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...

What You Can Do...

If you want to help stop the asphalt plant from coming to Burlington, Wisconsin: (1) write a letter to your local supervisor. Include the facts cited on this website as reasons why this asphalt plant should NOT come here! (2) Also ask that the Town read your letter at their next meeting (in case they don't give us a voice)! (3) Print the flyer on the right and share it with your neighborhood!!

• Joan Boehm- Supervisor III
  
• Tyson Fettes- Supervisor I
  
• Richard Isaacson- Supervisor II
  
• Jeff Lang- Supervisor IV
  
• Ralph Rice- Chairperson

Town Hall Address:

32288 Bushnell Rd.
Burlington, Wisconsin 53105

Ralph Rice rejected health concerns cited by a brain surgeon, pollution and the fact the plant is against the town's mission as insufficient reasons to stop this project, so ask him what reasons would be acceptable reasons to cancel this project?! Are there any??

What do we have to do to get our opinions heard and recognized? We have hard facts, but no one is listening to us!!

Scientist Dr. Wang from Harvard Speaks...

...about a proposed asphalt plant coming to his neighborhood...

Link for more info

Property Value Drop up to 56%! Health Risks!

The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has released two studies showing the adverse impacts on property values and public health for residents living near operating asphalt plants. A property value study documented losses of up to 56% as a direct result of an asphalt plant.

In another study nearly half of the residents report negative impacts on their health after only two years of asphalt plant operations. The door-to-door survey shows that 45% of the residents living within a half mile of a two year old asphalt plant report a deterioration of their health which began after the plant opened. The most frequent problems include high blood pressure (18% of people surveyed), sinus problems (18%),headaches (14%), and shortness of breath (9%).

http://www.bredl.org/pdf/Young&McQueen071004.pdf

Where Will the Asphalt Plant Be?

It appears the asphalt plant fallout of chemicals will directly affect the watershed of Bohner Lake. If Bohner Lake is no longer a desireable asset to our community, how will that affect the town revenue??

Click on the map to move it around, or click on the side controls to enlarge or decrease the size. The exact spot of the asphalt plant is not marked on this map. We just identified Warren Road.


View Larger Map

The Dangers of Asphalt

Cancer and Asphalt Study
http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/46/8/582

The cancer mortality was significantly increased in asphalt workers aged 45 or more, when five years' latency from enrolment into the study was allowed for (SMR for cancer: 159, 95% confidence interval: 106-228). Non-significant increases were seen for respiratory, bladder, and digestive cancers but a significant increase was seen for brain cancer (SMR = 500, 95% CI: 103-1461). Components of asphalt fumes may have been important to the observed association between risk of cancer and employment in the asphalt industry.

Harvard School of Public Health:

"An asphalt plant will significantly increase air pollutants," said Dr. Michael Wang, a research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health, who also lives in Chelmsford. "What worries me most is the particulate matter. The smaller the particle, the more dangerous it is because it can be more easily absorbed into the lungs."

Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. Wang said that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects, including cancer.

Next Meeting: Thursday, July 23, 2009

Don't forget to mark your calenders for July 23, 2009 at 6:30.

DELAYED UNTIL AUGUST 27th, 2009

If you don't want the asphalt plant in our backyard, we need people at the meeting to keep the pressure on the town to NOT approve B.R. Amons conditional use permit.