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New Name, Same Game!
T
The Dallas Morning News deserves a
special bravo for their recent editorial Air pollution: New name, same
game! Thank you for taking a bold stance about the newly named state
environmental agency-Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Your editorial highlighted what
environmentalist and air huggers have been saying all along “its time that
the agency get serious about clearing our air and do something to address
pollution coming from Ellis County.” According to agency data there’s
enough evidence to suggest that Ellis County be incorporated into the four
county clean air plan. In addition to being the home to the top industrial
smog producers in North Texas, Ellis County has violated the three strikes
law for ozone but yet the governor, nor the TCEQ, nor the EPA has taken the
necessary steps to declare the region a clean air felon--even though it is.
The $223,125 fine and a perpetual
pollution extension of more than a year and a half is a gift from the TCEQ
to Holcim and a literal “gag” gift from the agency to breather’s in North
Texas. If the agency were really serious about reducing pollution then
Holcim’s fine would be closer to $3.6 million and they wouldn’t be able to
operate until they complied with their agreement with the state.
Meanwhile, while they’re given
another year and a half to reach their permitted levels Holcim has applied
for a “permit amendment” to challenge the conditions of their agreement.
TCEQ this is very simple, Holcim broke their agreement, they reneged on a
formal process, the hurled additional smog forming pollution into North
Texas, and it’s time that you as the state’s environmental agency enforce
the law. Anything else is irresponsible.
Becky Bornhorst
Submitted to the Dallas Morning News 9/23/02
Holcim, Not So Wholesome
TNRCC Needs to Do More!
Dear Editor:
I think it is time that the people of Midlothian need
to start speaking out about all the emissions that the 3 cement kilns & 1
steel mill emit. We have North Texas Cement burning tires and now TXI is
burning them, also. Every evening that you walk out side you can smell them
burning. You can also smell sulfur odors, burnt metal, different chemicals,
and etc. What is the city of Midlothian doing about this? NOTHING!!. For
the last 2 years Holcim has violated their permit. What kind of health
effects has this or will be caused on our health. What about all the
children of Midlothian that have asthma? Has anyone told the employees &
their families of Toys R Us or the new Target warehouse about what they will
be breathing in Midlothian? For the year 2000, the 4 industries have
emitted 1,502,123 pounds of air emissions in Midlothian In that Chromium
573 lbs, Lead 3923 lbs, Manganese 7998 lbs, Mercury 774 lbs, Sulfuric acid
1,416,045 lbs. Also, the worst of it all was 1.64 lbs of Dioxin. Holcim
was fined very little for what damages they have caused this community. Out
of this Midlothian will receive $111,562 for fire equipment. This money
should be spent on the health care cost of the people that it has affected
and enforcement by the City to stop this. Midlothian is a great town to
move to if you want to increase your chances of cancer or other health
effects on your life. If I was told all this, I would have NEVER moved
here.
Debra L. Markwardt |
