Submit a Comment to the City

Dear Councilors:
 
Please immediately revoke the special permit given to PRE to build a waste wood incinerator in Springfield.  In 2008, the state promised appropriate oversight and assessment to the city if a special permit was issued to the developers.  The state failed to provide this necessary oversight, and now it's up to you to act to protect the health and long-term prospects for our city by revoking this permit.

In 2008, the developers proposed to the city a "recycling" plant.  It turns out that, by this definition, the developers could avoid an environmental impact report by the state for a highly polluting incinerator.  The state, however, could have required this report to assure our health and safety, but they chose not to do so.  After significant opposition from Springfield residents, the state promised a health impact assessment conducted by the state in conjunction with the Pew Charitable Trust.  Because a third party was paying for and conducting the study, there was appropriate assurance that results would be reliable. Just as this study was to begin, the developers decided to change fuel source and alter data to avoid greater regulatory control.  Again, the state had a chance to provide greater oversight, and again the state denied Springfield an environmental impact review - even though they received approximately 450 letters from scientists, doctors, nonprofit health and environmental organizations, lawyers, city councilors and concerned residents.   The state chose to base their decision on the developers' emissions numbers and data even though third party scientists provided strong evidence that the numbers and data were highly questionable.  
 
In a letter to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs concerning the developers Notice of Project Change, the State Department of Public Health has raised several issues questioning the developers' numbers and assumptions about this plant and its affect on residents of Springfield. DPH states:
 
"Reliable health data demonstrate an existing and significantly elevated disease burden in the population living near the proposed site.  Springfield already has air pollution levels for SO2, NO2, PM2.5 that are 60 to greater than 80% of their respective NAAQS.  Ozone concentrations in ambient air in Springfield have not met regulatory limits for many years...DPH notes existing disease burden and air quality background conditions warrant careful evaluation of the proposed project."
 
Instead of protecting our health, the state has chosen to accept from the developer a one-time payout of two million dollars to "mitigate" the effects of this incinerator on Springfield residents.  Isn't this proof enough that Springfield residents will be negatively impacted?  The City of Springfield can still say no.  Please revoke the special permit until appropriate study and public hearings can be conducted to ensure the long term health and vitality of our community.