National Coalition Statement

["Mike Ewall" <MXE115@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>]

   National Coalition Against Incineration-  Statement of Purpose- 6/3/96

     The National Coalition Against Incineration is a newly formed group
consisting of grassroots citizens groups from around the United States who
oppose the incineration of hazardous wastes.

     Most of these citizens groups have organized their own communities in an
attempt to stop the US Environmental Protection Agency's campaign to incinerate
Superfund sites, hazardous waste and chemical weapons.  The similarities
between what is happening on a national scale in small towns
across America has given purpose and cohesion to this organization.

     It seems that during the early 1980's, during the Reagan
Administration, many millions of dollars in contracts were lined up with large
corporations to start Superfund "clean-up's" across America.  The EPA was also
confronted with a growing stockpile of hazardous waste.

     Incineration soon became the favorite means of remediation.  The EPA began
to take bids from contractors across the country for Superfund and related
consultant work to show the public the necessary justification for
incineration.  The EPA was counting on most people not opposing their
plans and they were for the most part correct.  A cozy relationship began to
develop between the EPA and their contractors.

     With regards to Superfund, the scam is basically the same from coast to
coast.  After taking care of the legal requirements of Superfund regarding
citizen notification, the EPA makes their Record of Decision to incinerate and
begins preparation for their "mobile", "temporary" incinerator. These units are
the farthest thing from "mobile" as they come into the site in thousands
of pieces and are built on permanent foundations.  The units are then tested
through a trial burn process which basically is a "snap shot" of the
incinerators best destruction removal at optimum working conditions.  Waste
feed during actual operations is often very different from the test burn
and actual characterization of that waste, in many cases, never occurs.

    Recent emergency shut downs and release of toxic discharges in Times
Beach, Missouri along with dioxin blood level tests in Jacksonville, Arkansas
are enough reason in themselves to justify national attention to this issue.
The EPA's Draft Dioxin Re-Assessment released 9/94 says clearly
that we are already overdosed with dioxins in our bodies.  It is time for
this agency to recognize it's own findings and stop permitting the construction
and operation of dioxin emitting incinerators across America.  Agency memos
document the fact that they know that the food chain around their incinerators
is being impacted by increased levels of dioxin.

     We as a coalition want all Superfund and hazardous waste incinerator
operations suspended in the United States.  We call for an investigation into
the relationships between the EPA and their contractors.  We want laws which
exist around the country, which restrict citizen's rights to bring
suit until after "clean-ups" are over,  repealed to give equal protection to
all Americans.   We strongly oppose and demand the repeal of the government's
plan to build and operate chemical weapons incinerator installations around
America.

     This statement was prepared by Bill Smedley, Steering Committee Member,
Arrest the Incinerator Remediation or A.I.R., P.O. Box 166 Lock Haven PA 17740.
Phone: 717-398-7383
Fax: 717-398-2014.

Arrest the Incinerator Remediation (Lock Haven, PA):
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/pen/air

RACHEL issue on Jacksonville Arkansas incinerator and EPA
http://www.envirolink.org/pubs/rachel/rehw456.htm

Dioxin Homepage:
http://www.envirolink.org/issues/dioxin



Mike Ewall
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/action
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The earth isn't dying, it's being killed...
                       and those killing it have names.