Douglas incensed by IP burn, travels to New York Environmental activists travel to Ticonderoga to place dissent on record

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Among the more than 300 Vermonters who rode to New York this past week to protest the proposed tire-burn at International Paper in Ticonderoga was Vermont Governor James Douglas '72. Douglas rode one of eight yellow school buses with other Addison County residents and anti-pollution activists to ensure that his views were noted in the records of an open meeting held by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC).

The meeting was held as part of the approval process put in place by the NYDEC before granting final approval for a permit that would allow International Paper to burn shredded tires in its main boiler as a fuel replacement. The proposal has generated vehement protests from Vermont residents who are concerned about the effects of the burn.

Specifically, the protestors are worried about increases in particulate matter in the air, and are encouraging International Paper to install an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), which is a more efficient filtering device, if they wish to continue with their plans to burn tires. The current filter in use by International Paper does not adequately protect against many of the carcinogens and other damaging particles that will be emitted by burning tires according to agitators for the ESP.

Douglas took a stance against the tire-burn without an ESP early on in the debate. Douglas has attempted to work with International Paper and the government of New York to create a plan that would ensure the addition of an ESP. According to Douglas, "this cooperative effort would assist the facility in the installation of state-of-the-art pollution control devices that are now standard equipment at similar facilities throughout the nation, equipment that we insist is necessary to ensure the health of Vermonters and our environment."

Douglas was one of the speakers at the open meeting in New York. In his speech, he said, "I traveled to Ticonderoga with hundreds of other Vermonters, of all ages and from all walks of life, to let you know that while we want the Ticonderoga facility to be stronger and continue to provide good jobs, it is imperative that you take into consideration the many serious concerns of those of us that live, work and raise our families down wind from this facility."

Douglas is not alone among Vermont state officials in opposing the tire-burn without the use of an ESP. In a letter to the NYDEC, Peter Welch, president pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate, stated that, "Any permit issued from NYDEC must assure pollution controls necessary to eliminate fine particulates and heavy metals. Without this necessary technology and assurance, I stand firmly opposed to the potentially hazardous and environmentally damaging burning of tires."

While a large number of Vermonters attended the meeting, only a handful were actually able to speak on record. Hence, supporters of an ESP encouraged those who oppose the tire-burn to attend the meeting held by the NYDEC this week in Addison County. According to People for Less Pollution, the group spearheading the campaign against the tire-burn, "This will be the last chance for Vermonters to gather in great numbers and send a strong message to the NYDEC that we are not willing to have toxic pollutants from a tire burn [without an ESP] infiltrate our bodies and our land."

In addition, organizers noted that representatives from several New York officials, including Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY), would be on hand at the meeting to listen to the concerns of Vermont residents in an effort to find a solution to the problem.

The meeting this week was the last chance for Vermonters who oppose the burn to speak out in front of the NYDEC against the tire-burn. The NYDEC will continue to hold an open comment period until Dec. 9, after which it will review the testimony and rule on whether or not it will grant an official permit to burn the tires, and if so, under what conditions.

Despite the organizational efforts of People for Less Pollution and state officials, it remains to be seen whether they will be successful in their campaign to halt the tire-burn, or at least force International Paper to install an ESP before proceeding.