Philpower Incinerator Saga Index to Articles: COMMUNITY MEETING TO PHIGHT PHILPOWER INCINERATOR PHILPOWER INCINERATOR THREATENS HEALTH OF BEAR COMMUNITIES AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY LOBBYIST PROMOTES PHILPOWER INCINERATOR THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE BETTER HEARD FLASH: PHILPOWER WITHDRAWS APPEAL PHILPOWER INCINERATOR APPEAL THREATENS DELAWARE DENIES COASTAL ZONE PERMIT FOR INCINERATOR PHIGHTING THE CARPER/PHILPOWER INCINERATOR CALLS AND EMAILS NEEDED TO KEEP PERMIT RECORD OPEN QUICK UPDATE ON THE PHILPOWER INCINERATOR HELP STOP THE PHILPOWER INCINERATOR DEL. OFFICIALS IGNORE LAW, MOVE TO ALLOW INCINERATOR IN COASTAL ZONE
Date: 20 Oct. 1999 FLASH Philpower withdraws appeal--no hearing Thursday Oct. 21st. Is Philpower dead?? We were notified by the State this afternoon that Philpower has withdrawn its appeal. We have not been able to reach Philpower for comment, but with the organizing that's been done to keep Philpower out of other sites in the City of Wilmington, this probably signals the end of this incinerator scheme in Northern Delaware, or, hopefully, anywhere. Several weeks ago we briefed the freeholders of Salem County, NJ about Philpower, and this yielded a highly visible story in the local paper (Today's Sunbeam). We also understand that Philpower has been told to stay away by Pocomoke City, MD. We are very grateful for the support of friends and colleagues, some far from Delaware, who have sent emails and otherwise helped. It's not easy to find a formula for effective environmental action in a place as industry controlled as DE. We couldn't do it without your help! Also, apologies to those few people who have gotten unwanted emails from Green Delaware. Alan Muller ********************************* :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 19 Oct. 1999 Green Delaware Urgent Action Alert # 41 Carper/Philpower Incinerator Still a Threat--Permit Denial (For more info contact Green Delaware, 834-3466, greendel@dca.net) (Please Post) MAKE CALLS - SEND EMAILS - ATTEND THE HEARING Port Penn, DE, Oct. 18, 1999. On Aug. 25th Delaware denied Philpower Corp. a Coastal Zone permit for an incinerator at Pigeon Point near Wilmington and New Castle, DE. Philpower's appeal will be heard at the Buena Vista Conference Center on Rte 13, by the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board, which can overrule DNREC and grant a permit. None of the members of the Coastal Zone Board live in the "Route 9 Corridor," or have a record of concern for environmental and public health. The Chair of the Board, Christine Waisanen, formerly represented Imperial Chemical Industries and the US Chamber of Commerce. Former Gov. Russ Peterson, father of the Coastal Zone Act, asked the Del. Senate not to confirm Gov. Carper's nominees to the Board because they all represented industrial interests. The incinerator, if built, would dump thousands of pounds per day of health damaging air pollutants into already stressed and polluted neighborhoods. The burner would be just upwind of Salem County, New Jersey. Salem County is an unhealthy place to live, partly due to toxic air pollution from Delaware. The office of Atty. General Jane Brady--likely Republican candidate for Governor--will represent the state against Philpower. When queried about the case, Keith Trostle, Deputy Atty. General in charge, said: "... I am hostile to you Mr. Muller ... I don't represent you ... in my opinion you are not a party ... I don't have time for this crap ... [Green Delaware is] ... a disgrace." Asked if he knew who had made the legal arguments against Philpower at the original hearing (Green Del. did) Trostle refused Please call or email the people below, making these points (Green Delaware will pay for long distance calls about Philpower): o The hearing should be changed to an evening time when working people can go; Coastal Zone Board members: Christine Waisanen, Chair, [former chemical industry] 302.428.0305 Jane Brady, Atty. General, 302.577.8400, 302.739.4211 (Dover) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 29 Sept. 1999 Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 30th. at 11:30: BACKGROUND: In spite of the denial of a Coastal Zone permit for Philpower, they persist: Philpower have appealed the permit denial (the appeal goes to an Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board packed with anti-enviro types by Governor Thomas Carper). Hearing Oct. 21 at 2 pm at Buck Library in Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 So. DuPont Highway (This is a few minutes south of Wilmington Delaware.) Philpower are also seeking locations in the City of Wilmington--these locations are not in the Coastal Zone. (Details in attachment.) ACTION: Tomorrow we will hand out leaflets on Market Street Mall in Wilmington DE, and have a small vigil/demonstration. We are meeting in front of the Grand Opera House at 11:30. Please join us if you can. (We did this very successfully on Saturday at the "DuPont Riverfest." 400 people received handouts; many of these were parents of young children who were unaware of the Philpower incinerator threat to their health. I'm attaching a Microsoft Word file of the handout. This is something of an experiment; apologies to any for whom receiving an attachment is a problem. Suggestions for improvement are welcome. Alan Alan Muller, Executive Director :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 25 Aug. 1999 Port Penn, Delaware, August 25, 1999. This afternoon Natural Resources Secretary Nick DiPasquale wrote Philpower Corporation a letter denying them a Coastal Zone permit for their proposed waste wood burner on the grounds that the proposed facility is an incinerator, and thus not allowable in the Coastal Zone. DiPasquale would not immediately provide a copy of the letter, saying "we are closed for business." With regard to public input to DNREC, he said "I don't know that it was overwhelming." He did not want to discuss the ruling in detail, noting that it could be appealed. Philpower could not immediately be reached for comment. We have little doubt that an effective groundswell of public opposition prevented Philpower from getting this permit. We in Green Delaware offer our sincere thanks to colleagues throughout Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and extending as far as Poland. Many people worked together in solidarity to achieve this goal. A partial list of Philpower opponents includes (in no particular order): Green Delaware, Sierra Club, Delaware Citizens for Clean Air, The fight's not over. Philpower might appeal, and misguided City of Wilmington officials are actually ENCOURAGING Philpower to locate in a polluted low income area in their city. (This proposed location is not in the Coastal Zone.) Best regards, # # # This is a Green Delaware list. To be added or removed send email. Alan Muller, Executive Director :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 23 Aug. 1999 CALLS, EMAILS, AND DEMONSTRATORS NEEDED Green Delaware Urgent Action Alert # 39 Phighting the Carper/Philpower Incinerator Delaware Officials to "act in some manner on the Philpower application by close of business on Tuesday, August 24, 1999" CALLS, EMAILS, AND DEMONSTRATORS NEEDED Port Penn, DE August 20, 1999. Philpower Corp. wants to build a waste wood incinerator between New Castle and Wilmington DE at Pigeon Point, near the site of a closed garbage burner. (Philpower is also looking at another site in the City of Wilmington. City officials are waffling about whether they want an incinerator.) Philpower, without scrubbers, would dump thousands of pounds per day of air pollutants into already polluted neighborhoods. The Pigeon Point site is in the Del. Coastal Organizations throughout Delaware and the region oppose Philpower, but Delaware officeholders and officials often ignore public opinion and conspire with polluters. Public hearings are regarded as an opportunity for people to let off steam, after which permits are approved on narrow technical grounds. A likely scenario in the Philpower case is an opinion from the office of anti-environment Atty. General (and candidate for Governor) Jane Brady saying the incinerator is not an incinerator. TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON. let Delaware officials that the people won't tolerate Philpower. Please contact: Governor Thomas Carper Office 302.577.3210 Home 302.764.7478 Natural Resources Secretary Nick DiPasquale: Office 302.739.4403 Home Atty. General Jane Brady Office 302.577.8400 (Please make clear that you (1) want a written reply, and (2) hold the official responsible for keeping out Philpower. On Monday, Aug. 23rd, at 11:45, we will gather in front of the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE, to leaflet and visit the Governor's Office. On Tuesday, Aug. 24th, we will visit the Dept. of Natural Resources in Dover, DE, to make our feelings known. PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU CAN. Thanks to all those who have responded to previous messages. For more information, or to sign on, contact Green Delaware, greendel@dca.net, 302.834.3466 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 16 Aug. 1999 Green Delaware Urgent Action Alert # 38 State of Delaware Seeks to Exclude Community Input on Philpower Incinerator Permit CALLS AND EMAILS NEEDED TO KEEP RECORD OPEN Port Penn, DE August 16, 1999. Philpower Corporation wants to build a waste wood incinerator between New Castle and Wilmington DE at Pigeon Point, near the site of a closed garbage burner. (Philpower is also looking at another site in the City of Wilmington.) This incinerator would put out thousands of pounds per day of new air pollutants into already polluted neighborhoods. The proposed incinerator is in the Delaware Coastal Zone and would be an obvious violation of Delaware law banning incinerators in the Coastal Zone. Nevertheless, the incinerator has been promoted by many Delaware officials, including Natural Resources Secretary Nick DiPasquale. Philpower seeks a Coastal Zone Permit. A public hearing was held on June 23, 1999, (state officials had turned off the air conditioning) at which dozens of people testified against the incinerator. Hearing Officer Rod Thompson then gave the public until July 6rd (later extended until July 20th) to submit questions to Philpower, and gave Philpower until July 16th (later extended until July 30th) to respond. The public was then to have ten more days to submit final responses to the state. Green Delaware did not receive Philpower's response in a complete form until August 9th. We then contacted state officials to request until Aug. 20th to provide responses from Green Delaware and civic and community organizations. Without listening to us, Hearing Officer Rod Thompson issued a letter setting the final deadline on Saturday, August 14th. We finally heard from Mr. Thompson on Monday, August 16th. Hostile, Thompson claimed he chose that date at the request of Dick Fleming of the Delaware Nature Society. Thompson claimed not to have noticed that the date was a Saturday, but said the effective date was Monday. He said he had much more important things to deal with than Philpower and hung up. Secretary DiPasquale and many others are on vacation. Thompson had previously written: "I believe the best course is to develop the record as fully as possible not rather than to proceed with incomplete information." What changed? These maneuvers strike us as an obvious attempt to force this permit through at a time when many people are on vacation. It is typical of the servility to business interests and contempt for communities, environment, and health that is so much a part of the administration of Gov. Thomas Carper. Please call/email the following people, and ask that the Philpower Coastal Zone record be held open until at least August 20 to enable the public to participate: Governor Thomas Carper Office: 302.577.3210 Home: 302.764.7478 Acting Natural Resources Secretary Mary MacKenzie: 302.739.4403 Regards, Alan Muller, Executive Director Green Delaware Box 69 Port Penn, DE 19731 USA (302)834-3466 fax (302)836-3005 http://members.dca.net/greendel/ GO TO THE TOP Date: 30 Jun 1999 Senate Bill 225, intended to make clear that an incinerator is an incinerator, passed the Delaware Senate today on a vote of 19 to 2. (The pro-incinerator Senators were Harris McDowell and Robert Venables.) Now, the bill must be passed by the Delaware House of Representatives and be signed by the Governor. Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the LAST DAY the General Assembly will meet. No media interviewed me about this; I don't know if there was/will be any coverage...... Much has been accomplished in a short time. PLEASE make a final effort now to call Governor Tom Carper (Office 302.577.3210, Home 302.764.7478) and your Delaware State Representative. Ask him or her to sign on as a sponsor of SB225 and work for its passage. Alan Alan Muller, Executive Director :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 29 Jun 1999 Help Fight a Delaware Incinerator Port Penn, DE, June 29, 1999. Delawareans, supported by people and organizations throughout the region, are fighting to keep out a waste wood burning incinerator that could add thousands of pounds per day of air pollutants to already threatened neighborhoods. (Incinerators are banned in this part of Delaware, but the administration of Gov. Thomas Carper is ignoring the law.) The small amount of incinerator-produced electricity would be purchased by Connectiv, a high-pollution utility that would probably market this "incinerator pollution power" as "green." A June 23rd public hearing was a triumph for Philpower opponents. Over 100 people attended, including reps of numerous civic organizations, the City of New Castle, and environmental advocates from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington, DC. The mood of was captured by local resident Ivy Cochran, who said that in a past controversy residents had blocked roads with baby coaches, and would do so again to keep out Philpower. Philpower President Wayne Coverdale apologized to Green Delaware Ex. Dir. Alan Muller for threats to sue. Even N. C. Vasuki of the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, Delaware's best known incinerator supporter, said in a phone Senate Bill 225, authored by State Senator Dave McBride, would make clear that any waste burner is an incinerator. With enough public support, this bill could pass before the Delaware General Assembly adjourns on June 30th. ACTIONS NEEDED: Call Howard Cosgrove, CEO of Connectiv (Office 302.429.3204, Home Call Wayne Coverdale, President of Philpower (Office 910.392.7690, Home Call Governor Thomas Carper (Office 302.577.3210, Home 302.764.7478) If you live in Delaware, call you state senator and representative. Ask them to support Senate Bill 225. Come to Legislative Hall, Dover, DE, on June 29th and 30th to help pass Senate Bill 225. For more information call Green Delaware (302.834.3466, greendel@dca.net, (Green Delaware will pay for long distance calls about Philpower) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Date: 22 Jun 1999 Green Delaware Urgent Action Alert # 37 (Flash: Philpower/Tennessee Power Co. threaten Green Delaware--see below) (Flash: Press conference, Legislative Hall, Dover, DE, June 23rd, noon) (Flash: Public Hearing Wed. June 23, 6:00, New Castle, DE--see below) (page 1--background information, page 2--What You Can Do to Help) (See GreenDel Alert #29, Sept 10, 1998, for further background) Port Penn, DE June 21, 1999. Philpower Corporation wants to build a waste wood incinerator between New Castle and Wilmington DE at Pigeon Point, near the site of a closed garbage burner. (Philpower says it's a power plant, not an incinerator.) The surrounding neighborhoods are already oppressed by some of the worst air pollution in the US, and suffer from the resulting harm to their health. PHILPOWER COULD ADD OVER TEN THOUSAND POUNDS PER DAY OF HEALTH-THREATENING AIR POLLUTION. (Philpower claims emissions from a dirty Connectiv power station 3 miles away would go down when they run their incinerator.) "Environmental Injustice" would result from locating this facility near stressed, low to moderate income, already-polluted neighborhoods. Many allege racism. Philpower would haul around 40 semi-trailers of waste, much of it contaminated with toxic and cancer causing materials, into the area. The waste would be ground up in giant grinders. At a recent meeting, more than sixty community and regional representatives told Philpower officials to "Stay out of Delaware." They are beginning to collect hair samples to establish existing pollution burdens in their bodies. (Philpower claims "we aren't doing anything illegal") Delaware officials want to give Philpower a Coastal Zone permit in spite of a 1998 law banning incinerators in the Delaware Coastal Zone. Hearing Officer Rod Thompson wrote to Green Delaware and to State Senator Dave McBride, asking that we turn over all our objections to Philpower's lawyers before a public hearing [in order that the record might be closed at the hearing and the permit be issued more quickly]. Philpower Vice-president for marketing Michael Knauff has threatened Green Delaware: Date: Monday, 21 Jun 1999 13:24:15 -0400 From: Michael Knauff {tpco@earthlink.net} WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP CALL/EMAIL PHILPOWER and tell them to "STAY OUT OF DELAWARE" (Be polite, don't threaten, call during reasonable hours, but be firm. Contact these Philpower people (they are in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina): W. Wayne Coverdale, President Office 910.392.7690 Michael Peek, Ex. Vice President Office 615.754.8722 Michael Knauff, Vice President Office 423.624.0852 A. Lawrence Sherman, Esq., Secretary Office 606.254.9398 Call Babcock & Brown - the New York money people for this project (Office 212.415.0200) and say they should not finance environmental injustice. CONTACT DELAWARE OFFICIALS - ask them to STOP PHILPOWER and support Chris Roberts, County Council Office 571-7526 Tom Gordon, County Executive Office 395-5100 Home 239-9019 State Rep. Mike Mulrooney Home 322-1249 Governor Thomas Carper Office 577-3210 Home 764-7478 Nat. Resources Secy. Nick DiPasquale Office 739-4403 "No Increased Air Pollution--No Added Truck Traffic - Protect Coastal Zone" Come to a Public Hearing on Wed. June 23, at 391 Lukens Drive (Riveredge Industrial Park), New Castle, DE 6:00 pm (call 302.395.2600, or GD, for directions) For more information call Green Delaware 834.3466 or Civic Health Alliance (We are deeply grateful for the help of folk around the world in defeating other incinerators. Thank you again for your interest.) This is a Green Delaware list. To be added or removed send email. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DE OFFICIALS IGNORE LAW, GREEN DELAWARE ALERT #34 Date: 15 Jun 1999 For more info contact Green Del., 302.834.3466, Port Penn, DE, June 15, 1999. Apologies for the excessive length of this KEY UPCOMING EVENTS: Wed. June 16, 6:30, at the Rose Hill Community Center on Lambson Lane. 6:30. Wed, June 23, DNREC offices in Riveredge Industrial Park, 391 Lukens Drive SEE "HOW YOU CAN HELP" on page 3 In June 1998 incinerators were banned by law in Delaware's Coastal Zone. EMISSIONS The proposed incinerator would burn about 482 million pounds per WASTE TO BE BURNED The promoters say "clean wood" but the permit HEALTH HAZARDS According to the Environmental Defense Fund "scorecard," INCINERATOR TO BUILT FROM USED AND SCRAP EQUIPMENT "In order to provide a THE BURNER COULD BE EXPANDED Philpower has leased 15 acres for "Philpower WHO OWNS PHILPOWER CORPORATION? W. Wayne Coverdale, President, lives in DELAWARE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS AND PRESS BIASED IN FAVOR OF INCINERATOR DNREC and other state officials met with Philpower in January 1998. The Coastal Zone Administrator Dennis Brown stated on WILM radio in September (After Green Delaware issued Alert #29, WILM Radio contacted promoters of In internal correspondence DNREC has always referred to a "wood gasification DNREC officials claim to have an opinion from the office of Atty. General DNREC Hearing Officer Rod Thompson has written to Green Delaware, asking DNREC officials have admitted to Green Delaware that they have decided the HOW YOU CAN HELP Attend the meeting on June 16th and the public hearing on June 23rd. Call Governor Carper's Office (302.577.3210), and send him an email Contact Philpower Corporation (601.688.5993, fax 610.688.5994). Let them If you live in Delaware, contact your Senator, Representative, and County Write a letter to the editor, call a radio talk show. This is a Green Delaware list. To be added or removed call 302.834.3466, or Look for more details in upcoming Green Delaware News. (C) Alan Muller
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