Mancos Residents,
The Concerned Residents of Riverside (CROR) have not, and do not, advocate for closing of the Western Excelsior facility. Any suggestion otherwise is false.
The Town Board was given outdated and incomplete information regarding the Fugitive Particulate Emission Plan approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This draft plan is one part of an Air Pollution Emission Notice, and Permit. A public comment period will follow release of the draft Plan, Notice, and Permit (PNP). The final PNP will incorporate public comments. When CROR explained this, the Board agreed not to approve the incomplete draft Plan. The Board further agreed enforcement actions may be necessary against Western Excelsior.
CROR then addressed the other options. CROR objected to spending taxpayer money for the benefit of a private corporation which would not result in any appreciable reduction in plant emissions. Another objection was paying to relocate or purchase the plant. This would solve the problem, but no source for the millions of dollars required was suggested. The final "Do Nothing" option was an insult to the multiyear efforts of resident of Riverside to stop plant emissions.
All options failed to include air quality monitoring. Western Excelsior emits particulates smaller than 10 microns. These emissions have occurred for over 30 years. Fine particles can cause premature death, heart attacks, heart arrhythmia, aggravate asthma, increase coughing and breathing difficulties, decrease lung function. <http://epa.gov/pm/health.html> Seniors and young children are most likely to be effected. Western Excelsior has refused to provide air quality monitoring. This is CROR's greatest concern, but the board has refused to request the CDPHE include monitoring as a part of the permit process. Contrast the Boards inaction with the immediate response to the Red Arrow Mill remediation. Despite the state Health Departments assurance there was little health risk, the Board directed the Town Administrator to take "any and all actions necessary to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of Mancos."
The Board's current lack of response is endangering the health of all the residents of Mancos.
Contact your Board members. Tell them to protect you and your families health by requiring Western Excelsior begin immediate air quality monitoring.
Chip Tuthill, chairman of Concerned Residents of Riverside
Mancos, Colo.
