Village Voice

Village Voice

September 13, 2008

Folks, we are progressing slowly, but surely.  We must get DNREC to act on our behalf!!  They have been trying to convince us that we are dealing with a NUISANCE DUST when we know it is much more than that.  DNREC's job is to protect our QUALITY OF LIFE and they are not fulfilling their obligations to NORTH CLAYMONT or all of CLAYMONT for that matter.

Earth Tech, a firm hired by Claymont Steel at DNREC's request to get Claymont Steel up to par and correct the dust problem has not been moving very quickly.  Four monitors were to be placed in the area.  Earth Tech continuously delayed the project and placed them in locations that we believe would not show a true picture of what we are seeing.  Their final locations were identified as the Claymont Community Center, Knollwood Community Center (southern most area), Woodshaven Kruse Park (Darley Road) and Tri-State Mall (roof of Tri-State Liquors). We were told the last one was placed at the end of June.  They were supposed to take readings every 6 days and that we would receive copies of the lab reports.  We have not received copies of these reports.  The last response to our request was that they are being evaluated.  We are receiving minimal responses to our complaints, if at all.

We have received a grant from Claymont Steel for $50,000 in lieu of fines from DNREC.  The Clean Air Committee of the Claymont Coalition interviewed three companies and chose Global Community Monitoring to help us because of their effectiveness with other companies and similar situations, globally.

July 10, 2008, we started to take swipes from the different neighborhoods.  These were mailed to an EPA approved Lab (Columbia Analytical Services) in Kelso Washington, July 14, 2008.  We had results back August 11, 2008.  These reports gave us a fingerprint identifying the components as coming from Claymont Steel (MSDS*).  July 25, 2008 we proceeded to place two monitors in Knollwood and Analine Village; these were each run for three 24 hour periods.  The filters were sent to the lab on July 30, 2008.  We received the results Aug. 28, 2008.  We found we are getting more manganese than is allowed by EPA standards:  Analine Village's report showed 34 per cent more manganese than allowed.  We shared these reports with DNREC and have received no feedback.

We started documenting our complaints in November 2003.  DNREC sent officers out and our local Environmental Engineer from DNREC shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know where it was coming from and made no attempt to find out.  Claymont Steel's Environmental Engineer blamed it on Sun Oil.  Carol Sloan from Sun Oil came and took a sample back to their lab.  The results were back in four weeks, identifying the components that were reflected in Claymont Steel's MSDS report.  MSDS is the report sent to the EPA...  We've been more than patient and need immediate action.  This problem is correctable; it's been done at other steel mills. 

You have to call DNREC whenever you see dust, hear excessive noise or smell odors; it doesn't matter if these incidents occur everyday, or multiple times in a day, YOU HAVE TO CALL!  Because your neighbor calls, it is not enough.  DNREC is supposed to log these calls and keep a record.  Right now there are only a handful of residents complaining and we believe that DNREC hasn't received enough calls to take serious action.  The DNREC Enforcement officers are doing a great job. They are logging the calls and when the calls are reviewed, they are put into file #13.  PLEASE CALL AND KEEP CALLING!!!

1-800-662-8802

This is a 24/7 hot line number for reporting incidents.  We must also call our elected officials and let them know we are not happy about their lack of attention to our problems. Sen. Cloutier has been very supportive and is working with us, we appreciate her support!! These are serious problems concerning the health of our children, ourselves, vegetation, critters and destruction of our personal property. We should not have to form committees and volunteer to do DNREC's work taking time away from our families, but we have.  Please help us by calling your elected officials.

DNREC Air Quality, Mgr.  James Werner, 302-739-9400, james.werner@state.de.us

NCCO Pres., Chris Coons, 302-395-5102, ccoons@co.new-castle.de.us

Councilman, John Cartier, 302-395-8348, jjcartier@co.newcastle.de.us

Representative, Robert Valihura, 302-577-8723, valihura@aol.com

Senator, Cathy Cloutier, 302-577-8714, CloutierCathy@aol.com

Senator, Joe Biden, 302-573-6345, Senator@Biden.senate.gov

Senator, Tom Carper, 302-573-6291, Carper.Senate.gov (via web Page)

Representative, Mike Castle, 302-428-1902, Delaware@mail.house.gov

Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, 800-292-9570, www.de.gov

We would appreciate it if you would make out a pollution log when you call a complaint into DNREC.  This will enable us to know how many complaints are called in and from what neighborhood.  We are keeping spreadsheets and documenting all incidents.  This will help us place monitors at critical areas. For more information and a copy of the log please contact

claymont4cleanair@verizon.net

UNLESS WE COMPLAIN LOUD, CLEAR and CONTINUOUSLY, THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY.  YOU MUST CALL IN YOUR OWN COMPLAINT EVERY TIME YOU SEE OR HEAR SOMETHING!!!!

Dee Whildin, Coordinator, Claymont Clean Air Committee