12-10-2007, 06:53 AM
1. H-Power facility has required scheduled and unscheduled down time for maintenance and repairs. The landfill got the stuff and is now overflowing.
2. Do we know there has been no environmental health problem at H-Power? No. In fact, for all of the talk about incineration being so safe, there are no epidemiological studies of 'host' communities to verify those claims. Wouldn't the incinerator sellers be keen to use such information to back up their claims?
There is research in Japan that has shown that students at elementary schools within two miles of a garbage incinerator have higher incidence of sore throat, stomach upset, headaches, and overall illness. Keaukaha Elementary School is about one mile from the proposed South Hilo site.
3. No one can say with certainty that a Hilo incinerator would cause environmental health problems, or that it would not! What is known, is that many other incinerators have and the consequences are long term and fatal.
4. Most importantly, and with absolutely nothing to do with NIMBY, is that burning garbage is not necessary. There are other alternatives proven to work for less money and with a lot less environmental health risks.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park