Stories, News & Updates...

Proposed Robinson Plant Update by Jen Iriti

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 09:43:50 -0400

Hi Folks-
As of this morning, the PA DEP still has not set a date for an informal conference for the mining permit request! Pennsylvania law requires the PA DEP to hold an informal conference within 60 days of the close of public comment period if one is requested--25 Ps. Code 86.34(b). In addition, PA DEP must publish notice of the information conference in a local newspaper at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the conference--25 Pa. Code 86.34(b)(2). The public comment period closed on July 20, 2009. Comments were submitted during the public comment period to request that an informal conference be held due to serious deficiencies in the Champion Permit Application. Sixty days have passed and PA DEP has yet to schedule an informal conference. Another example of irregularities in the permitting process for this plant!

So....we are still waiting. In the meantime, read/watch these:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/01/60minutes/main5356202.shtml

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13water.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=toxic%20waters&st=cse

And check this out....the Seward plant (one that is used as a comparison to the proposed Robinson Plant)---reports to the EPA show that the plant has exceeded pollution levels since 2007 but has had NO enforcement action from PA DEP! Scroll down to the "Three Year Compliance Status by Quarter" and note the effluent violations (showing % in excess of the allowable levels of aluminum, iron, and manganese). These data are from the federal Environmental Protection Agency!

http://www.epa-echo.gov/cgi-bin/get1cReport.cgi?tool=echo&IDNumber=PA0002054

Next ACT meeting will be October 15 at 7pm at 3404 Timberglen Drive, Imperial, PA 15126. Hope to see you there.

Jen

PA DEP head with poor enforcement history nominated to federal level

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:33:01 -0400

Hey Folks:
The following information relates to the proposed Robinson Power Plant in the further permitting will be under the leadership of this new nominee.

Under the leadership of Joseph Pizarchik, the PA DEP has been reluctant to enforce federal and state mining laws: especially with regard to the issue of coal combustion wastes. The nomination of Mr. Pizarchik to head the federal Office of Surface Mining is a huge disappointment. The federal Office of Surface Mining is badly in need of massive reform and, unfortunately, having Mr. Pizarchik at the helm of this federal agency will make meaningful reform unlikely.

We need to send short emails to US Senate Committee requesting a Citizen Panel before scheduling a hearing on the nomination of Joseph Pizarchik to head the federal Office of Surface Mining. We are asking everyone we know to send a quick email (template is pasted below) to Mr. Sam Fowler, the staff member organizing the nomination hearing -- asking there be a Citizen Panel allowed to present real-world concerns and stories of exactly how Mr. Pizarchik and the PA DEP have conducted themselves on mining issues in PA.

We only want to request a Citizen Panel -- any detailed information on poor PA DEP policies and Pizarchik's leadership will come later.

Could you please take a few moments to write a short email requesting the Chairman of the Committee allow a citizen panel? You can use my template below and change to make it your own. These email messages can be sent by organizations and individual citizens. Please feel free to ask others you know to do the same.

Email should be sent to Mr. Sam Fowler:
sam_fowler@energy.senate.gov

July 29, 2009
Dear Mr. Fowler:
As a citizen of living in the coalfields of Pennsylvania I would like Chairman Bingaman to know that I have very serious concerns about the nomination, and oppose the appointment, of Joseph Pizarchik of PA DEP to director of the federal Office of Surface Mining. I respectfully request that a citizen panel be formed to allow discussion of this matter and to present valid, community concerns regarding the qualifications of this nominee.
President Obama and Secretary Salazar have made promises of true reform and democracy. I was hopeful that this reform would become a major part of the Federal Office of Surface Mining; however, with the nomination of Mr. Joseph Pizarchik, I fear this promised and much needed reform will not happen. I work with Pennsylvania coalfield communities directly affected by the PA DEP policies overseen by Mr. Pizarchik. I believe it is important for the Committee to hear real-life concerns from those directly affected.
I remain hopeful that President Obama and Secretary Salzar will uphold their promises of reform, but I am disappointed in this nominee, as I don't believe Mr. Pizarchik represents those promises.

July Meeting Update

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:17:08 -0400

Dear ACT team and folks interested in the proposed power plant-
We had a great turn out for our July 23rd meeting. Note that going forward ACT will meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7pm. The location will change each time, but we will notify you by email. Please mark your calendars! At each meeting, we advance all of our projects.

Check out our new website!! It is still under development but Dan Karaczun has spent significant volunteer time to construct this for us...many thanks!
www.actionforchangetoday.org

ACT has 3 major lines of active projects:

Liberty Groves Project
This is a project aimed at honoring our military and helping the environment. We will plant 7 historically significant trees to honor local service men and women from each branch of the armed forces. Currently raising funds for the Liberty Grove at the new park near Donaldson Elementary and looking for a fall planting. Please contact Frank Blaskowitz at blaskow@verizon.net if you'd like to help. We are going to have team members in front of IKEA on Sunday August 9 from 1-5pm to seek donations. Please contact Frank if you can participate in this or if you would be willing to approach some businesses to seek donations.

Proposed Robinson Power Plant
As you may know, ACT sponsored a community Information Forum about the proposed plant and after extensive fact-finding, took the stance that this plant as proposed poses significant threat to the health and well being of our community and residents. We are taking a number of actions to raise awareness about the proposed plant and seek to have North Fayette and surrounding community's well being considered. Here's what you can do in the immediate future:
1. Come to the next North Fayette Supervisors meeting to express concern:
2. Email the North Fayette Supervisors at question@north-fayette.com to express your concerns
3. Attend the next Findlay Township Supervisors meeting to express concern: Wed Aug 12 at 7pm at Findlay Community Center
4. Attend the next West Allegheny School Board meeting to express concern: Wed August 19 at 7pm at Donaldson Elementary School
5. Write to your elected officials and/or a letter to the editor of local papers expressing health, environmental, and property value concerns for our community as a result of the Robinson Power Plant--let me know if you need some help in drafting a letter:
• Governor Edward Rendell, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717)787-2500
• County Executive Dan Onorato, Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 101, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 350-6500
• US Sen Arlen Specter, 425 Sixth Ave. Suite 1450, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 644-3400
• US Senator Robert Casey, 425 Sixth Ave. Suite 2490, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412)803-7370
• US Congressman Michael Doyle, 225 Ross Street 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412)261-5091
• US Congressman Tim Murphy, 504 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 (412)344-5583
• State Sen. John Pippy, 1009 Beaver Grade Rd. Suite 210, Moon Township, PA 15108 (412) 262-2260
• State Sen Barry Stout, 1024 Route 519, Eighty Four, PA 15330 (724)225-5400
• State Rep Mark Mustio, 1009 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 220, Moon Township, PA 15108 (412) 262-3780
• State Rep. Jesse White, 3855 Millers Run Road, Cecil, PA 15321 (724) 746-3677
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette- no more than 250 words- Letters to the Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222 or letters@post-gazette.com
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review- no more than 200 words- Letters to the Editor, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, D. L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St. 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 or opinion@tribweb.com
• Washington Observer-Reporter- Editorial Page Editor, Observer REporter, 122 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 or fax 724-225-2077
6. Be prepared to drop everything and attend a DEP informal conference about the plant's mining permit sometime in the next month or so...we will have 2 weeks notice
7. Volunteer to help us distribute flyers about the informal conference--contact Jo Post if you are willing to do this- jopost1@comcast.net

North Fayette Community Days

ACT will have a booth at Community Days on Fri August 7 (6pm-10pm) and Sat August 8 (4pm-11pm). We will have a kid's activity and will be raising money both for ACT operating expenses by selling Mums from Janoski's and for the Liberty Groves project through donations. In addition, we will have educational information about the proposed power plant. Please stop by and see us! IF you are interested in volunteering to staff the booth with us, please contact Emily at we3bilovi@aol.com.

Hope you all are well-

Jen