766 Signatures Against Asphalt Plant

Sue Kessler has collected 766 signatures against the asphalt plant. May this send a message to the board that all the people that elected them are against this plant.

It's time now for our voice be heard.

Asphalt Plant Complaints

The town of Salisbury, NC, logged 574 formal complaints to the city from March 11, 1999 to October 15, 2004, for NOXIOUS ODOR and associated respiratory problems. That's more than 100 complaints per year!

If our town politicans think asphalt plants don't smell and won't affect our health, they need to visit Salisbury!!!

Source

Increased Suicide Rate Linked to Asphalt Plants

Here is an interesting study (thanks, Dr. Shea!):
Increase Suicide Rate is Possibly Linked to Chemicals Released from Nearby Asphalt Plant
from Duke Health.org

DURHAM, N.C. -- Exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide and possibly other airborne chemicals from nearby asphalt plants may have contributed to an increased suicide rate in a North Carolina community, a study suggests for the first time.

In 2003, the suicide rate in two Salisbury, N.C., neighborhoods was found to be 128 per 100,000 individuals a year, roughly 10 times the statewide average...

[...]

The study team reported that additional neurotoxic compounds such as benzene, chlorinated solvents and carbon disulfide, among others, were released in unknown quantities by the asphalt terminal and hot-mix asphalt plant. Carbon disulfide, also a neurotoxin, has been linked to personality changes, mood disorders and suicides in occupational settings , the researchers said.

In addition, "Some research suggests that highway workers exposed to asphalt-solvent fumes show an increase of suicide rates and brain cancers."

Is this what we want for Burlington?

Brain Cancer Studies and Asphalt

Occupational Risk Factors for Brain Cancer in Canada (Thanks, Dr. Shea!):

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the impact of occupational exposure on brain cancer risk.

METHODS: Mailed questionnaires were used to collect information on lifetime employment history, occupational exposure to 18 chemicals, and other risk factors for 1009 incident cases of brain cancer and 5039 control subjects in Canada in 1994 to 1997.



RESULTS: People exposed to asphalt and welding had respective odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) of 1.29 (1.02-1.62) and 1.26 (0.98-1.45). An increased risk of brain cancer might be associated with exposure to asbestos, benzene, mineral or lubricating oil, isopropyl oil, and wood dust and with following occupations: teaching; protective service; metal processing and related jobs, and metal shaping and forming; knitting in textile processing; construction trades; and transport equipment operating.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a possible role for occupational exposure in the etiology of brain cancer.

We Need Setback Rules for Asphalt Plants

Check out this FABULOUS ARTICLE titled, "Asphalt Plant Pollution"

Communities faced with an asphalt plant proposal should push for setbacks from residences and community buildings, site specific health-based

air pollution modeling and monitoring, enclosures for loading zones, and preferably a zero emissions asphalt plant, with total containment of air pollutants.

To see a list of pollutants released in Racine County already, prior to the asphalt plant, click here.

Loss of Tax Revenue if Asphalt Plant Comes

876 homes in the Bohner's Lake area are currently assessed at $161,864,400.

If the asphalt plant is approved, we can expect to see decreased property values. Several studies have documented this (read here). The potential decrease in assessed values at 27% (which is conversative and realistic) is $43,703,388. Some studies show property values could fall as much as 56%.

To compensate for the loss $43M loss, the town would likely have to raise the mill rate to make up for the loss, which would effect everybody in the town, including the people who live on Browns Lake.

This is not just a Bohner Lake issue. It's a town issue. If you know people in the town outside of the Bohner Lake area, you should get them involved ASAP. This will effect everyone's bottom line.

PowerPoint Presentation to Town Board

On August 13, Sue Kessler presented an excellent presentation to the Town Board of Burlington informing them of all the reasons we should not allow a hot asphalt plant into our town.

If you missed it, you can view it
BY CLICKING HERE.

Thanks for all of your hard work, Sue, we appreciate it!

Write a Letter to the Editor

We are looking to get the Standard Press chalked full of opinions against the asphalt plant.

Please submit your thoughts in opposition of the plant to the Burlington Standard Press by Tuesday afternoon.

Another Letter to the Editor

Click to read what Burlington Township resident Dan Brown has to say about the proposed asphalt plant here.

August 13th -- Presentation to Board

Please gather everyone you know and go to Town Hall on August 13th. At this time, the citizens against the asphalt plant will be presenting a slide show to the Town Board explaining to them why we don't want this in our town.

The more people that show up, the better. Tell your neighbors, bring your kids.

Also, plan on showing your support at the Town Hall Meeting where a vote is expected on August 27th.

We need to let the elected officals know that we stand strong and united against this chemical nightmare coming here!!

Meeting at Winkler School August 6th

Citizens Against the Warren Road Asphalt Plant will hold a meeting on August 6, 2009 at Winkler School at 7:00 pm.

Please come to see the powerpoint presentation which will be presented to the Town Board on August 13, 2009. We will have a brainstorming session after the presentation. The decision regarding the proposed plant will be made by the Town Board on August 27, 2009 at the Town Hall. We need a strong show of support at that meeting. Please forward this invitaion to anyone else you know who is interested. Hope to see you on Aug 6.

Controversial asphalt plant vote delayed again

Our blog was mentioned in WalworthCountytoday.com on July 22, 2009:

Neighbors opposing the project say their concerns include the long-term implications on health and environment caused by air pollution and ground water contamination; the increased number of diesel powered trucks on the roads; the loss in property values and the close proximity to a densely populated area and a elementary school.

They have launched Web site, www.bohnerlake.blogspot.com, and are urging Amon to choose a different site.

Asphalt Plant Pollution

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “Asphalt processing and asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, and toluene. Exposure to these air toxics may cause:

1. Cancer
2. Central nervous system problems
3. Liver damage
4. Respiratory problems and skin irritation.”
   
   [Source EPA].

OHIO EPA:

"Asphalt plants are regulated because they are air pollution sources that may emit significant levels of both particulate matter and gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants are considered to be detrimental to human health . Some VOCs are suspected carcinogens."

Opinion in the Journal Times

Commentary: Asphalt plant not welcome in Town of Burlington

By Christine Schultz
Town of Burlington resident

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:39 PM CDT

After attending the Burlington Planning and Zoning Meeting on June 25, I left feeling uneasy about the “temporary portable hot mix asphalt plant” being proposed.

Dozens of residents spoke out against the plant and our concerns must have struck a chord with three of the members who voted against the proposal. Unfortunately that isn’t the end of it. The proposal, which was approved by the Racine County Board the week before, will get the final vote by the Burlington Town Board on July 23.

Residents raised important considerations about air and water quality. Bohners Lake is only one nautical mile away from the proposed site for the asphalt plant and it is in the direct path of the constant westerly winds. Toxic chemicals will pollute the air. A brain surgeon from Bohners Lake expressed that contaminated fumes even at one-fourth of a percent are dangerous enough to cause brain tumors and cancer. I have read articles about residents living near similar asphalt plants in other areas of the United States who developed upper respiratory complications within six months of the plant’s operation.

Read more here

Thanks, Christine!

Town Board Vote Delayed

From My Racine County Online:

Town further delays decision
A decision on a controversial proposal to bring a portable asphalt plant to a gravel pit near the Bohners Lake neighborhood has been postponed, with the Town of Burlington Board of Supervisors not expected to act on the request until Aug. 27... Read entire article here...

Ralph Rice say in the article, "Regardless of what we do we're not going to be very popular."

Does that sound like a board member who cares about the people he represents? Or is he more concerned about a business being mad at him? You tell me...