Red Bluff Daily News

September 9, 2005

See Also:

Document: Appeal of Inentec permit

Red Bluff Daily News, 9/10/05: InEnTec appeal date set

Red Bluff Daily News, 7/12/05: S.F. group calls for more thorough review of InEnTec

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Greenaction

(415) 248-5010

InEnTec opponents air their concerns

By C. JEROME CROW-DN Staff Writer

Crowd packs supervisors' chamber

RED BLUFF It seemed the biggest concern addressed by the standing-room-only crowd at the Tehama County Courthouse Thursday night was why the proposed InEnTec medical waste disposal facility was not required to submit an Environmental Impact Review before receiving county permits.

However, it took almost half an hour to get to that concern because members of Citizens for Review of Medical and Infectious Waste Imports into Tehama County spent the time arguing with the Tehama County Air Pollution Control District and county counsel Will Murphy about why representatives of InEnTec were seated in front at desks for the meeting.

Dan Irving, who acted as a spokesperson for the citizens group, was also seated in the front and began the meeting by voicing his objections to the seating arrangement. He noted that the seating, in his opinion, gave InEnTec "undue prejudice at the meeting when they aren't yet a party to the hearing."
The citizens group filed an appeal last month against InEnTec's authority-to-construct permits for air pollution devices and control equipment that were approved in July.

About 30 area residents and members of the citizens group addressed the district with their concerns that include the thoroughness of the project's environmental document and the release of toxins into the air.

Former Red Bluff City Councilman Earl Wintle expressed his concerns, which echoed those of the others who spoke.

" I've never seen anything so shabbily done," he said of the permit process. "Clearly, procedures were not followed."

Red Bluff City Manager Susan Price said the city council had instructed staff to issue an official letter of comment. The letter's purpose is to identify the concerns the council has about the project's impacts, including traffic, air quality and plans for water disposal.

The decision to do so was unanimous, with Irving recusing himself because of his involvement with the citizens appeal.

InEnTec president David Farmer defended the proposed plant, noting that it was not every day that a new technology is developed that creates energy and eliminates waste. He asked why citizens are waiting until now to object.
Most of the comments indicated that the community wasn't really made aware of the proposed plan because the public hearings had been scheduled in December around the holidays and during the day when most people work.
Retired geologist Ralph Scott summed up the sentiments of most of those who spoke.

" Why not do an Environmental Impact Study?" he asked, adding that it won't hurt anyone if they don't have anything to hide.

InEnTec Medical Services of Richland, Wash., plans to situate the disposal facility on the west side of Reading Road.

The company treats medical waste with a plasma arc system at temperatures that exceed 2,000 degrees. The system either vaporizes the medical waste or produces glass. The waste is mostly paper, plastic and trash, but it has been exposed to people with diseases and must be handled according to strict regulations.

Initially, the facility will process 2 to 4 tons a day of medical waste generated by Northern California health care providers, according to InEnTec officials. It may take up to six months to reach full system capacity of 6 tons a day.

About 1 to 1.5 megawatt of green electric power will be produced from a mixture of the syngas combined with natural gas when the facility is operating at full capacity.