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July
14, 2003 |
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COMMENTS
ON;
Issues
of Concern re: Particulate
Matter (PM2.5) Air Quality Assessment |
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The
Rockland County Conservation Association (RCCA) believes that no community
should be considered
for the siting of electric generating plants where there is not a
recorded history of
the air quality. People do
not breathe averaged air, we breathe what is around us, one breath
at a time. It is for this reason that accurate data must
be obtained by ongoing monitoring. |
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The lack of monitoring
air quality in Rockland County, New York has been a long
standing concern of the RCCA.
Here ongoing air monitoring is not performed by New York State.
Yet this smallest
county in New York is host to multiple power plants and some of the
most heavily traveled roads and highways in the region. The assessments used for proposed power plants
under NYS Article X, in Rockland County used models of what were deemed
similar areas and conditions. There
were notable differences in the terrain and conditions of those compared
areas. Accurate recorded data of particulate matter levels must be available for a fair analysis. |
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A cumulative assessment
of the impact of all electric generating facilities in a region should be determined for the impact of particulate matter.
Of particular concern is during peak demand periods where peak
load generation is produced from additional sources. It is at these times that our air quality is
most compromised. Studies conducted
by scientists such
as Dr. George Thurston at NYU bear out the resulting health effects
of poor air quality. |
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Mortality rates and
health impacts related to air pollution are numerous. Data from areas where there are clusters
of air pollution related disease should be studied and given additional
attention to resulting impacts of siting power plants. Here again, Rockland County stands out for its
high breast cancer rates. |
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In order to have an
accurate assessment of a region a history of ongoing air monitoring
must be available to be considered for the siting of power
plants. The averages should
be based on peak demand
times and not overall averages. |
