I see that Rep. John Kowalko, Amy Roe of the Sierra Club, and Delaware Audubon leaders have all been ridiculed by Harry Themal in a recent column. He called them “Luddites” – a label that’s also been applied to me on these pages – for advocating enforcement of Delaware environmental laws. I’m sure these parties have enough self-confidence to realize there is no higher compliment, no better evidence of moral fiber and good citizenship, than to be smeared on the editorial page of The News Journal.

For an non-environmental example: Consider the late Rep. Al O. Plant, who was ridiculed relentlessly by The News Journal, essentially for the offense of being an uppity black person. It was only many years later, when Plant had mellowed, or sold out, or been incorporated into the “system” – depending on how one wants to see it – that he was mentioned respectfully on the editorial page. Mr. Themal, if I recall correctly, has been ridiculing people better than himself since 1959. Perhaps, even by your standards, enough is enough?

Alan Muller

Green Delaware

Port Penn

A very dubious organization, “Renew Oil,” is trying to build a tire/plastics incinerator at 78 MuCullough Drive in New Castle.  Keeping pollution-belching incinerators out of Delaware has long been a priority and new incinerators are essentially not legal in Delaware, because they are not allowed within three miles of the property boundary of any school, church, park, hospital, or residence. Continue reading →

(Please excuse problems with formatting.  We have been having problems with our website and are fixing ASAP)

New incinerators are effectively illegal in Delaware because:

” (2) No permit may be granted to any incinerator unless: […]   b. Every point on the property boundary line of the property on which the incinerator is or would be located is:

1. At least 3 miles from every point on the property boundary line of any residence;

2. At least 3 miles from every point on the property boundary line of any residential community; and

3. At least 3 miles from every point on the property boundary line of any church, school, park, or hospital.”

(7 Del C Chapter 60 §6003 (c) (2))

This law came about because of bad experience with incinerators in Delaware and because incinerators threaten health and are very seldom a good idea for any purpose. Continue reading →

Application – Incin Ban Status Decision – RenewOil Energy – Resubmittal 6-21-13-4

Incinerator Status Decision – RenewOil Energy – Jun2013

RAS Report – RenewOil Energy

(Note:  RAS=”Regulatory Advisory Service”=private skid-greasing meetings between regulators and applications)

Map of 78 Mcclough Drive

FOIA Response Documents #2 – misc documents and emails