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Modesto Bee Tuesday, October 8, 2002  See Also: 7/10/02 Modesto Bee Editorial 7/9/02 Modesto, CA: Stanislaus County Residents & Greenaction Press Conference in Modesto Challenges Giant Dump Proposal: read the Press Release and Background Info in Fight Against Proposed Giant Garbage and Sewage Sludge Dump 7/9/02 Modesto Bee Press Coverage
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Pressure rises on waste-burning plant By GARTH STAPLEY CROWS LANDING -- Under pressure from a restive audience, an air pollution official said Monday he intends to schedule a second public meeting on whether a garbage-burning plant should get a new permit. Some speakers at Monday's hearing accused the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District of staging a bogus hearing with the intent of ignoring the crowd and rubber-stamping the permit. The five-year permit would consolidate several now issued by various local, state and federal agencies to the 14-year-old plant, which is operated by Covanta Energy for Stanislaus County and the city of Modesto. It burns about 800 tons of garbage daily, producing energy that the agencies sell and reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. 'We are not on the side of the company,' protested Seyed Sadredin, the air district's director of permit services. 'If anything, we are on the side of public health.' People in the audience of about 75 said they were unhappy because: Air district officials scheduled Monday's hearing for 5 p.m., making it difficult for many working people to attend. The hearing was held in Crows Landing, which is sparsely populated and enjoys no public transportation. Officials mailed out no notices. Officials published a notice only in The Bee, which reaches only a segment of West Side residents. No interpreters were provided for Monday's hearing, and all documents -- including comment cards -- were printed only in English. Officials would not release copies of public documents regarding the plant's compliance with emissions laws unless someone paid a $240 bill. 'It's unfair for you to keep things from us,' said Rochelle Martinez, a member of the Environmental Justice Club, a group created this year by Patterson High School students. Seven teens, some carrying signs protesting the garbage-burning plant, attended Monday's hearing. Club member Lizzie Velasquez said to air district officials, 'It seems like you're trying to hide something.' Officials already had acknowledged that they found nothing persuading them to deny the plant's permit. Even before audience members were invited to speak, district permit services manager Rick McVaigh had said the plant complies with regulations more strict than required by local or state law. Sadredin said his inclination to hold another public hearing would depend partly on whether Covanta officers would threaten legal action. Word of the second meeting, possibly to be held in Patterson, should come soon, he said. Information on the air district's permitting process is offered at www.valleyair.org. Written comments about the garbage-burning plant may be submitted to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, 1990 E. Gettysburg Ave., Fresno, 93726-0244, or e-mailed to web-plnmail@valleyair.org. |