Dear EPA, Protect Our Human Rights Properly!
The Issue
The New-Indy Containerboard Paper Mill, co-owned by Robert Kraft, in York County, SC has been spreading toxins across North & South Carolina for two years. Toxins that include, but not limited to; Dioxins (in an onsite pond along the Catawba River, where we get our water), Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, Dimethyl Sulfide, Dimethyl Disulfide, Sulfur Dioxide, Methanol, Mercury, Lead, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, and Ammonia. The old TMP process is known to produce PFAS as well.
Some of these toxins produce a pungent, noxious odor that has been spreading up to a 30 miles radius around the mill and causing health complications within our communites. Children, Adults and animals, some with nose bleeds, head aches, seizures, dizziness, fainting, respiratory issues along with onset inhaler use.
Please sign this petition to tell the EPA to bring Back the Geospatial Van to adeqautely test for the proper toxins. We are requesting the Van be brought back at an undisclosed date, on the weekend, at night time when the toxic odor is worse. We are also requesting the EPA do their own Water Study.
Why:
1. Orders completed: EPA Consent Decree, S.C. DHEC Consent Order, and S.C. DHEC PCA Order requiring an adequate primary stripper. NONE of these orders Control Production until New-Indy cleans up their catastrophic environmental disaster and orders the proper equipment.
2. During testing in 2021, New-Indy was sending less Untreated Foul Condensate to unmaintained open lagoons than they were after testing had concluded. This was also after the EPA brought the Geospatial Van to only monitor for Hydrogen Sulfide. Measurements for Hydrogen Sulfide around the Aeration Stabilization Basin (ASB) were almost 8,000 ppb. What would they have been if New-Indy was sending more during this time?
3. The hardpipe for the Untreated Foul Condensate to be sent to the ASB was supposed to be located below the liquid level, according to the EPA and S.C. DHEC, it is in the incorrect location. A construction permit with DHEC should have been filed to correct it but the Environmental Permit Tracker site shows none filed to date.
4. The EPA and DHEC have focused primarily on Hydrogen Sulfide, while knowing there are several other toxins produced, claiming that the reports were of rotten sewage, fecal, matter, etc., but on the reporting link have several various scents listed. In October of 2021, the community started stating the odor had shifted to a porta potty urnial cake smell mixed with chemicals. This was around the same time New-Indy recieved approval to treat the Hardpipe (in the incorrect location that carries the Toxic Foul Condensate to open lagoons), with Hydrogen Peroxide. New-Indy will continue this process until an Adequate Primary Steam Stripper is installed. Per DHEC's PCA order, installation could take until June of 2025.
5. S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control has a monitoring network for some of the same pollutants New-Indy is spreading but did not put any of the affected communities on the 2022-2023 list for monitoring. However, 11 miles from Governor McMasters Mansion is monitoring.
6. S.C OSHA was contacted in early 2021, a report was taken and submitted only for OSHA to come back later and say there was nothing they could do. After this the Geospatial Van can for the first time and found 129ppb throughout the site at New-Indy. Federal Regulation is 70ppb. Along with almost 8,000ppb by the lagoons along the Catawba River. The river sits lower and Hydrogen Sulfide is heavier than air and goes to the lowest lying areas.
7. S.C. DHEC did a Special Water Study but did not test for the toxins New-Indy could possibly be contaminating our States Waters with. Such as, PFAS, Dioxins, or Hydrogen Sulfide. New-Indy's Diffuser Pipe as well as up and down river need to be tested.
8. The EPA Alleged Air Violation shows fence line monitoring issues and New-Indy not following the QAPP.
9. The EPA's own Engineer asked the inspector why they were only required to have three onsite monitors.
10. New-Indy reduced the depth of Holding Pond #1, where one of the monitors had been showing exceedances.
11. Offsite monitors may be removed as early as 12/2022 according to the PCA Order.
12. A poll was taken in our private group and within Two hours, we had over 400 votes for No the EPA and S.C. DHEC are not adequately doing what is needed for the health of our communities or health and well-being of our environment.
Follow our community for updates:
Public Group: https://www.facebook.com/CBEA21/
Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cbea2021/?ref=share
Thank you,
Carolinians United
474
The Issue
The New-Indy Containerboard Paper Mill, co-owned by Robert Kraft, in York County, SC has been spreading toxins across North & South Carolina for two years. Toxins that include, but not limited to; Dioxins (in an onsite pond along the Catawba River, where we get our water), Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, Dimethyl Sulfide, Dimethyl Disulfide, Sulfur Dioxide, Methanol, Mercury, Lead, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, and Ammonia. The old TMP process is known to produce PFAS as well.
Some of these toxins produce a pungent, noxious odor that has been spreading up to a 30 miles radius around the mill and causing health complications within our communites. Children, Adults and animals, some with nose bleeds, head aches, seizures, dizziness, fainting, respiratory issues along with onset inhaler use.
Please sign this petition to tell the EPA to bring Back the Geospatial Van to adeqautely test for the proper toxins. We are requesting the Van be brought back at an undisclosed date, on the weekend, at night time when the toxic odor is worse. We are also requesting the EPA do their own Water Study.
Why:
1. Orders completed: EPA Consent Decree, S.C. DHEC Consent Order, and S.C. DHEC PCA Order requiring an adequate primary stripper. NONE of these orders Control Production until New-Indy cleans up their catastrophic environmental disaster and orders the proper equipment.
2. During testing in 2021, New-Indy was sending less Untreated Foul Condensate to unmaintained open lagoons than they were after testing had concluded. This was also after the EPA brought the Geospatial Van to only monitor for Hydrogen Sulfide. Measurements for Hydrogen Sulfide around the Aeration Stabilization Basin (ASB) were almost 8,000 ppb. What would they have been if New-Indy was sending more during this time?
3. The hardpipe for the Untreated Foul Condensate to be sent to the ASB was supposed to be located below the liquid level, according to the EPA and S.C. DHEC, it is in the incorrect location. A construction permit with DHEC should have been filed to correct it but the Environmental Permit Tracker site shows none filed to date.
4. The EPA and DHEC have focused primarily on Hydrogen Sulfide, while knowing there are several other toxins produced, claiming that the reports were of rotten sewage, fecal, matter, etc., but on the reporting link have several various scents listed. In October of 2021, the community started stating the odor had shifted to a porta potty urnial cake smell mixed with chemicals. This was around the same time New-Indy recieved approval to treat the Hardpipe (in the incorrect location that carries the Toxic Foul Condensate to open lagoons), with Hydrogen Peroxide. New-Indy will continue this process until an Adequate Primary Steam Stripper is installed. Per DHEC's PCA order, installation could take until June of 2025.
5. S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control has a monitoring network for some of the same pollutants New-Indy is spreading but did not put any of the affected communities on the 2022-2023 list for monitoring. However, 11 miles from Governor McMasters Mansion is monitoring.
6. S.C OSHA was contacted in early 2021, a report was taken and submitted only for OSHA to come back later and say there was nothing they could do. After this the Geospatial Van can for the first time and found 129ppb throughout the site at New-Indy. Federal Regulation is 70ppb. Along with almost 8,000ppb by the lagoons along the Catawba River. The river sits lower and Hydrogen Sulfide is heavier than air and goes to the lowest lying areas.
7. S.C. DHEC did a Special Water Study but did not test for the toxins New-Indy could possibly be contaminating our States Waters with. Such as, PFAS, Dioxins, or Hydrogen Sulfide. New-Indy's Diffuser Pipe as well as up and down river need to be tested.
8. The EPA Alleged Air Violation shows fence line monitoring issues and New-Indy not following the QAPP.
9. The EPA's own Engineer asked the inspector why they were only required to have three onsite monitors.
10. New-Indy reduced the depth of Holding Pond #1, where one of the monitors had been showing exceedances.
11. Offsite monitors may be removed as early as 12/2022 according to the PCA Order.
12. A poll was taken in our private group and within Two hours, we had over 400 votes for No the EPA and S.C. DHEC are not adequately doing what is needed for the health of our communities or health and well-being of our environment.
Follow our community for updates:
Public Group: https://www.facebook.com/CBEA21/
Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cbea2021/?ref=share
Thank you,
Carolinians United
Petition Updates
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Petition created on December 5, 2022