Our Environment, Our People, Our Health, Why Us!!!

I’m not here to attack Alpine Group, WMA, and WAPA. But I have very serious concerns about the use of Petroleum Coke on how it will affect our environment and our most precious resources which is our people.

In 2006, I made it very clear to our community about the effects of fossil fuel of which WAPA uses and how it’s affecting the residents in LBJ, De Chabert Project, Kennedy, Richmond and surrounding areas. Yet fossil fuels are finite resources and they can also irreparably harm the environment. According to the Energy Information Administration, the burning of fossil fuels was responsible for 87 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2006.

On November 25, 2009; Health and Human Service Secretary, Kathleen Sebelus stated that the US spends $120 Billion in health cost per year because of fossil fuel; the British Health Secretary Andy Burnham echo the same sentiments as our Health and Human Service Secretary.

Over the past few years I did some extensive research on the health effect of PetCoke; my research took me to assess the mortality and cancer morbidity in Canada petroleum workers; a total of 25, 292 employees hired between 1964 and 1994 were linked to the Canadian tumour registry and national mortality database; five study agents were use to include Hydrocarbon solvents/fuels; Hydrocarbon lubricants; Petroleum Coke; Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) and general indicator for exposure to operations. The exposure estimation was performed without any knowledge of the individual’s disease status.
• Lung cancer risk deficits, was increased among workers in the highest cumulative exposure category for petroleum coke/spent catalyst.
• Gall bladder cancer mortality was increased among males based on four deaths.
Additionally, interpretation was complicated by the high correlation between hydrocarbon and H2S exposures.

It’s very important to know what is the percentage range of sulphur in petrolume coke from Hovensa? This question needs to be answered; now let’s take a look at the health effects of sulfur, heavymetals, solidwaste, lead, and carbon monoxide from petroleum coke.
In comparison, subbituminous “low sulfur” coal has a sulfur content of 0.3 to 1.5% and bituminous coal ranges from around 1% to over 3%. In other words, pet coke can be more than eighteen times higher in sulfur than coal.

The higher the sulfur contents of a fuel, the greater the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur trioxide (SO3), and sulfates (SO4). SO2 is associated with respiratory illness and aggravated heart disease; it also contributes to visibility problems at natural areas, acid rain, and damage to plants, water, and structures. Higher levels of SO2 mean higher levels of sulfates, as SO2 reacts in the atmosphere to form sulfates.

These tiny particles can lodge deeply in the lungs and are associated with increased respiratory symptoms and disease, difficulty breathing, and even premature death. Higher levels of sulfur in the fuel also mean higher levels of sulfuric acid mist (H2SO4 or “SAM”) from the combustion process.

Condensation of the H2SO4 can increase fine particulate matter and PM10 as well. These particles again penetrate deeply into the lungs and are associated with respiratory disease and heart disease. Will this company demonstrate that it will meet stringent sulfur pollution limits through use of the cleanest fuel and optimal control equipment design and operation at all times.

Heavy metals: The heavy metal contents of petroleum coke also can be significant, again with specific levels depending on how the material is produced in a particular petroleum refinery. Metals of particular concern with petroleum coke are vanadium, nickel, and selenium. Studies have found associations between mortality and the vanadium and nickel content of fine particulate matter air pollution. In addition, nickel can cause an allergic reaction in a significant portion of the population, with more sensitive people experiencing asthma attacks when exposed. Excess levels of selenium in water can be toxic to fish, invertebrates, and the birds that eat them.

Solid Waste Concerns: Exceedingly high volumes of solid waste are a major drawback of the type of boiler selected; it must have adequate waste disposal capacity as a critical component in whether a project will be viable. In addition, with most of the heavy metals in petroleum coke captured by PM controls, metals will end up concentrated in the fly and bottom ash waste.
U.S. EPA has identified a site used for disposal of ash from coal and petroleum coke combustion as presenting documented damage to human health and the environment, citing metals contamination.

Lead: Once taken into the body, lead distributes throughout the body in the blood and is accumulated in the bones. Lead can adversely affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system. The lead effects most commonly encountered in current populations are neurological effects in children and cardiovascular effects (e.g., high blood pressure and heart disease) in adults. Infants and young children are especially sensitive to even low levels of lead, which may contribute to behavioral problems, learning deficits and lowered IQ.

Carbon monoxide: can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues, especially to persons who suffer from heart disease, like angina, clogged arteries, or congestive heart failure. People who breathe high levels of CO can develop vision problems, reduced ability to work or learn, reduced manual dexterity, and difficulty performing complex tasks. At extremely high levels, CO is poisonous and can cause death.

My research also took me to West Bountiful, Utah, were they have a population of 44, 473. Consolidated Energy Company in Utah has received preliminary approval to construct a power plant that burns petroleum coke. The residents and the medical staffs in West Bountiful, Utah are totally against this petroleum coke plant. 64 Lakeview Hospital medical staff members have sign a resolution in opposition of the construction of the Consolidated Energy’s Propose Petroleum Coke Power Plant in Bountiful, Utah.

With the West Bountiful residents and medical staff been consistent with their opposition against the Consolidated Energy Company propose ‘petcoke’ power plant, the Salt Lake Tribune has reported that the process for permitting the propose petroleum coke plant in West Bountiful has expired and the division of Air Quality will not act on the original permit request; with all said the opposition has force Consolidated Energy Company to canceled their plans to build the proposed ‘petcoke’ power plant.

Taking a look at Oregon, Ohio; eight years after Bay Shore Power Plant began burning petroleum coke at its power plant, many local residents are now saying that the use of the new fuel has turned the plant into a dirty, dusty, noisy nuisance that they wish had never been built in their community.

In Utah, unlike us they already have three operating oil refineries and a medical waste incineration facility to contend with. “The Utah Department of Health has reported that in Woods Cross and North Lake area, 16.2% of all children 17 years and younger have asthma.” The state average is 8.5%.

To really appreciate what coke can do to this area! You will have to take a short trip to the coker facility operated by another Utah based company in Bakersfield, California. It’s found to be a dirty, ugly, foul- smelling, trash product. Your visit would have revealed the foul odor and the much talked about black insidious waste matter that covers everything in the area. The horrendous odors are something you will never forget.
Here in the Virgin Islands it’s pretty interesting that our very owned medical community and the V.I. Department of Health is very silent on this issue concerning the different health problems petcoke will cause to the children, unborn, older adults and residents of the Virgin Islands.

Today am calling on our medical community, and the Virgin Islands Department of Health to come forward and promote health in the public best interest, because it’s their duty to do so.

Alpine Group power plant will affect your family's health, especially that of your children Petroleum coke is the dirtiest fossil fuel available, it is the waste left over from refining oil, the combustion of petroleum coke emits higher concentrations of all the major components of air pollution. Every year this plant will release about one million pounds of pollution, including highly toxic chemicals and heavy metals that are especially dangerous to young children and the unborn. These toxic compounds (even in extremely small quantities) are known to cause cancer, genetic damage and brain damage.

I am concern about our Health and Environment; I’m concerned for the public health consequences of building this plant. I humbly ask all Virgin Islanders to inform your family and neighbors and voice your opinion very loud and clear. You the citizens can make a difference. If you want your family’s health protected, and if you think this plant should not be built in our community, now is your chance to get involved.

Remember, there have been no major studies showing the long-term health effects of exposure to petcoke emissions, due to its relatively recent adoption as a fuel source (used in the U.S. only in the last six years at fewer than 15 facilities nationwide). What I do know, however, is that petcoke has very high concentrations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs - known cancer causers) that are released via smokestack emissions and can be widely disseminated via fugitive petcoke dust.

My letter to the editor is not about flair, but about facts. We can unite our efforts; we can boldly go forward as one voice in standing up against this additional source of pollutions in our community and kindly say to our aspirants! Thanks but no thanks…..
George Moore
St. Croix
779-3964