[CPEO-MEF] No burns at INAAP in October

[Christine Ziebold <cziebold@ih.org>]

Title: No burns at INAAP in October

The US Army burned numerous of the planned 327 buildings at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP) last spring, despite concerns of negative health effects, and despite the general prohibition of open burns in Indiana. The Army contended that this was the only way to safely decommission the buildings, even though by law alternatives need to be considered and do exist. 

John Blair and I wrote to Indiana Department Environmental Management (IDEM) and the IN Governor in March, but the burns proceeded despite documented repeated infractions. However, IDEM agreed to issue “news media advisories” after the 3rd burn, arguably an adequate precautionary measure, and eventually monitored selected air pollutants at the very last burn. This showed that lead emissions temporarily violated federal air quality standards which I had been concerned about given the environmental assessment data.

Recently IDEM kindly informed us, that the Army had applied for another permit to burn in October. -IDEM does not have an electronic docket or list of all the documents dealing with INAAP's burn requests. Why vegetation needed to be burned was unclear from the application. We got involved again and are happy to report that INAAP withdrew their request on 9-15-04 without explanations. True, the Office of Land Quality had also told them some time ago that they could wait to remove the metal and propellant grains until winter when the grass dies back. To us, it suggests to never underestimate the power of a few.

 
Further Background:
The burns are referred to as “thermal decontamination". Mercury and dioxin emissions were not measured, even though old switches and cables were present, and pentachlorphenol treated wood and PVC did not even enter the hazard analysis. Likewise, criteria pollutants such as particulate matter were not measured, but photos of the thick smoke plumes attest to the copious emissions. Army officials have said repeatedly that the burns are not hazardous to the public. Of particular concern is that six schools in a 2 mile radius. Clark County is rural, not densely populated and has no local environmental or public health advocates- the Indiana Dept of Health has not been involved. Reading the environmental assessment of the burns last year one gets the impression that Army feels the local population can be discounted.
 
Open burning has been banned around the nation because it puts the public and especially children in harm’s way. Burns clearly have public health relevance, both immediate (exacerbation of asthma and COPD cardiovascular side effects) and long term in the prevention of neurodevelopmental impairment (lead, mercury, dioxin), birth defects (Particulate matter) and through their contribution to green house gases.

Christine Ziebold MD PhD MPH
Minneapolis, MN
John Blair, Valley Watch
Evansville, IN 




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