans and mercury, among other toxins. The toxins emitted are especially damaging to children and fetuses. The incinerator would also emit dangerous particulate pollution, and nitrogen oxides (NOx), one of the compounds that forms ground-level ozone. These pollutants cause asthma, heart attacks, and cancer.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has signed a law permanently banning the burning of CDD in the state. A spokesman for Gov. John Lynch stated, "The governor and the Legislature weren't about to let New Hampshire become a dumping ground for this toxic waste, and by passing this law, made the right choice for our state, and for the health and safety of our people." Source

Why is it acceptable to burn CDD in Massachusetts and not in New Hampshire? If Massachusetts allows this incinerator, Springfield could become the magnet for burning New England's CDD waste.

Springfield is an Environmental Justice Community, meaning we're supposed to have a say in proposals that might affect our quality of life.  Most people knew little or nothing about this proposal before it got a zoning permit, and there has been NO environmental impact study done on the Springfield plant! By classifying the fuel as recycled wood, the state allowed this plant to bypass review as a waste incinerator and has avoided normal regulatory steps, public input, and stricter emissions regulations.

It may be late in the day, but we can stop this incinerator!

The Project: Palmer Renewable Energy proposes to build a 38-megawatt power-generating incinerator at 1000 Page Boulevard, Springfield. Each day, 700 to 900 tons of the wood burned at the plant will be construction and demolition waste. The energy generated from this plant will be 1/3 of 1% of Massachusetts' total power production.

Emissions: Each year, Palmer Renewable Energy would emit 134 tons of NOx, 46 tons of particulates, and 25 tons of that class of especially toxic chemicals, the hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The HAPs emitted by the plant would include more lead than comes from Bondi's Island and the Mount Tom coal plant combined, as well as large amounts of arsenic, mercury, dioxins, and hexavalent chromium, the chemical that made Erin Brockovitch famous.

Health Issues: In an unexpected and unusual move, The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has responded to a request by members of Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield (STIS) and issued a letter of comment relating to the Springfield construction and demolition (C&D) waste incinerator's Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) permit. This permit reclassifies the wood waste, declaring it suitable for fuel. The focus of the DPH letter is the lack of a health impact assessment (HIA), something the DPH feels is called for by the BUD regulations.
Click here to read the letter (you need Adobe Reader to view, you can download Adobe Reader here).

The Massachusetts Medical Society, an organization representing 20,000 Massachusetts physicians, has voiced their opposition to biomass incineration in general. In the first paragraph of their press release they state:
"On the grounds that biomass power plants pose an unacceptable risk to the public's health by increasing air pollution, the Massachusetts Medical Society has adopted a policy opposing three currently proposed large-scale biomass power plants in Massachusetts and urging state government to adopt policies to minimize the approval and construction of new biomass plants."
Click here to read the letter (opens in Microsoft Word).

The Hampden District Medical Society voted unanimously to formally oppose this plant because it presents "an unacceptable public health risk."
Click here to read the letter (opens in Microsoft Word).  

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is also formally opposed to this plant as stated in their letter:
"The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is the largest breast cancer organization in the state representing over 10,000 members. MBCC is dedicated to challenging all obstacles to the eradication of breast cancer. In particular, MBCC is concerned about the link between environmental toxins and the extremely high rate of breast cancer in the state and as a result, is in opposition to the burning of construction and demolition debris at the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant."
You can read the whole letter by clicking this link (opens in Microsoft Word).

The Physicians for Social Responsibility/Pioneer Valley oppose construction of incinerators in the valley.
"It is the finding of the Physicians for Social Responsibility that the biomass power plants being proposed for
several Pioneer Valley locations would contribute to particulate air pollution emissions in a region that already
has pollution problems, and therefore we oppose the construction and operation of such plants."
To read the entire press release, click here.

Springfield air quality already receives a failing grade from the American Lung Association on many days of the year. American Lung Association of Massachusetts opposes this incinerator and explains why in a recent press release:
"For years, the ALAMA has viewed biomass burning as a significant source of air pollution. We believe that the plants proposed in Massachusetts will create an unnecessary risk to both our state's health and air quality and are particularly concerned by inefficient and dirty sources of power located in communities that already suffer from poor air quality and high asthma rates."
You can read the whole press release by clicking this link (opens in Microsoft Word).

Hampden County is already overburdened with lead pollution. According to the latest EPA figures, Hampden County sources emit 10,461 pounds of lead per year, which is 25% of the state's total.  

Click here for the source

Effects on Our Children: The children of Hampden County are already suffering from this level of lead exposure with blood lead levels nearly double the state average. Lead can accumulate in bone and cause neurological impairment, developmental problems for children including loss of IQ, hearing impairment, delayed growth and behavior disorders. Researchers for the first time have linked air-pollution exposure before birth with lower IQ scores in childhood, bolstering evidence that smog may harm the developing brain. Click here to read the study.

The state asthma rate for children continues to climb and is now at 10%, but the Springfield rate is more than 16%! In addition to the emissions from the incinerator, there would be the added exhaust fumes from upwards of 120 truck trips a day. There are 55 schools within a five mile radius of the proposed toxic incinerator. A new study shows that children who breathe traffic-related air pollution at school are more likely to develop asthma, even after taking into account levels of air pollution at their homes. Click here to read the study.

Schools within a five mile radius of the proposed PRE incinerator
Reduced image size. Click Image to view original version in PDF file.

Reduced image size. Image links to original version in PDF file.

Carbon dioxide emissions from this incinerator are exempt from regulations.

"The science is clear: global warming is happening faster than ever and humans are responsible. Global warming is caused by releasing what are called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. Many of the activities we do every day like turn the lights on, cook food, or heat or cool our homes rely on energy sources like coal and oil and that emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. This is a major problem because global warming destabilizes the delicate balance that makes life on this planet possible. Just a few degrees in temperature can completely change the world as we know it, and threaten the lives of millions of people around the world."

Click here to view the source on 350.org and to learn more about how adding more corbon dioxide to the atmosphere could be disastrous!