CLNCC Monthly ZOOM Meeting: Guests, Lead-Free DE On Lead Sampling Testing In Schools; The Public Advocate On DPL Rates - 7PM Tuesday, January 17th

 

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 p.m. Tuesday, January 17th 

Join ZOOM Meeting

Election of Directors and Officers 2022-23 CONTINUED.

Civic League for New Castle County Zoom Meeting

Time: 7:00 PM EST January 17th 2022  

Topic :: The Fiasco of Lead Sampling Testing in Schools - How Does Division of Public Health Secretary Still Have A Job?

Experts :: Sarah Bucic MSN & Amy Roe Ph.D. 

Second Topic :: Exelon / DPL Close to Rolling blackouts on Christmas Eve - Did anyone hear about this?

Experts :: Delaware Public Advocate Andrew Slater 

Continuation of Annual Meeting :: Voting for slate as presented last month w adjustments .

1) Directors Ballot for 2022-23

Vic Singer

Donnie Shankie

Barry Shotwell

Chuck Stirk

Mike Johnston

2). Officers Ballot for 2022-2023

Chuck Stirk - President

Scot Sauer - Treasurer

Barry Shotwell - Secretary

Bill Dunn - 1st VP

Nancy Willing - 2nd VP 

Link :: https://tinyurl.com/2p8znsjt

Join CLNCC Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 898 692 4710

Passcode: 12345

https://tinyurl.com/2p8znsjt

Updated: Joint Legislative And Sunset Review Committee Petition To Address Childhood Lead Poisoning Programs, Meeting 11AM January 26th In Dover

 Update:

CLNCC supports the Lead-Free DE petition and initiative to get a reivew of State programs around childhood lead poisoning.  

Write to the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Meeting to ask for their help.  

Hybrid Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Meeting: 11 a.m. Thursday, January 26th Agenda and Livestream links HERE

Written public comments accepted at sunset@delaware.gov.

I sent this email to the committee on January 26th:

Dear members,

I signed onto a petition from Lead-Free DE that requests an evalutation from this committee on State programs that address childhood lead poisoning. The Civic League for New Castle County also takes this position.

I cannot be in Dover today to stand with Lead-Free Delaware on this issue, but please know these petition signatories are your constituents who need your help. Please consider this request at your meeting today.

Nancy

Nancy Willing

VP and Lobbyist

Civic League for NCC

https://legis.delaware.gov/MeetingNotice/32930

Alert from Lead-Free Delaware: Please sign.

Petition to the Joint Legislative and Sunset Review Committee

Following feedback and conversation about the current status of childhood lead poisoning in Delaware, Lead-Free Delaware is moving forward with a petition to the Joint Legislative and Sunset Review Committee to evaluate the State programs that address childhood lead poisoning.  

Please sign this petition no later than Friday, January 20.

Stay up to date on lead poisoning prevention in Delaware.

Join our email list: https://forms.gle/BxdyrPcfjDvbdByt8 

Find us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LeadFreeDelaware

Read our blog:  https://leadfreede.blogspot.com/

Updated: Join Delaware Riverkeeper Network For A Week Of Action To STOP LNG #DRBCNoLNG

Update: 

Watch The Delaware River Basin Commission LNG VOTE, Meeting 10:30AM Wednesday, December 9th #DRBCnoLNG!

Resolution by the Civic League for New Castle County and DelCOG: read it HERE. 

Speak up and speak out!

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is expected to hold a final vote this Wed., Dec. 9 at 10:30 am on the disastrous LNG export terminal proposed in Gibbstown, NJ. We need to show the DRBC Governors (and especially Governor Murphy) that the public is watching!  

There is no further opportunity for public comment on the Gibbstown LNG permit before the DRBC Commissioners address it during their Business Meeting. After the meeting, there is a public comment session where people who have signed up in advance can speak their mind (usually 2-3 minutes each). If you want to sign up you need to register for the Waiting List by 5pm on Tuesday (tomorrow, Dec. 8). 

Sign up here to make a public comment at the DRBC meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../business-meeting-of-the....  

The DRBC’s meeting is a virtual meeting due to COVID. The agenda for the meeting states that “possible” (their emphasis) action could be taken on the proposed Gibbstown LNG Export Terminal Dock 2. We do not know for certain – they could vote to disapprove, approve, or they may continue the “stay”. It’s even possible they will say nothing about it if their review is still underway. Even if you don’t sign up to speak afterwards, you can join the zoom meeting to watch what they do. 

It would be great if lots of us attend the meeting as witnesses - lots of people attending will make a strong statement in itself, even if you can’t speak or be seen. The number counter will go up as we all join the meeting and they will know  

THE PUBLIC WILL BE WATCHING!

Here is how to join the Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/97554950658

Webinar ID: 975 5495 0658

iPhone one-tap: +13017158592,,97554950658#

Telephone:+1 301-715-8592 

From the Delaware Riverkeeper Network ~

All this week, the

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

and coalition organizations are all banding together to fight the #GibbstownLNGexport terminal proposed for South Jersey. This extremely dangerous proposal pushed forward by the Trump administration to transport LNG by truck and rail, through dense urban areas puts many lives in harm's way. Not only would it endanger communities, but it also would have a detrimental impact on the Delaware River and exacerbate Climate Change conditions.

Please join us for a WEEK of ACTION to #StopLNGexport! Each day we will be using a different means to get the attention of the Governors of the Delaware River Basin Commission who'll have the final say on whether the project gets built. We need them to VOTE NO!

https://www.facebook.

com/events/3340147489417095

#stopLNG #NoLNGexport

Go to the Week of Action Facebook Event to see how to make a quick call (or two) to the Governors!

We are telling the Governors and the Army Corps, that, as watershed stewards for the DRBC, we expect them to protect the water, habitats, and communities of the Watershed rather than vote to serve the interests of a special interest that wants to exploit despite the devastating impacts and threats LNG entails. We are not a sacrifice zone and we will not tolerate environmental injustice!

THANK YOU for taking part in the Week of Action to STOP LNG.  

#DRBCNoLNG

DE Environmental Justice Network: Croda Violates Air Permit - Again! Public Information Session, 6PM Thursday, November 19th

 DE Environmental Justice Network: Croda Violates Air Permit - Again!

After having one of the largest releases of ethylene oxide (an explosive carcinogen) in the country in 2018 which resulted in the closure of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, Croda have again violated the conditions of their state air permits. The current violations include:

• Connecting an unpermitted source into an air pollution control device (scrubber)
• Exceeding the annual emission limit for ethylene oxide at the scrubber
• Failure to meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) removal efficiency at the scrubber
• Operation of an unpermitted source of ethylene oxide at a hot well, which collects and condenses vapors from the purification and vacuum distillation of crude ethylene glycol.

The Notice of Violation can be read here

While the Ethylene Oxide (EO) plant has since been shut-down, DNREC is working to determine a path forward to allow Croda to resume its operation, and if further enforcement actions are to be taken.

Plan to participate in DNREC's virtual information session at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 when DNREC will describe the violations and answer questions. The public may join the video meeting via WebEx USING THIS LINK

• Event number 173 655 4144
• Password CrodaInfoSession
• join by audio conference only by calling 408-418-9388.  

Additionally SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO DNREC NOW USING THIS LINK

DNREC must do a better job of oversight and accountability for this high hazard facility if they are allowed to continue operation. Please make your voices heard in the virtual meeting and/or your letter to DNREC.

Public Information Session: CRODA Air Quality Permit Violations

6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 19th

Join Meeting HERE

DNREC will hold a virtual public information session to describe air emission and equipment violations at the Croda facility and answer questions from the community.

DNREC has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Croda, Inc. for air emission and equipment violations associated with the operation of the ethylene oxide (EO) plant at Croda’s Cherry Lane Facility near New Castle.

An NOV is the first step in a process that can lead to DNREC taking further enforcement actions. DNREC is currently working from its regulatory purview to determine the path forward for Croda’s resuming operations at the EO plant.

Questions and comments from the public can also be sent to daqpermittinginfo@del

Join Online
Event Number: 173 655 4144
Password: CrodaInfoSession
Dial-in Number: 1-408-418-9388

Additional reading:

DNREC Issues Croda NOV for Air Quality Permit Violations

Croda issued Notice of Violation for emissions at New Castle-area's Cherry Lane Facility

Croda cited for more permit violations

Will Liquified Natural Gas And Other Flammable Hydrocarbons Be Exported Via The Delaware River? ZOOM Meeting 11:30-1 Monday August 24th

League of Women Voters of NCC:

Hot Topic - Will Liquified Natural Gas and Other Flammable Hydrocarbons be Exported Via the Delaware River?

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday, August 24th

Zoom Web Conference

Register HERE

In June 2019 Delawareans learned that Governor Carney had joined other Governors on the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in voting to allow Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and other flammable hydrocarbons to be shipped out of a port in New Jersey and down the Delaware River. Many of us were surprised and dismayed with concerns about safety and effects on global warming. 

The DRBC will soon be re-voting on this issue. 

Many groups in other states are actively opposing the project. 

Learn what they are doing and what you can do. 

A representative from Delaware Riverkeeper will provide background and Coralie Pryde will discuss concerns particular to Delaware. An open discussion of possible actions will follow. 

Send any questions for the speakers to Coralie Pryde at lwvncc@comcast.net

Register HERE

DNREC CRODA VIRTUAL Public Meeting 6PM Tomorrow; VIRTUAL Public Hearing, 6PM Tuesday, July 21st (RSVP)

Just last night, the New Castle County Council expressed its will in opposition to the CRODA facility expansion proposal by passing RESOLUTION NO. 20-154 (Read Full Text Below.)

Please consider attending the state's two upcoming online meetings regarding this expansion. Registration links can be found below.

DNREC Notice of Public Meeting and Hearing: Croda, Inc.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Air Quality, will conduct a public information meeting and a public hearing (Docket # 2020-P-A-0018) on the permit application and draft permit for Croda, Inc. (Croda).  Croda, having a facility at 315 Cherry Lane, New Castle, Delaware, has requested a federally enforceable 7 DE Admin. Code 1102 construction permit (APC-2020/0070-CONSTRUCTION (FE)) to add a 12,000 gallon drumming tank (Blend Drumming Tank C, Emission Unit 2) to existing Blend Tanks A and B at their facility.  The emission increase for the addition of Blend Tank C will be 0.36 ton per year (TPY) of volatile organic compounds (VOC) including 0.17 TPY hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) (primarily dioxane). 

Public Meeting 

A virtual public meeting will be held on the application on Thursday, July 16, 2020, beginning at 6:00 PM.  Please note – this meeting is being held for informational purposes only and is not part of the hearing record generated in this matter.Persons wishing to obtain additional information or ask questions about the permit application or draft permit may attend the virtual public information meeting.  Questions on the project, application, and/or draft permit should be submitted in advance of the meeting to allow the applicant and the Department to provide thorough responses.  Questions may be submitted by email to daqpermittinginfo@delaware.gov no later than July 6, 2020.  The public may attend this meeting via either webcast or phone – visit de.gov/dnrecmeetings for connection information to this meeting. 

Public Hearing 

A virtual public hearing will be held on the application and draft permit on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, beginning at 6:00 PM.  The public may attend this virtual hearing via either webcast or phone – visit de.gov/dnrechearings for connection information to this hearing.Please note that live comments will not be accepted during the virtual hearing.  Written comments may be submitted to the Hearing Officer via the online comment form at dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/publichearings/comment-form/, via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.go, or via USPS to the below address. The Department will accept public comment through Friday, July 31, 2020.

Lisa A. Vest, Hearing Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901

For additional information on the above matters, including how to connect, and to review this application and draft permit, visit de.gov/dnrecmeetings and de.gov/dnrechearings or contact Tracy Mattson, Division of Air Quality, 100 W Water Street, Suite 6A, Dover, DE 19904, by phone at (302) 739-9402, or by email at daqpermittinginfo@delaware.gov 

Although the deadline has passed for submitted questions ahead of tomorrow's informational meeting, CLNCC would expect that DNREC will address the issues as put forth in the Council's Resolution (read it below.)

Public Comment on the Air Permit will be accepted at the July 21st hearing and in writing through July 31st.

CRODA VIRTUAL Public Meeting 6PM July 16th - Register for tomorrow's meeting by clicking onto the JOIN ONLINE button below.

https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/events/virtual-public-information-meeting-croda-air-quality-construction-permit/
Join OnlineEvent Number: 129 027 7856Password: 4vuPu33Qc7bDial-in Number: 1.408.418.9388

CRODA VIRTUAL Public Hearing 6PM July 21st - Register for Tuesday's meeting by clicking onto the JOIN ONLINE button below.

https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/events/virtual-public-hearing-croda-7-de-admin-code-1102-construction-permit/ 

Join Online 

Event Number: 129 583 8502, Password: i72AmJbb2pQ, Dial-in Number: 1-408-418-9388

NCC Council RESOLUTION NO. 20-154

IN OPPOSITION TO CRODA INC.’S PERMIT APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO EXPAND PRODUCTION AT CRODA’S ATLAS POINT FACILITY

Introduced by: Mr. Street, Mr. Carter
Date of introduction: July 14, 2020

WHEREAS, Croda, Inc. operates its Atlas Point Facility at Cherry Lane, New Castle, Delaware; and

WHEREAS, Croda is closely situated to densely populated neighborhoods and heavily traveled highways; and

WHEREAS, at the Atlas Point Facility, Croda manufactures surfactants, which are substances that act as binding agents in other products; Croda uses corn-based ethanol to make Ethylene Oxide, which is the chemical needed to create the binding agents; and

WHEREAS, Ethylene Oxide is an extremely flammable gas, is considered to be a human carcinogen, and exposure to the chemical can cause a series of medical problems including skin rashes, breathing problems, and, in severe cases, coma; and

WHEREAS, in its relatively brief history in New Castle, Croda’s activities have been a cause for concern – specifically, Croda has had numerous reported Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (“DNREC”) environmental violations, which have included:

• unpermitted releases of highly flammable Ethylene Oxide, which threatened the health and safety of surrounding neighborhoods and anyone passing by or near the facility, and on at least one occasion was coupled with Croda’s failure to timely report the incident to DNREC and a shutdown of the Delaware Memorial Bridge;
• exceeding non-methane hydrocarbons emissions limits;
• failure to regularly inspect or maintain inspection records for storage areas;
• failure to receive necessary approval of its plans (for stormwater and sediment)before it commenced construction;
•  violations of best management practices related to air pollution;
• improper marking on hazardous waste containers;
• failure to make a timely application for permit renewals;
• failure to monitor or record certain visible emissions; and
• failure to provide the required monitoring of erosion and sediment controls;

WHEREAS, in response to one of Croda’s unpermitted Ethylene Oxide releases, in November, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
found that Croda’s plant had “deficient emergency action and response plans,” failed to train employees on how to manage an Ethylene Oxide leak, did not develop procedures for emergency
responders to manage firewater during such a leak, did not activate the emergency alarm system, and also failed to provide employees with respiratory protection; and

WHEREAS, despite the serious concerns identified above, Croda has submitted an application for a permit (APC-2020/0070-CONSTRUCTION (FE)) to install two new tanks at its facility: a 12,000 gallon drumming tank (Blend Drumming Tank C, Emission Unit 2) to existing Blend Tanks A and B at the facility, and a 23,000 gallon storage tank for Atplus Destiny final product; and

WHEREAS, Croda’s Permit Application discloses that, if its application is approved, this will result in an increase in emissions of volatile organic compounds (“VOCs) and hazardous air
pollutants (“HAPs”); specifically, the Permit Application states that the emission increase for the addition of Blend Tank C will be 0.36 ton per year (TPY) of VOCs including 0.17 TPY of hazardous air pollutants (primarily 1,4-dioxane, which the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency consider as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen); and

WHEREAS, Croda’s Permit Application explains that, although Croda intends to comply with its current VOC emissions limitation, its equipment nonetheless will vent hazardous materials directly into the atmosphere, and that emissions data will not be recorded by a continuous emission monitoring system; and

WHEREAS, given Croda’s history of environmental violations, the proposed Permit Application - which admittedly would increase pollutant emissions, and thereby potentially endanger local residents’ well being - is alarming; and

WHEREAS, given the above, Councilman Street, on behalf of his constituency, requested that DNREC schedule a public hearing regarding Croda’s Permit Application; and

WHEREAS, in his letter to DNREC requesting such a hearing, Councilman Street objected to Croda’s Permit Application based on several grounds, including:

1. Croda’s troubling environmental history, including the November, 2018, Ethylene Oxide leak that led to Croda’s shutdown for almost one year; 

2. Many local residents opposed DNREC’s decision to allow Croda to re-start operations after its most recent Ethylene Oxide release and, based on its history, continue to question Croda’s operations and its attention to safety and concern for residents’ health and well being; consequently, the addition of the proposed new tanks will only compound neighbors’ anger and anxiety about their well being; 

3. Croda’s emergency notifications and procedures continue to be insufficient to ensure the safety of the facility’s neighbors; and 

4. Croda’s operations pose an imminent danger to local residents and all people that use the Delaware Memorial Bridge and nearby roadways.

WHEREAS, in response to Councilman Street’s request, DNREC has scheduled a virtual meeting on July 16, 2020, to provide information only about the project and the Permit Application, with a virtual public hearing on the Permit Application and draft permit to be held on July 21, 2020.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by and for the County Council of New Castle County that County Council hereby opposes Croda Inc.’s Permit Application pending before the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and its related request to expand production at its Atlas Point Facility in New Castle, Delaware.

Adopted by County Council of
New Castle County on: 7/14/20