Detroit News on Viking/CRSS waste burning, Lincoln, MI

[asagady@sojourn.com]

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> October 13, 1996                                              [Metro ]
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> 
> In the Lower Peninsula: Waste-burning plan stirs concerns
> 
> By Thomas BeVier / The Detroit News
> LINCOLN - This secluded village in the northeast Lower Peninsula has
> become the unlikely focus of a hot environmental controversy.
> 
> In what could be a precedent-setting case, Viking Energy has asked the
> state to modify its permit to burn virgin wood - mainly waste from
> lumbering and sawmill operations. It wants to burn demolitions
> materials, which contain hazardous chemicals, as fuel in its
> electricity generating plant.
> 
> The state Department of Environmental Quality, under fire from
> environmentalists since it was created by Gov. John Engler a year ago,
> was in the sights of local residents at a public meeting on the issue
> last week.
> 
> A crowd of 300, nearly as many as reside in Lincoln, packed the Alcona
> County High School cafeteria for a five-hour hearing. Most speakers
> opposed the request, saying the well-being of their community is at
> stake.
> 
> Environmental groups are watching the case closely.
> 
> "This particular plant is the hottest issue going in the state, as far
> as citizens raising hell about government decision making," said Alex
> Sagady, a technical consultant for the state Sierra Club.
> 
> Local citizens formed the Alcona County Environmenatal Coalition in
> July, after the DEQ staff found that the company's request met state
> and federal regulations.
> 
> "We were concerned that the only information the staff had was based
> on tests conducted by Viking," said one of the organizers, Steve
> Yokum, the manager of a tool and die company in Lincoln.
> 
> "We also were concerned about lack of controls over the materials
> Viking would burn in the plant."
> 
> The Alcona group convinced the DEQ to extend a public comment period
> from 30 to 60 days and to hold the public hearing in Lincoln, rather
> than in Lansing as originally planned. And they plumbed the Internet
> to get information.
> 
> "This is the first time I've seen a group use the Internet to become
> educated in such a short time," said Mark Stephens, a DEQ
> environmental analyst. "They've provided us with a lot of material. I
> don't believe the permit will be issued as is."
> 
> Some locals, such as Village President Arthur Somers, think opponents
> to the application "have blown the risks out of proportion." Others
> disagree.
> 
> "I've learned to love this town," said retired pharmacist Ray Garcia,
> "but I see this as harm coming."
> 
> He said he'll probably move if the company's request is granted.
> 
> Several of Viking's 20 workers came to their employer's defense.
> 
> "Viking has an outstanding record (as a non-polluter)," said site
> administrator Nancy Andrina. "Viking has contributed a lot to this
> community."
> 
> Viking vice president Eric Heggeseth from Concord, N.H., said the
> plant may not be economically viable if it doesn't get its permit
> changed.
> 
> If the company's application is granted, the plant technically would
> not become a hazardous waste incinerator. Presently, there are only
> two such facilities in Michigan: Dow Chemical at Midland and LaFarge
> Corp.'s cement plant in Alpena. But the modification would allow the
> burning of building materials containing toxic chemicals, such as wood
> preservatives like creosote and pentochlorophenol.
> 
> Critics of the application point out that when the Lincoln plant was
> opened in 1987, the company promised that only virgin wood would be
> burned. They fear liberalizing that requirement would lead to similar
> changes at three other northern Michigan wood-fired generating plants.
> 
> DEQ's Stephens said building materials with toxic chemicals, like
> pentochlorophenol and lead and mercury based paints, would be burned
> in such small amounts in the Lincoln plant that they wouldn't threaten
> human health.
> 
> Copyright 1996, The Detroit News
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Alex J. Sagady & Associates    		Email:  asagady@sojourn.com
Environmental Consulting and Database Systems
PO Box 39
East Lansing, MI  48826-0039  
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