|
| ||||||
|
Pacific Steel Casting Berkeley, California Text
|
250 Rally and March to Protect Community Health From Pacific Steel Casting’s Pollution West Berkeley Parents and Kids, Community & Environmental Justice Groups Unite to Protest Toxic Pollution and Noxious Odors from Pacific Steel Casting Berkeley, CA – Two hundred and fifty West Berkeley residents were joined by community and environmental justice groups in a rally and march on Saturday, November 11, 2006 to demand that Pacific Steel Casting (PSC) stop emitting large quantities of toxic pollutants and noxious odors. Residents living near PSC at Gilman and Second Streets have complained for years about the toxic pollutants and sickening odors, and are fed up with the failure of the company and government to stop the pollution threat to community health. Many residents continue to complain about odors, headaches, nausea, sore throats and chest tightness which they believe may be caused by PSC’s pollution. PSC is located in an area with a high concentration of low-income people of color, several daycare centers, a soccer field, skate park for kids, retirement home and schools. PSC is a steel foundry, and pollutants they emit can contribute to cancer, neurological harm, birth defects, respiratory problems (like asthma) and reproductive disorders. Some of the specific pollutants emitted in large quantities include particulates, benzenes, formaldehyde, phenols, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc and chromium. Children are especially at risk from carcinogens as well as from PM 2.5 (small particulates). The rally participants are calling on PSC to end their pollution in order to protect kids, pregnant women, elders, workers and all the residents and businesses in the area. In August the Bay Area Air Quality Management District filed a lawsuit charging PSC with failure to meet statutory deadlines for reporting air emissions, and for violating the schedule to resolve ongoing air quality complaints. Under pressure from the community, PSC installed some pollution control equipment but it is not adequate. PSC is still cooling their casts outside and on public property. They are still working with their doors open which renders their ventilation systems ineffective, and they are still using the “sand recycler” which burns off the binders in their process. Complaints to the Air District about odors from PSC continue despite the company’s installation of pollution control scrubbers. “The pollution coming from Pacific Steel must end so that the health of kids, families and workers can be protected,” said Bradley Angel, Executive Director of Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. “If the company does not voluntarily take measures to stop this pollution problem, we will escalate protests to stop the pollution threat to the health of the community.” The protest is sponsored by Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, the Ecology Center, West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs, PSC Protest Committee and Global Community Monitor. |