NH needs to do more to protect citizens from Turnkey Landfill in Rochester: Letters
NH needs to do more to protect citizens from Turnkey Landfill in Rochester
Sept. 11 − To the Editor:
Good news! The NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) is receiving $7,640,000 this year to address PFAS contamination in our water.
Bad news! PFAS and other chemicals also spread through the air, harming lungs and causing cancer. Our DES very carefully follows federal rules monitoring air quality. But many of these are limited and outdated. (That is why large companies like St. Gobain and Casella Waste Management choose to locate in New Hampshire, where standards are looser.) DES knows it can do more, but is holding to minimal federal standards.
At the moment, DES is working on air permits to allow more pollution from Turnkey Landfill (in Rochester, NH), now expanding to accept 1.4-1.5 million more tons of waste annually. This facility is a major source for substances that harm our health, such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and benzene. People living nearby smell the pollution, and every breath brings Turnkey emissions into their lungs and bloodsteam.
· The new permit will monitor only formaldehyde and methane. It will not monitor another 100 air toxic pollutants, including PFAS, that it is capable of monitoring.
· DES has not tested to establish a PFAS baseline.
· The permit doesn’t provide adequate provisions for monitoring or upgrading to “Best Available Technology.”
· The permit doesn’t provide for reliable low-cost monitors to measure pollutants such as particulates, that travel to surrounding communities.
· The permit does not include recent standards that have been set for diesel emissions, even as trucking will increase by 3,000 weekly trips. (Truck emissions can now be limited with installation of an upgrade.)
DES has the knowledge and legal authority to protect our air. Will they, and the governor they serve, insist on their right to keep to minimal, outdated standards? Email DES Air Division craig.wright@des.nh.gov to protect our air, not permit pollution.
Susan Richman
Durham
Trump is not the victim
Sept. 11 − To the Editor:
Not all truths are self-evident, it appears. For example, if you were to ask a criminally-minded, habitual liar if he's really and truly a liar, would you trust him to tell you the truth?
Your level of trust in such a person would, of course, depend on the accuracy of your perceptions. If your perceptions were distorted, whether due to your ignorance or your ego, you might trust the liar and believe he's an honest, morally upright man who deserves your praise and admiration.
Trump's self-serving narrative that he's the innocent victim of an evil and wide-spread conspiracy on the part of liberals trying to harm his noble and virtuous political ambitions, truth be told, rings hollow and untrue. Such a narrative is clearly a product of either his deliberate dishonesty or delusional denial.
No matter the frequency or severity of the criminal mischief Trump gets into, he has an uncanny ability to play the victim role to the hilt. One would hope most Americans could see through it, yet he continues to gain sympathy and support from millions of MAGA-hatted Americans who seem completely unaware of their own distorted perceptions.
As Edward R. Murrow ended his news analysis, I, too, now say, "Good night, and good luck." We need all the luck we can get.
Alex J. Boros
Rochester
Lack of mental health care in NH tied to state's aversion to taxes
Sept. 12 − To the Editor:
It is all connected. One thing follows the other.
Dozens of people have been housed for any number of days in local hospital Emergency Rooms awaiting placement in some kind of mental health treatment facility.
That is because there are a very few beds available throughout the state where someone suffering mental illness can be treated on any kind of long-term basis.
That is because the NH legislature, over a number of years, has failed to properly fund any kind of adequate and coordinated statewide program of treatment facilities − in-patient, out-patient, home care, appropriate medications available at affordable cost.
That is because it has been considered to be a seemingly sacred commitment that, no matter how deficient we may be in providing state-funded services, not only with regard to mental health, but also juvenile detention facilities, prison and law enforcement staffing, school building aid, and other vital programs, we must maintain the "NH Advantage" of declining business taxes and no estate or income tax. It is all connected.
No-one likes getting a tax bill. But it is a proven way of paying for necessary governmental services. It can be fashioned in such a way to guarantee that the tax "burden", if you will, will fall more properly on those with the ability to pay. NH's present system doesn't do that. Those with the highest incomes/ net worth might pay a high real estate tax, but they can afford to do that. Those with lower incomes − the elderly, most retirees, young couples, renters who earn something less than a living wage − pay a higher price by way of local property taxes, and all too often those taxes go to pay for what are, or should be, state obligations. As a result, many local needs are often not fully met, or are postponed, and state programs − like the non-existent residential mental health facilities, are not available either.
The uncounted monetary costs and emotional burdens − to the affected hospitals, local law enforcement, and involved families − are perhaps beyond measure.
It will soon be election season and an opportunity will be presented to send people to Concord who will be willing to learn from the past and make a meaningful change for the future.
It is all connected. We are all connected.
Anthony McManus
Dover
The perils of plastic bags
Sept. 12 − To the Editor:
Plastic bags have become an integral part of our daily lives, but their convenience comes at a significant cost to our environment.
Plastic bags are lightweight, durable, and cost-effective, making them a popular choice for packaging and carrying items. However, their disposable nature is a major concern. Once discarded, plastic bags often end up in landfills or littering our landscapes. These bags can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil and water during the process.
Perhaps the most alarming consequence of plastic bags is their impact on wildlife. Animals often mistake these bags for food, leading to ingestion and, ultimately, death. Marine life is particularly vulnerable, with plastic bags clogging our oceans and threatening marine ecosystems. These bags break down into microplastics, which enter the food chain, potentially harming human health as well.
Moreover, the production of plastic bags is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of oil and energy. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates climate change, further underscoring the need for alternatives.
To combat the plastic bag problem, several solutions have emerged. Many countries and municipalities have implemented bans or taxes on single-use plastic bags, encouraging the use of reusable alternatives like cloth or paper bags. Furthermore, businesses are increasingly adopting eco-friendly packaging options, reducing their reliance on plastic.
Individuals can also play a crucial role by adopting sustainable habits, such as carrying reusable bags when shopping and properly disposing of plastic bags in recycling bins.
In conclusion, plastic bags may offer convenience, but their environmental toll is too great to ignore. We must recognize the urgency of this issue and take collective action to reduce our reliance on plastic bags. By embracing alternatives and adopting responsible consumption habits, we can contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.
Evangeline Alexander
Dover
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Stop air pollution increase from Turnkey Landfill Rochester: Letters
