This 15-Megawatt wood-fired power plant in Weed, CA would burn the equivalent of 250 cords of wood per day. Because this power plant is located extremely close to neighborhoods and schools, it will cause a significant increase in harmful air pollution. Winds will carry this air pollution into nearby communities as well. Fueling it requires dozens of diesel-burning heavy trucks every day traveling from distant forests through adjacent communities. These trucks will emit cancer causing, obnoxious diesel fumes along these routes. This project creates a serious human health problem that the EIR fails to warn the public about that extends beyond Weed.
This power plant's air pollutants include significant amounts of nitrogen oxides ("NOx"). NOx is typically created during combustion processes. NOx may result in numerous adverse health effects, including aggravation of chronic respiratory disease and respiratory symptoms. NOx reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form nitric acid and related particles. Human health concerns include effects on breathing and the respiratory system, damage to lung tissue, and premature death. Small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, and aggravate existing heart disease. New evidence indicates that it may affect the immune system. In the air, NOx reacts readily with common organic chemicals and even ozone, to form a wide variety of toxic products, some of which may cause biological mutations and cancer. Ground-level ozone (smog) is formed when NOx and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight. Children, people with lung diseases such as asthma, and people who work or exercise outside are susceptible to adverse effects such as damage to lung tissue and reduction in lung function. Ozone can be transported by wind currents and cause health impacts far from original sources. Siskiyou County already does not meet California health standards for ozone. Adding more ozone pollution from this power plant will indirectly increase the costs other Siskiyou County businesses will have to bear. Impacts from ozone also include damaged vegetation and reduced crop yields. Nitrate particles and nitrogen dioxide can also block the transmission of light, creating a haze that reduces visibility of scenic mountain views.
In spite of these dangers, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors literally ignored an important report submitted by an air quality expert. Dr. Petra Pless described numerous ways this Project's EIR violated state laws. This report shows the EIR failed to identify and adequately mitigate significant adverse air quality risks. The EIR ignores much of the Project's air pollutant increases. The EIR did not disclose these increases would exceed Siskiyou County standards. It underestimated the Project's emissions of harmful particulates and carbon monoxide. It understated the health risks of a number of toxic air contaminants. The EIR failed to evaluate the Project's acute non-cancer risks. Most importantly, the EIR did not even disclose that additional mitigation for Project NOx emissions is available, is feasible, and is used on similar power plants elsewhere. An EIR must provide such information because the public has the right to know in advance if people will be exposed to such dangerous air pollution. This report is available below.
Letter from CA Air Resources board recommending superior pollution control technology that reduces air pollutants by more than double what Roseburg has proposed. - Download PDF
Air quality analysis by Dr. Petra Pless shows that the project does not meet air quality standards. - Download PDF
Ecology Center Comments re: Air Permit to Siskiyou Co. Air Pollution Control District, 1-22-09. - Download PDF
Detailed information on low emission RSCR technology - Download PDF
