Times Beach Update (fwd)

[slester@essential.org]

May 25, 1995

For general distribution


Report from Times Beach:   A Network of Resistance	
by Zoe Love

           Times Beach was once a community on the Meramec River, southwest
of St. Louis, MO. Now, it's a Superfund site, owned and operated by the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection
Agency, and Syntex Corp. This month, Syntex is building a toxic waste
incinerator on the floodplain, over the angry protests of the residents in
the nearby "impact zone" and downwind in St. Louis County. The company plans
to burn dioxin-contaminated soil, buildings and other materials from Times
Beach and 26 other dioxin sites in eastern Missouri.     
          Several groups of activists and residents are fighting the
proposed dioxin incinerator at Times Beach. Currently, the network includes
the Times Beach Action Group, the Dioxin Incinerator Response Group, Gateway
Greens Alliance, Citizens Against Dioxin Incineration, and the Times Beach
Legal Defense Coalition. These groups are demanding the waste be contained
in a closed system, instead of being dispersed into the air. Volunteers are
using all the tactics at their disposal, and encouraging more people to join
the campaign to shut the burner down before it's allowed to release more
dioxin into the environment.

PROTEST THE PLAN
         Strategies have ranged from publicly burning Missouri Governor Mel
Carnahan in effigy to unauthorized banners and acts of civil disobedience.
Demonstrations and protests at Times Beach started more than five years ago,
and hundreds of people have participated in rallies expressing outrage at
the government for approving this dangerous plan without giving the people a
voice in the process.
        Future demonstrations will be even more interesting as angry
citizens keep up the pressure on public officials to stop dodging the issue
and covering up safety flaws.  TBAG members have promised more non-violent
protests at the end of July, with support from Greenpeace USA and other
groups.  TBAG needs more people to get  involved with actions, planning and
support! The more, the merrier!   

SUE THE STATE
         The Times Beach Legal Defense Coalition will investigate filing a
lawsuit against the State of Missouri, the EPA and Syntex. Greenlaw, a
non-profit environmental law firm in Washington, DC, has offered to pursue
an injunction to stop the incinerator from going on-line.  The group is
raising funds for legal costs and seeking people experienced in
grant-writing and other fund-raising, as well those who can help with
benefit concerts and other fun stuff.

PROVE THEY'RE WRONG
        Experts and informed residents have testified to the negative
effects of burning dioxin, but the EPA continues to deny and disguise the
danger. The agency's recent Dioxin Reassessment shows human beings and
animals develop serious reproductive and immune system defects at levels
close to what the average American already ingests. Volunteers in the St
Louis area are working with Greenpeace scientist Pat Costner and others to
gather hard data on dioxin emssions and health effects from other
incinerators. In March, Governor Carnahan's staff and David Shorr of the
MO-DNR told activists that they would shut down the incinerator project if
citizens could "prove it is not protective of public health." The activists
will accept that challenge and present new data to demonstrate that
incineration is not safe.
      Committed groups of people have defeated toxic waste inicinerators in
communities all over the country. Folks involved with any similar campaigns
are urged to contact TBAG. 

Call Steve Taylor, Times Beach Action Group, at (314) 391-5715.
	            50 Clarkson Center, Suite 493
                            Chesterfield, MO  63017

Other Contacts:
Times Beach Legal Defense Coalition 
    Tammy Shea  (314) 458-502              Jim Beckman (314) 391-5715
    Zoe Love (314) 677-0311	            Cindy Taykowski (314) 677-3493
    Ann Dollarhide (314) 938-4727           Barbara Chicherio (314) 727-8554		

Dioxin Incinerator Response Group	
    Fred Striley (314) 938-3504  	Todd King (314) 938-3347 

Gateway Greens Alliance	
    Don Fitz (314) 727-8554
				
Citizens Against Dioxin Incineration
     Ann Dollarhide (314) 938-4727	
     Mary Derrick (314) 938-4552