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<br /> 02/101 2000 14:19 FA% 808 9747898 UHH NATURAL SCIENCE DFFT ~ 009 <br /> obvious concerns: a) the increased traffic hazards and diesel air pollution hazards from the <br /> increase of lazgc truck traffic carrying garbage to Pepeekeo, and also trucking the ash to <br /> Kona; b) the health hazards of organic stack emissions (i.e. PAHs, dioxins, furans) in <br /> normal operation, and when emission controls fail (both permitted failures, and un- <br /> permittedfailures); c) the health hazards of `fly ash' stack emissions (i.e. mercury, arsenic, <br /> lead, cadatirun) in normal operation, and when emission controls fail (both permitted <br /> failures, and un•permitted failures). Emission controls do fail. This does happen -all too <br /> often. <br /> u~cic pollutants (and infectious diseases from raw garbage) can get into people by various <br /> pathways: by breathing contaminated air, by eating tAntatninated food (crops, milk, meat <br /> fish) and be drinking contaminated water. Incineration permits typically allow for <br /> specified levels of toxic outputs on a regular basis, and often allow cavssion excellences on <br /> a periodic basis. This is allowed under regular operation, and does not fully address larger <br /> accidental releases. Proper planning should. Most of the toxic byproducts of incineration <br /> (primarily persistent organics and metals) bioaccumulate in people and food crops and <br /> animals, leading to much higher levels in people than the levels found ilct the environment. <br /> A deficiency in any of the several emission control requirements (temperature, mass flux, <br /> residence time, scrubbers, etc.) can result in incomplete combustion and/or the release of <br /> harmful air emissions. Such emissions are a public health hazard because nearby <br /> communities may be exposed to site contaminants via the air transport and wet and dry <br /> depositional pathways. It should be recognized that human exposure to sirbome incinerator <br /> contaminants can occur duectly by inhalation and indirectly by consumption of animals or <br /> plants raised in areas where wet and dry deposition of emissions takes place. It is also <br /> important to remember that these types of contaminants build up in people over time. <br /> Ideally public planncls will represent the public at least as well as they would represent <br /> themselves. I~Iopefully we all ask oursdvcs how close to toxic and hazardous industries we <br /> would feel comfortable living -along with the more fragile among us: our pregnant or <br /> nursing daughter or wife, our elderly, and our children. Most rural people Live where they <br /> do in order to be away from industry and/ or to live in the country. We are not on a coral <br /> atoll, we have a huge land base, and there is no need to jam industry up against rural, or <br /> any group of residents, the coastal zone, or our agriculture and food supply. Please do not <br /> needlessly damage or destroy coastal zones and rural agricultural areas for the easiest (least <br /> political resistance) or cheapest solution. Please consider people's living choices, people's <br /> health, the fragile coastal environment and our food supply. We will need these long-teen <br /> resources more and more as oil and imported food become more expensive this decade. <br /> Please keep the long-term in mind. <br /> Thank you. Sincerely, JP Michaud Jon-Pierre Michaud, Ph.D. <br /> ~ ~ ~ Chemistry, Natural Sciences <br /> / ' University of Hawaii at I-Iilo <br /> 200 W Kawili Street <br /> Hilo HI 96720 <br /> (808) 974-7320 <br /> <br />