DHEC to study Neck Area airState Ports Authority to pay for pollution monitor By Diane Knich (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The air in the Charleston Neck Area already is heavy with industrial pollution. And the problem will grow worse when ships begin using a container terminal that will open on the former Charleston Naval Base in 2013. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control, with funding from the State Ports Authority, plans to place a long-term air monitor near the site of the new terminal. The monitor will measure pollution before and after the terminal opens, said Scott Reynolds, DHEC's director of the division of air quality programs. It will gauge the impact of the port expansion on air quality in the surrounding Charleston and North Charleston neighborhoods. The monitor "will provide a reference point in an area that will see a lot of changes in the next five to 10 years," Reynolds said. The new terminal will bring pollution from ships and from increased truck traffic, he said. DHEC now needs to find the right spot to place the monitor, he said. In the next two weeks, he said, the agency will place five 2-foot-tall temporary monitors in different locations in neighborhoods in the Neck Area. It will gather data from the temporary monitors for two months and use that information to determine where to best place the long-term monitor, he said. Byron Miller, director of public relations for the SPA, said the authority last March agreed to pay $180,000 for the installation of a "special purpose monitor" to be placed near the site nine to 15 months before the opening of the new terminal. DHEC later asked if the SPA would consider paying for the monitor earlier, he said. And the SPA agreed to consider it. "We recognize we are part of air quality in Charleston," he said. "And we want to do our part to help." Nancy Vinson, program director for the Coastal Conservation League, questioned the wisdom of investing a lot of time and money in gathering baseline data. Studies show that ports pump out a lot of pollution and people who live near them suffer higher rates of asthma, heart disease and stroke, she said. DHEC could simply monitor the Wando Terminal, which is already fully functioning, she said. It could use that data to determine how to best proceed with air-quality issues, she said. "I don't think anybody should have to breath highly toxic air," she said. But North Charleston City Councilman Michael Brown, chairman of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities, said he thinks gathering the data is a good idea because people need more information about air quality. Residents of the Neck really don't know what's in the air they breath every day, he said. Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@post andcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by moonpie on July 23, 2008 at 6:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh your going into the "neck" area don't forget to include little Jimmy! He gets pissed and pulls that race card if you don't!
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's the deal, there are enough port areas on the East coast to get any information you needed to on the pollution caused by the shipping industry. What your preparing for is a lawsuit because you know with the additional ships and the estimated (10,000)yes, 10,000 extra diesel trucks on the road, only a dumb-ass could not see a pollution problem. I promise you by 2014, you will not be able to see across the harbor anymore.
This area is already polluted, we are going to kill this city for the sake of shipping. I-26 cannot handle the traffic these trucks will put on the road, plus the pollution. Not a good deal for us!
Posted by HighDef on July 23, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
early- i agree that our roads can't handle more trucks but I'll take that bet about seeing across the harbor ! I hope all that pollution doesn't blow over Daniel Island...oh yeah thats why the new port moved across the river.
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Highdef, there are several physician now that are trying to unveil the SPA's true impact. They encourage diversity instead of expansion of the port. This is what I call a sleeper. unlike the coal fired plant, there is no government oversight on the shipping industry. 10,000 diesel trucks alone will have a heavy impact, especially those that clean their injectors.
Posted by zoomru on July 23, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wholly Summey........
"..Byron Miller, director of public relations for the SPA, said the authority last March agreed to pay $180,000 for the installation of a "special purpose monitor" to be placed near the site nine to 15 months before the opening of the new terminal. "
"Special Purpose" for 180K....it better act as peninsula AIR FRESHENER for that JACK!! Byron..who are you paying OFF?? We have smoke detectors at Walmart and LOWES for 12 to 40 dollars?? We cant get some whiz bang southern mechanics to modify one of these for 10K?? This is NUTS??!! Byron....do you serve on some school board TOO!!
"..DHEC later asked if the SPA would consider paying for the monitor earlier, he said. And the SPA agreed to consider it..."
What? Sounds like the SPA is ABOVE THE LAW! DHEC your the sheriff of OUR environment..start acting like it! The SPA doesn't consider ..CRAP! They follow the LAW and then some!
"We recognize we are part of air quality in Charleston," he said. "And we want to do our part to help."
Byron..we recognize clearly what shipping and the myriad of support entities means to the overall economy of OUR lowcountry. We welcome all business; BUT it will be done the RIGHT WAY; with all possible contingencies taken into consideration. Your grandchildren's livelyhood and quality of life depends on it...buck-a-roo!
BYRON...if everyone is SO concerned about the air quality of the NECK AREA; then I highly suggest YOU...yes you go to www.startech.net and read and learn. Look in the press releases where these machines are being installed. If YOUR so concerned about Neck Area air quality then you realize that the incinerator should be closed along with the Bees Ferry landfill ..FOREVER. Are you going to stand by and let Montenay sign a 20 year pollution aggreement to payoff local officials to fund their re-election campaigns? ARE YOU?? The Plasma machines have ZERO emissions BYRON...ZERO!
BYRON....ARE YOU A LEADER OF OUR COMMUNITY? ARE YOU?
PICK UP THE PHONE AND STOP PAYING OFF!!!
Posted by panasonic on July 23, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you want to kill Charleston, get rid of the port. The city would be nothing if not for the port. There are thousands of jobs directly and indirectly attributed to the port in the tri-county area.
Posted by zoomru on July 23, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BYRON.........
I'm not through with you yet...RECRUIT!
While you are on the phone; teleconference in MAYOR RILEY AND SUMMEY AND SC SENATOR McCONNELL, SC SENATOR BOBBY HARREL, CEOs OF SCE&G and SANTEE "SANDANISTA" COOPER, COUNTY COUNCIL TIM SCOTT AND THE LOT and RICHARD TODD of the "MORNING BUZZ", and lets not forget ol' ARTHUR RAVENEL!!!!
YOU BYRON... NEED TO SHOW SOME TEAMWORK and remind all OUR officials what is at STAKE! ALL! This Blatant raping of the taxpayers has got to STOP....NOW! We all know we have the technology today to solve our air qulity and landfill issues.....period!
Byron ...this is what you tell OUR leaders...
"Local officials and listeners of the lowcountry, My name is Byron with the SPA here and I've called you all to inform you that no matter how much money is spent to monitor air in the neck area; it is evident that the SOLUTION involves an integrated chain of events that need to happen. I'm not going into every link of the chain here today; but we all know that both terminal services and the waste disposal delimma that face our lowcountry area needs to work hand in hand to greatly reduce its impact to the environment. The SPA is firmly committed to following ALL DHEC priorities and procedures and above all stepping forward to publicly state that our impacts goes hand in hand with the CLOSURE of the incinerator and landfill in our tri-county area. We respect the people of the NECK area and the entire LOWCOUNTRY. We all recognize as leaders WE must put citizens and taxpayers concerns first above politics and BOTTOM LINE!! The SPA stands by MONTENAY and its workers and will make every "TEAMING" effort to ensure all entities concerns are met through this "TRASH" and "AIR QUALITY" transition. Ladies and Gentlemen...this is a new dawn of partnership and teaming here in the lowcountry to embrace NEW technology to solve multiple issue simultaneously! Thank you for your time ..and please read your POST and Courier for complete layout, ramification, schedule, and DETAILS. THANK YOU for your time!..."
Byron...I know you can DO THIS!!!
Posted by panasonic on July 23, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
zoomru, What did the port do to you?
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
panasonic, they said the same about the Navy base
Posted by Johnq2 on July 23, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Once again the geniuses at DHEC show their pitiful incompetence by deciding to study air quality in the neck area AFTER issuing new and expansion permits to the polluting industries in the area.
Many of these companies know the coming more strict clean air rules will keep them from being able to expand and even keep new companies from building in the area so they apply for permits they don't even need to get their foot in the door before the new rules take effect
I'm sure when the results of the testing show the area is way over permit levels and the new EPA standards it will come as a huge surprise to the traitors at DHEC who have sold us out.
Existing levels of particulate pollution in the area are already beginning to exceed the new standards even without the new port and the extra truck and ship traffic.
DHEC should be investigated and those in DHEC who have allowed this to occur without raising the alarm should be fired and lose all benefits. Their betrayal and incompetence has and will continue to cost lives and the health of those in the area for years to come. Those responsible for allowing this to happen should pay dearly.
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.scdhec.net/environment/water/......
Copy this and look at the map, this is insane to even consider this plant.
Please look at this map and additional information on that page, it will make your skin crawl
Posted by Rebel_Yell on July 23, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do a $180,000 study on neck area hair? People get it due to genetics, not from pollution after going to Diamonds for a steak and a table dance.
Posted by wjhamilton3 on July 23, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We're already borderline on air quality in North Charleston. If the port puts the area over the EPA limits, federal funds for road construction will be limited or cut off. The 300 million dollar upgrade for new lanes on I26 will probably be completely absorved by the new truck traffic.
The SPA isn't even making an effort to plan really effective railroad connections for this terminal. They prefer trucks, and dismiss the railroad as being unimportant or even a bad idea.
Oddly, the Port of Los Angeles doesn't feel that way and just finished a massive railroad upgrade. They're arguing that you can ship plastic junk from China to LA and then run it across the country by rail cheaper than you can ship it to the East Coast. They spent hundreds of millions of dollars on massive rail projects that run righ to the docks and marshalling yards in LA.
Of course, it just possible we would be better off making our own plastic junk instead of buying it from the Chinese with borrowed money. Every container coming into our port is a nail in the coffin of our economy.
Posted by suec on July 23, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you live in the neck area, pollution is the least of your problems. I'd be more worried about a bullet flying through my window or wall.
Posted by Johnq2 on July 23, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by suec on July 23, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you live in the neck area, pollution is the least of your problems. I'd be more worried about a bullet flying through my window or wall.
_______________________________________________
Wrong you idiotic ass! At least if a bullet gets you you will know what is killing you!
Don't kid yourself into thinking the poison is only affecting those in the neck area, it is just more pronounced there.
The truth is we are all slowly being poisoned and DHEC knows it. They hide behind obsolete laws on the books and use them as excuses not to warn their own fellow citizens.
The people hired at DHEC are "cherry picked" to be yes men and women and are too incompetent to get a job in the real world! That is why they have been hired, to sell us out to the corporations who are poisoning us.
After all how serious can DHEC, a state agency be about protecting the citizens of Charlestons health if they have to grovel to their permitees to pay to even get test equipment to insure the pollution levels are safe? The truth is they don't even know and they are still issuing new permits.
How can this be and why are our elected officials allowing it to continue?
Posted by moonpie on July 23, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice one SUEC and very true! Get out while you can!
Posted by Zod on July 23, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone pick up the driving force behind this story? It's not the people of the neck area. They are pawns. The driving force behind the story is the Coastal Communist League. This is just another attempt to kill the port.
Posted by Johnq2 on July 23, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah right Zod, it's all a big conspiracy so the people can keep fishing in the neck area.
All these major sources of pollution are concentrated in one area. This isn't a coincidence. DHEC and the powers that be have "hidden" these industries in the neck area because they are removed from the majority of the citizens view.
The toxic pollution from the area however is dispersed far and wide throughout our city.
Just because you don't see the smokestack doesn't mean you aren't being poisoned.
DHEC knows this and has stupidly concentrated all the polluting industries in one area. Now they hope to "BEGIN TESTING" after all these years and after all the recent permits have been approved to cover the YEARS of criminal complicity with the polluting industries in the area.
DHEC is concerned now because those that still have years to retirement now realize they are being set up to take the fall.