Tell the Truth is an organization that tracks public policy debates in an effort to ensure the public is getting accurate and truthful information. Tell the Truth recently investigated the debate around the Haystack Landing Project. Tell the Truth concluded numerous statements by Moms for Clean Air were inaccurate or misleading the public. One of the conclusions Tell the Truth published in their letter to Moms for Clean Air was ”The statements on the Moms for Clean Air website regarding health risks to children are an example of the scare tactics too often found in the debate around the Dutra Asphalt Plant.”

Tell the Truth asked Moms for Clean Air to “…immediately correct the information referred to below so the public will not continue to be misled.” Hopefully, with public pressure, Moms for Clean Air leaders will correct these and other false and misleading statements on their website and in publications.

The following is the letter Tell the Truth sent to Moms for Clean Air. Please contact the following leaders from Moms for Clean Air and ask them to remove these misleading statements from their website: Ilka@momsforcleanair.net, Sheri@momsforcleanair.net

Below is the letter sent to Moms for Clean Air:

Dear Mom’s for Clean Air,

I am writing to you as the Executive Director of Tell The Truth regarding a number of complaints we have fielded from residents about the content which you have posted on the “Moms for Clean Air” website concerning Dutra’s proposed asphalt plant at Haystack Landing. As we researched the claims, Tell The Truth found some of the statements on your website to be either be false, irrelevant or misleading.

In an effort to ensure truth and accuracy in local public policy debate, we will be publishing the results of our investigation, and are asking you to immediately correct the information referred to below so that the public will not continue to be misled.

Misleading Statement #1: (Found at www.momsforcleanair.net)
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “Asphalt processing and asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, and toluene. Exposure to these air toxics may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems and skin irritation.” http://www.epa.gov/EPA‐AIR/2001/November/Day‐21/a28192.htm

FACT:
The quote above refers to a Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling in 2001, pertaining to asphalt processing and asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities. The plant proposed by Dutra is classified by the EPA as an asphalt concrete manufacturing facility and is regulated as such. On February 12, 2002, the EPA delisted the category Asphalt Concrete Manufacturing from its list of major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP).

The 2/12/02 EPA decision states “In today’s notice, we are deleting the source category Asphalt Concrete Manufacturing because available data indicates that there are no major sources [of hazardous air pollutants]. This source category was initially listed in July 1992 because at the time, we believed there were major sources in the category.”

The delisting of an industry category as a major source of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) is a rare event. But extensive testing of the actual emissions from asphalt concrete plants (including those using recycled asphalt pavement), led to the EPA’s conclusion that “no asphalt concrete manufacturing facility has the potential to emit HAP [hazardous air pollutants] approaching major source levels.” http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA‐AIR/2002/February/Day‐12/a3348.htm

Conclusion:
The statement on the Moms for Clean Air website is irrelevant to the Dutra Asphalt Plant debate as it refers to a different industry.

Misleading Statement #2: (Found at www.momsforcleanair.net)
The proposed Dutra Asphalt Plant at Haystack Landing must be relocated to a safer environment away from our homes, schools, wetlands and businesses. If you could prevent a child from getting asthma, bronchitis, developmental delays or cancer, would you?

There are 22 schools within a 2 mile radius and 42 schools within a 3 mile radius. Thousands of children visit Shollenberger Park for educational purposes yearly, which is 525 feet from the asphalt plant and its potential pollution. Children are especially susceptible to hazardous air pollutants.

FACT:
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) conducted a Health Risk Screening Analysis (HRSA) for the project which analyzed total emissions from the plant itself along with the related truck and barge traffic. The HRSA found that emissions posed no significant health risk, even to those who live in the three residences on the west bank of the Petaluma River, within 100‐200 yards of the proposed plant. That conclusion was reached using assumptions that those residents would be exposed to emissions 24 hours a day for 70 years. http://www.petalumaasphaltplant.com/downloads/BAAQMD‐Health‐Risk‐Assessment‐10‐9‐2008.pdf

Since the HRSA was published in October of 2008, numerous mitigation measures and conditions of approval have been incorporated into the project to further minimize health risks. These include the full enclosure of the asphalt production process and two air filtration systems. It is not reasonable to imply that children attending schools 2‐3 miles away would suffer health risks not incurred by the adjacent residents with their 70 years of constant exposure.

Conclusion:
The statements on the Moms for Clean Air website regarding health risks to children are an example of the scare tactics too often found in the debate about the Dutra Asphalt Plant. We are sending a similar letter to Dutra asking them to correct some information posted on their website which Tell The Truth has also found to be misleading. Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Jo Timmsen
Executive Director Tell The Truth