19 January 2010

Council Made Right Call on ACC Proposal

Kamloops British Columbia - Editor:
 
I am proud of Kamloops city council.
 
Our local politicians carefully considered the evidence provided and came to the decision that burning 28-million creosote railway ties soaked with pentachlorophenol is bad for the collective health of Kamloopsians.
 
Thus council unanimously opposed Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation's application to ship in and burn creosote railway ties.
 
Having recently taken the train from Kamloops to Halifax, I have a sense of how large a number 28 million railway ties might be. Through the train window, I saw stacks upon stack of creosote-soaked ties piled along the entire breadth of North America.
 
During stops, I looked close and saw how the creosote oozed from the wood in a sticky sludge. It stuck to my fingers when I touched it. It will do the same to my lungs if I inhale creosote smoke.
 
A few additional steps after burning, scrubbing, and aerating, will not get rid of the toxins. Creosote is poisonous, whether in gas, liquid, or solid state.
 
Why not, as St. Lawrence University's Paul Connett suggested, "treat the stockpiled ties with thermal desorption where they are currently stored and thereby minimize pollution and avoid the shipping of these ties across a whole continent?"
 
You can read more on this at saveKamloops.ca.
 
Christina Mader
 
Editor's Note:  Earlier news reports stated the ties to be destroyed do not contain pentachlorophenol.