[CPEO-MEF] "When Burning is the Worst Option"

["lsiegel@cpeo.org" <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Submitted by Laura Olah: info@cswab.org

When Burning is the Worst Option

by Laura Olah, Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger

Following is an article describing extensive environmental monitoring by
state regulators during and after a factory fire in Indiana.  Air quality,
storm sewers, surface water, and soils were carefully monitored for
particulates, asbestos, fumes, and other toxins.  The investigation has
been expanded to include the neighboring community.  Yet across the U.S.,
states have failed to require this same monitoring of the military.  Open
burning of literally thousands of contaminated buildings has been permitted
with none of these same safeguards even when military structures are known
to contain high concentrations of asbestos, lead-based paint, and other
toxic materials.

At Cornhusker AAP alone, more than 1,000 contaminated buildings (containing
asbestos) were open burned yet sampling of air, soils, and surface water
was NOT required.  (Source: May 18, 2005 correspondence from Nebraska Dept
of Environmental Quality to CSWAB.)  Buildings were filled to the rafters
with wood pallets or bales of hay, a flammable petroleum-based product was
added, and whole production lines were set ablaze ? filling the prairie sky
with thick billowing smoke.

At Badger Army Ammunition Plant, the State of Wisconsin has approved open
burning of more than 300 buildings containing PCB-contaminated paint with
concentrations as high 24,000 ppm, far above the EPA threshold of 50 ppm. 
At the Ravenna Arsenal in Ohio, the Army is seeking an exception to EPA law
allowing open burning of dozens of PCB-contaminated buildings.  The open
burning, if approved by EPA, will result in the uncontrolled release of
PCBs and highly toxic by-products of combustion ? including dioxins and
furans ? to nearby farmland, rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands, and
neighboring communities.

The military has argued that removal of hazardous materials (prior to open
burning) is a safety hazard.  This still does not explain why the military
has NOT been required to conduct environmental monitoring that is
apparently routine at civilian industrial sites.  The factory owner in
Indiana is held accountable for a single unexpected fire, yet thousands of
planned military fires run essentially amuck.

Clearly the resultant lack of hard data has allowed the military to
perpetuate an archaic practice that places our environment and the health
of our workers, soldiers, and civilian families at risk.  Even the Army
acknowledges the practice is ?not environmentally friendly?. 

The solution is to motivate the Department of Defense to actively seek and
implement alternatives to open burning.  The investigation of historical
burning sites may be among these motivators.  Reluctance on the part of
potential recipients of former military properties coupled with the cost of
thorough investigations and cleanups may also be motivators.  Knowing that
exceptions to environmental law will not come easily will certainly be the
best motivator of all.

---
IDEM monitors fire toxins

By Kevin Howell
Monticello Herald Journal (IN)
September 5, 2005

As firefighters around White County and beyond were battling a blaze Friday
at Jordan Manufacturing on First Street in Monticello, Indiana Department
of Environmental Management, IDEM, emergency responders Bill Myers and
David Greinke were heading to the same site to monitor environmental
conditions.

IDEM media spokesman Barry Snead said monitoring the air and water for
fire-related toxins is a general precautionary measure for any fire.

?The air is never safe during a fire, but mostly it?s from particles in the
air that settle to the ground,? Snead said.
...

For the entire article, see
http://www.thehj.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=32&ArticleID=11925&TM
=69866.66

--

Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigands Bay S
Merrimac, WI 53561
phone: (608)643-3124
fax: (608)643-0005
email: info@cswab.org
website: www.cswab.org



--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .


_______________________________________________
Military mailing list
Military@list.cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org/mailman/listinfo/military