BALTIMORE. A NEW COMPLAINT TO THE EPA ALPHOTOS THAT POLLUTION FROM THE BRISCOE PLANT CONTRIBUTES TO UNEQUAL HEALTH RISKS TO PEOPLE LIVING IN NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. WOOD. WHEN YOU KNOW GOOD, YOU SHOULD DO BETTER. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY TO BEAUTIFUL BALTIMORE? HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED IT TO AFFECT ALL THE COMMUNITIES AROUND IT? ANGELA SMOTHERS IS TALKING ABOUT BRESCO’S SOUTH BALTIMORE FACILITY. SHE LIVES FIVE MINUTES FROM HERE, AND BELIEVES THE POLLUTION HAS HAPPENED TO HER HEALTH. THESE COMMUNITIES ARE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC AND THE IMPACTS ARE FELT IN THESE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE SUBMITTED DATA WITH OUR COMPLAINTS SHOWING THAT THE POLLUTION IS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT, AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING OTHER SOURCES OF POLLUTION WHICH ARE PLACES. COMPLAINT CALL THE CITY. TEN-YEAR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, WAITING Baltimore DPW FAILED TO ADEQUATELY PLAN A TRANSITION AWAY FROM BRESCO INCINERATION SUPPORT. WE HIGHLIGHT THE TEN-YEAR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF BALTIMORE BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS WITHIN IT THAT ALLOW THE CONTINUATION OF BRESCO’S OPERATION, WE HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT THIS COMPANY CONTRIBUTES TO THE COMMUNITY AND DOES NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM , BUT WITH AND WITH OTHER HARMFUL POLLUTION IN THE AREA. THE GROUP WOULD LIKE TO SEE FACILITIES CREATED THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING IN THE CITY. RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTH BALTIMORE AND THOSE SIX COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING BRESCO ARE MULTIPLICATED AND TIRED TO BE RIGHT FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, UH, URBANIZATION. THE COMPLAINT IS INVESTIGATED. NOW, EPA WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR REJECT IT. WE WILL KEEP IT
EPA complaint filed against Baltimore DPW over 10-year solid waste plan
Updated: 8:56 a.m. EDT, May 30, 2024
The Baltimore Department of Public Works has been named in a new civil rights complaint seeking an investigation into air pollution from BRESCO smoke. The South Baltimore Land and Community Trust filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency, calling for an investigation into the air pollution. . It’s felt particularly and keenly by the communities in this area,” said Taylor Lilley, an environmental justice staff attorney for Chesapeake. Bay Foundation.Lilley filed an EPA complaint against DPW Baltimore, calling out the city’s 10-year solid waste management plan and alleging that DPW failed to adequately plan for a transition away from reliance on BRESCO trash incineration. Complainants said they believe it contributes to the unequal health risks faced by people living in nearby neighborhoods. I personally felt those impacts,” said Carlos Sanchez, a Lakeland resident. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Environmental Integrity Project are supporting the appeal, calling for more composting and recycling in the city. “When you know better, you should do better. What’s the point of spending all this money to beautify Baltimore to allow something like this to affect all the communities around it?” said Angela Smothers, a Mount Winans resident. Lilley said options have been presented to the City Council in the past to divert waste from BRESCO. They hope the new complaint will lead to some action. “Baltimore is violating the civil rights of its residents by burning trash in this incinerator, releasing dangerous pollutants like mercury and dioxins, and it needs to be stopped,” Tom said. Pelton, with the Environmental Integrity Project. DPW sent a statement to 11 News, saying, “Public input was crucial in the development of the city’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (2024-2033), a regulatory document that sets goals for managing the city’s waste stream. city and assesses current and future disposal needs. The plan includes expanded waste diversion initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on waste incineration and landfill, thereby reducing emissions associated with waste management.” The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is aware of the South Baltimore Community Trust’s request for the USA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to examine the city of Baltimore’s use of Refuse Energy Systems Co. (BRESCO) for disposal of residential waste. The city and DPW stand ready to work with the EPA if and when the agency needs the city’s assistance in evaluating these claims,” Mary Urban, senior director of communications and community at WIN Waste Innovations, which runs the BRESCO facility, told 11 News. . in a statement: “WIN Waste Baltimore safely converts residential and business waste into renewable energy. After last year’s completion of $45 million in upgrades to its air quality control systems, WIN Waste Baltimore is among the lowest-emitting waste-to-energy facilities in the world.” Not only does research clearly show that operations have a negligible impact on ambient air quality, our facility is reducing greenhouse gases by diverting waste from landfills, which releases methane and reduces the use of fossil fuels for energy.” While we actively invest in waste reduction initiatives, such as supporting the city’s recycling efforts during COVID and partnering with sustainability non-profit 4MyCity on the region’s most ambitious residential composting program, the amount of waste generated by the city continues to grow every year. yr.”Local waste management reduces the number of tractor-trailer trips required to transport waste to distant disposal sites, reducing traffic-related air pollution, which is a major cause of air pollution affecting people in urban areas Waste-to-energy, the city has estimated, would cost taxpayers roughly $100 million to expand local landfill capacity and build transfer stations to ship more waste overseas.” The complaint requires an investigation, and the EPA will then decide whether to grant or deny the request.
The Baltimore Department of Public Works has been named in a new civil rights complaint seeking an investigation into air pollution from BRESCO smoke.
The South Baltimore Community Land and Trust filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency, calling for an investigation into the air pollution.
“Although BRESCO may have a central location in the city, its damage is not evenly distributed. It has been felt particularly and acutely by communities in this area,” said Taylor Lilley, an environmental justice staff attorney for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. . .
Lilley filed an EPA complaint against DPW Baltimore, calling out the city’s 10-year solid waste management plan and alleging that DPW failed to adequately plan for a transition away from reliance on BRESCO trash incineration. Complainants said they believe it contributes to the unequal health risks faced by people living in nearby neighborhoods.
“You get that sense of negative impact. You can hear it in the residents, you can see it in the health impacts that they have to go through. I personally felt those impacts,” said Carlos Sanchez, a Lakeland resident.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Environmental Integrity Project are supporting the appeal, calling for more composting and recycling in the city.
“When you know better, you should do better. What’s the point of spending all this money to beautify Baltimore to allow something like this to affect all the communities around it?” said Angela Smothers, a Mount Winans resident.
Lilley said options have been presented to the City Council in the past to divert waste from BRESCO. They hope the new complaint will lead to some action.
“Baltimore is violating the civil rights of its residents by burning trash in this incinerator, releasing dangerous pollutants like mercury and dioxins, and it needs to be stopped,” said Tom Pelton, with the Environmental Integrity Project.
DPW sent a statement to 11 News, saying:
“Public input was crucial in the development of the city’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (2024-2033), a regulatory document that sets goals for managing the city’s waste stream and assesses current and future disposal needs The plan includes expanded waste diversion initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on incineration and landfill, thereby reducing emissions associated with waste management.
“The City of Baltimore Department of Public Works (DPW) is aware of the South Baltimore Community Land Trust’s request that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review the City of Baltimore’s use of Refuse Energy Systems Co. ( BRESCO) for residential waste disposal. The City and DPW stand ready to work with EPA if and when the agency needs the City’s assistance in evaluating these claims.”
Mary Urban, senior director of communications and community at WIN Waste Innovations, which runs the BRESCO facility, told 11 News in a statement:
“WIN Waste Baltimore safely converts residential and business waste into renewable energy. After completing last year’s $45 million in upgrades to its air quality control systems, WIN Waste Baltimore is among the facilities with the lowest waste-to-energy emissions in the world.
“Not only does research clearly show that our operations have a negligible impact on ambient air quality, our facility is reducing greenhouse gases by diverting waste from landfills, which releases methane and reduces the use of fossil fuels for energy.
“While we actively invest in waste reduction initiatives, such as supporting the city’s recycling efforts during COVID and partnering with non-profit 4MyCity for sustainability in the region’s most ambitious residential composting program, the amount of waste generated by the city continues to grows every year.
“Local waste management reduces the number of tractor-trailer trips required to transport waste to distant disposal sites, reducing traffic-related air pollution, which is the leading cause of air pollution affecting people in urban areas. Waste-to-energy, the city has estimated, would cost taxpayers roughly $100 million to expand local landfill capacity and build transfer stations to ship more waste overseas.”
The complaint requires an investigation, and the EPA will then decide whether to grant or deny the request.
This content was imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you can find more information on their website.
#EPA #complaint #filed #Baltimore #DPW #10year #solid #waste #plan
Image Source : www.wbaltv.com