Downloadable pdf documents that you can print and share with others, put in your store windows.
These are the public notices regarding the proposed silicon smelter plant in Newport / Pend Oreille county:
Newport / Pend Oreille New Risk Alert
Residents of Newport / Pend Oreille County Public Notice
Friday, June 9, 2017
Thursday, June 8, 2017
New Silicon Smelter Plagued With Toxic Fumes, Odors and Unhappy Residents
Read about what other residents have belatedly discovered about silicon smelting operations!
The re-proposed smelter location for the Newport, Washington area will have a dramatic, detrimental effect upon local residents. This is exactly what residents in Helguvik, Iceland discovered (full article linked)!
Repeated exposure to silicon smelting fumes and particulate matter affects workers and residents health. There are also toxic chemicals and compounds stored and produced, dust and fugitive fumes. THIS IS THE TERRIBLE SECRET you are not being told and the reason why there has already been underhanded efforts to place a silicon smelter in Pend Oreille county.
Newport residents must act now! You must resist this destructive plan for Pend Oreille county. The few jobs this plant will offer is NOT worth the health of every resident in the area! Most of those jobs will go to outsiders hired to work there anyway (skilled and experienced workers in this type of operation).
The promise of "jobs" is a red herring (false claim) for local workers. But the risk of damaging the health of residents, workers, wildlife, air and water quality isn't - it's fact. It will also hurt tourism, property values, impact traffic and congestion on local roads, highways and train tracks.
Get the facts! The proposed silicon smelter in Newport or anywhere in Pend Oreille county will be a disaster for those who live here. Don't let a Canadian company dump their toxic waste upon our heads! They can't find a location that will accept this - and with good reason! It was even rejected in Canada! Then Usk, WA, then Addy, WA and now they're trying to bring it here, in Newport, WA!
Do not let this happen - but you must get involved. Rebel, Resist and Refuse! Also RECALL Mike Manus, District 2 Commissioner for his position supporting this proposal.
The re-proposed smelter location for the Newport, Washington area will have a dramatic, detrimental effect upon local residents. This is exactly what residents in Helguvik, Iceland discovered (full article linked)!
The first start-up was in mid-November. Almost immediately, residents of Reykjanesbaer started complaining of odour pollution, smoke and dust. Some residents had respiratory problems such as burning sensations and irritation while others pointed out that if odour from the plant could reach them, so could pollutants. Besides CO2, the plant will mostly emit sulphur dioxide, but also nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2 and NOx) and particulate matter.
The company acknowledged that it had not provided residents with sufficient information, and later admitted that it had decided not to use special filters for fear of damaging them.
At a heated residents’ meeting, safety and environmental officer Kristleifur Andresson explained that the odour came from burning timber at a low temperature to dry out the furnace and bake the electrode before turning on the electricity. This was a one-off situation and would not happen at normal operating temperatures, he said.
But that is a simplified explanation. Sigfusson told IDN: “Repeated breakdowns in the system led to many start-up attempts which should only have happened once, while inferior-quality woodchips to heat up the furnace in the first place, to bring it up to the correct temperature, produced a burning odour.” When in full production, four furnaces will be in operation, although now only one is operating.
The Environment Agency has the plant under what it calls “intensive care” because of the many incidents – including at least one serious work-related accident – in the short time it has been operating. In less than two months, the Environment Agency and the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health have between them recorded 29 incidents at the plant.
In what was seen as a cover-up, video footage was revealed in early January by the investigative newspaper Stundin of smoke arising from the plant in the middle of the night. The company responded by saying that the emission was amorphous silica, which is harmless.
CEO Helgi Thorhallsson admitted at the residents’ meeting that although he had worked with silicon smelters in several countries, including China, Indonesia and Norway, he had never been present when a furnace was started up. However, the company has now taken on a number of temporary foreign workers who have worked in silicon plants overseas and will stay until the initial problems have been sorted out, and Andresson said that they will also be on hand if problems arise afterwards.
Sigfusson hopes for the best, but warns that the silicon plant “obviously has to ensure pollution protection and that pollution, either bad odours or pollutants, is not carried to residents. If this is not possible, its operating licence must be revoked, as it is not in line with the original information on which the operating licence was based.”
In November, local residents started a petition against the building of the Thorsil plant, on the basis of their experience with United Silicon.Amorphous silica is NOT harmless! It's very dangerous to people and animals and is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
Repeated exposure to silicon smelting fumes and particulate matter affects workers and residents health. There are also toxic chemicals and compounds stored and produced, dust and fugitive fumes. THIS IS THE TERRIBLE SECRET you are not being told and the reason why there has already been underhanded efforts to place a silicon smelter in Pend Oreille county.
Newport residents must act now! You must resist this destructive plan for Pend Oreille county. The few jobs this plant will offer is NOT worth the health of every resident in the area! Most of those jobs will go to outsiders hired to work there anyway (skilled and experienced workers in this type of operation).
The promise of "jobs" is a red herring (false claim) for local workers. But the risk of damaging the health of residents, workers, wildlife, air and water quality isn't - it's fact. It will also hurt tourism, property values, impact traffic and congestion on local roads, highways and train tracks.
Get the facts! The proposed silicon smelter in Newport or anywhere in Pend Oreille county will be a disaster for those who live here. Don't let a Canadian company dump their toxic waste upon our heads! They can't find a location that will accept this - and with good reason! It was even rejected in Canada! Then Usk, WA, then Addy, WA and now they're trying to bring it here, in Newport, WA!
Do not let this happen - but you must get involved. Rebel, Resist and Refuse! Also RECALL Mike Manus, District 2 Commissioner for his position supporting this proposal.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
WARNING!!! - Newport WA Now Being Considered As The New Location of Toxic Silicon Smelter!
WARNING!!! - Newport WA Now Being Considered As The New Location of Toxic Silicon Smelter!
Be advised that Newport, Washington is now being seriously considered as the new location for the toxic silicon smelter - exposing residents, workers, families and children to the horrifying effects of silicon smelting operations (already covered here, see previous posts).
According to the published story in the Newport Miner, Mike Manus, county commissioner for Pend Oreille County has once again, betrayed his constituents. So has HiTest, Inc., who has "been considering several sites all along". This multi-headed hydra is back!
Why? Because the same smelter proposal was REJECTED first by the citizens of Golden, B.C., and then next by the Kalispel Tribe and residents of Usk, Washington, and the latest rejection was from Addy, Washington!
That THREE STRIKES people. NOBODY wants this nasty operation polluting our environment, elevating health risks and making our homes and our work places unsafe. PLEASE take the time to read the research published right here on what a silicon smelter really is and what it is going to mean to our community, our water, especially our air and the wildlife!
Also be aware the PUD has YET to refuse the request from HiTest, Inc. to provide power for a proposed site. As you might expect, $$$ rules the day among these companies and the figures you will read about in the paper are meant to impress local residents that this might be a good thing for us.
NOT SO. Silicon smelting operations carry risks of contaminants, accidental release and toxic by-products (24/7) - VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ. Now, there is potentially ADDITIONAL risks to Newport residents because of the railroad tracks that pass right through town. These tracks will be expected to carry both raw materials and toxic chemicals (along with semi-trucks on our highways) right THROUGH our community!
This is absolutely INSANE. This is a great example of refusal to protect local residents, the environment, watershed and even the tourist activity that this area brings to our community.
Be advised that the Pend Oreille Economic Development Council is supposedly going to be "heavily involved" in helping betray the local residents. You know who they are - get INVOLVED and put a stop to this utter madness.
In recent months, the Kalispel Tribe rejected the proposed Usk location being fully aware of the potential risks and downwind exposure from a smelting operation. The reality is there is simply no safe, healthy, risk-free location anywhere in Pend Oreille county where such an operation does not pose significant long-term risks to residents, wildlife and the environment.
Support the Clean Air Act Class 1 proposal by the Kalispel Tribe.
If Pend Oreille County officials continue to stupidly insist on trying to force this abomination upon local residents, demand that the Material Safety Data Sheets revealing the toxicity, safety, transportation, and risks assessments be published to all county residents BEFORE any decisions are reached, or land is sold or leased. This should have been done ALL ALONG but hasn't.
Demand a public vote on the proposed smelter in Pend Oreille County. So far, county officials have been inept, incompetent and withholding critical information regarding the safety and risks of the proposed smelter. This is why it has FAILED already in three other locations - the general public has woken up to the deceptive practices that have been uncovered so far.
A recall of Mike Manus is overdue already. Manus has to date, failed to keep residents informed of the intentions of proposed smelter, its long-term air and water quality risks, and the safety affecting Pend Oreille county residents. It is my opinion that the bumbling incompetence exhibit a clear mismanagement of the public trust. We should also take a hard look at any funds already spent too - Greg Dorhn is being paid a exorbitant amount of money as contractor "assisting" the project.
Burn up the phone lines to the PUD - or better yet, show up in person and demand the PUD stop betraying the local residents. This isn't a cash cow for the PUD - it is a gigantic toxic BURDEN with long-lasting effects (decades) upon residents. The same applies for Pend Oreille County who is anxious to raise revenue (and spend that grant money).
But their both going about this all the wrong way - this will drive away residents, wildlife and tourists while increasing medical care costs, clogging train tracks and impacting local roads and highways. The long-term effects are quite serious.
Pend Oreille county already has multiple health hazards the public may or may not be aware of. We do not need anymore (like cancer).
Smelting operations produce pollution. Do you REALLY want this stuff hanging over your TOWN?
We need to stop this dead in its track, once and for all. It is very clear that HiTest fully intended to build the smelter here all along. Their unconscionable actions and failures to disclose their intentions, the long-term risks to residents makes it perfectly clear that this is not a company anyone can trust.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE NEWPORT. ACT NOW. There is little time left (days). Keep our town safe! We do not need this smelting operation - ever!
Be advised that Newport, Washington is now being seriously considered as the new location for the toxic silicon smelter - exposing residents, workers, families and children to the horrifying effects of silicon smelting operations (already covered here, see previous posts).
According to the published story in the Newport Miner, Mike Manus, county commissioner for Pend Oreille County has once again, betrayed his constituents. So has HiTest, Inc., who has "been considering several sites all along". This multi-headed hydra is back!
Why? Because the same smelter proposal was REJECTED first by the citizens of Golden, B.C., and then next by the Kalispel Tribe and residents of Usk, Washington, and the latest rejection was from Addy, Washington!
That THREE STRIKES people. NOBODY wants this nasty operation polluting our environment, elevating health risks and making our homes and our work places unsafe. PLEASE take the time to read the research published right here on what a silicon smelter really is and what it is going to mean to our community, our water, especially our air and the wildlife!
Also be aware the PUD has YET to refuse the request from HiTest, Inc. to provide power for a proposed site. As you might expect, $$$ rules the day among these companies and the figures you will read about in the paper are meant to impress local residents that this might be a good thing for us.
NOT SO. Silicon smelting operations carry risks of contaminants, accidental release and toxic by-products (24/7) - VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ. Now, there is potentially ADDITIONAL risks to Newport residents because of the railroad tracks that pass right through town. These tracks will be expected to carry both raw materials and toxic chemicals (along with semi-trucks on our highways) right THROUGH our community!
This is absolutely INSANE. This is a great example of refusal to protect local residents, the environment, watershed and even the tourist activity that this area brings to our community.
Be advised that the Pend Oreille Economic Development Council is supposedly going to be "heavily involved" in helping betray the local residents. You know who they are - get INVOLVED and put a stop to this utter madness.
In recent months, the Kalispel Tribe rejected the proposed Usk location being fully aware of the potential risks and downwind exposure from a smelting operation. The reality is there is simply no safe, healthy, risk-free location anywhere in Pend Oreille county where such an operation does not pose significant long-term risks to residents, wildlife and the environment.
Support the Clean Air Act Class 1 proposal by the Kalispel Tribe.
If Pend Oreille County officials continue to stupidly insist on trying to force this abomination upon local residents, demand that the Material Safety Data Sheets revealing the toxicity, safety, transportation, and risks assessments be published to all county residents BEFORE any decisions are reached, or land is sold or leased. This should have been done ALL ALONG but hasn't.
Demand a public vote on the proposed smelter in Pend Oreille County. So far, county officials have been inept, incompetent and withholding critical information regarding the safety and risks of the proposed smelter. This is why it has FAILED already in three other locations - the general public has woken up to the deceptive practices that have been uncovered so far.
A recall of Mike Manus is overdue already. Manus has to date, failed to keep residents informed of the intentions of proposed smelter, its long-term air and water quality risks, and the safety affecting Pend Oreille county residents. It is my opinion that the bumbling incompetence exhibit a clear mismanagement of the public trust. We should also take a hard look at any funds already spent too - Greg Dorhn is being paid a exorbitant amount of money as contractor "assisting" the project.
Burn up the phone lines to the PUD - or better yet, show up in person and demand the PUD stop betraying the local residents. This isn't a cash cow for the PUD - it is a gigantic toxic BURDEN with long-lasting effects (decades) upon residents. The same applies for Pend Oreille County who is anxious to raise revenue (and spend that grant money).
But their both going about this all the wrong way - this will drive away residents, wildlife and tourists while increasing medical care costs, clogging train tracks and impacting local roads and highways. The long-term effects are quite serious.
Pend Oreille county already has multiple health hazards the public may or may not be aware of. We do not need anymore (like cancer).
Smelting operations produce pollution. Do you REALLY want this stuff hanging over your TOWN?
We need to stop this dead in its track, once and for all. It is very clear that HiTest fully intended to build the smelter here all along. Their unconscionable actions and failures to disclose their intentions, the long-term risks to residents makes it perfectly clear that this is not a company anyone can trust.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE NEWPORT. ACT NOW. There is little time left (days). Keep our town safe! We do not need this smelting operation - ever!
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