BLUE RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE LEAGUE
PO Box 88 ~ Glendale Springs, North Carolina 28629 ~ Phone (336) 982-2691 ~ Fax (336) 982-2954 ~ Email: BREDL@skybest.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 26, 2009

CONTACTS:
Janet Marsh (336) 982-2691
Louis Zeller (336) 977-0852
David Mickey (336) 624-2412

LEAGUE UPS THE ANTE IN POULTRY MANURE INCINERATOR DEBATE

Today in a letter to a powerful North Carolina legislator, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League called for full disclosure of the violations and enforcement actions against the Fibrominn poultry manure incinerator in Benson, Minnesota. While Minnesota law shields the company’s track record, North Carolina and local government officials are making decisions about poultry manure incinerators here. The Fibrominn plant is the only poultry manure incinerator in the United States.

In her May 26th letter to Rep. Pricey Harrison, Janet Marsh, the League’s Executive Director, said, “City and county officials in North Carolina must not make decisions about re-zoning properties and supplying water resources and other infrastructure without knowing that the proposed incinerator would emit arsenic, chromium and other air poisons.” Marsh continued, “We understand that Fibrominn information has been provided to our state by Minnesota with the provision that it be kept hidden from North Carolinians. I request that you ask Fibrowatt to make these secret documents public.”

North Carolina’s renewable energy policy as outlined in ratified Senate Bill 3, provides for the NC Environmental Management Commission to have a role in deciding on pollution controls and other technological aspects of the proposed poultry manure incinerators. To date, the NC Division of Air Quality has maintained that their agency has the power to determine best available control technology for the plant. However, the League urges that the EMC have a full public debate by holding formal public hearings. Other states have protective technological standards for incinerators which must be explored.

Marsh said, “We are concerned that North Carolina officials may make these important decisions based on politics rather than science. The people of Surry, Sampson and Montgomery counties deserve better.”

The League letter also provided a detailed rebuttal to Fibrowatt’s response to the organization’s May 6th report entitled, “Poultry Manure Incineration Toxic Air Pollution Impacts.” Marsh characterized Fibrowatt’s response as “blowing smoke.”

-end-

More info: May 26 letter to Rep. Pricey Harrison