Red Bluff Daily News

October 12, 2005

See Also:

Document: Appeal of Inentec permit

Red Bluff Daily News, 10/12/05: Citizens send loud message to county

Red Bluff Daily News, 10/11/05: EDITORIAL: County should require EIR on InEnTec project

Red Bluff Daily News, 9/9/05: InEnTec opponents air their concerns

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

For more information, contact:

Greenaction

(415) 248-5010

Citizens send loud message to county

By CHERYL BRINKLEY-DN Staff Writer

RED BLUFF Fred Richelieu, a Tehama County Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board member, wants to know who InEnTec really is.
The plans for InEnTec, a medical waste facility, to open a location south of Red Bluff have been put on hold for the past few months after a citizens group filed an appeal of the company's permits. At Tuesday night's hearing, Richelieu acknowledged that he was confused as to which company name he was supposed to vote for or against.

This was just one of several topics debated at the meeting which attracted more than 200 people, with several standing, in the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center. As of press deadline, the board had not made a decision on all four items in the appeal.

The five-member board listened to comments, both for and against the proposed construction of InEnTec. The appeal board consisted of attorney Donald Webster, engineer Richelieu, physician Linda Henderson, and two public members, Tyler Christensen and Mel Oldham.

In a 3-2 vote, the board did approve the first item which allowed InEnTec's attorneys to take part in the appeal. Richelieu and Henderson voted in the minority.

Earlier in the night, the public comment period lasted 90 minutes with about 25 people speaking, mostly opposed to InEnTec's plans to open a business locally.

" We'll accept Wal-Mart's expansion if we can get rid of InEnTec," said David Briggs of Red Bluff to applause.

Another man who said he traveled from Modesto to speak, pointed out that "citizens have a right to say what comes into their community." The unidentified man spoke of a medical waste incinerator near his town, then added, "You do not want this in your community."

Two people spoke in support of the project, Dexter Wright of Tehama Local Development Corporation and Leslie Lohse of Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

Red Bluff City Manager Susan Price read a letter, which the city council approved, that requested further documentation for the project.

Prior to the meeting, David Farmer, president of InEnTec Medical Services California LLC, said that this appeal is part of the process.

" I think at the end of the day when facts are revealed the board will find the air pollution control district did what they were supposed to do," Farmer said.

" If the board should uphold the appeal I'm sure we'll follow whatever process is needed to overturn that ruling," he added.

Last August, Citizens for Review of Medical Waste Imports into Tehama County, and Greenaction (a San Francisco based environmental organization), filed an appeal against the Tehama County Air Pollution Control District on grounds that it failed to act "in compliance with (CEQA) statutory requirements."

The Tehama County Planning Department approved the project in December 2004. The air pollution district issued a permit to construct in July 2005.