Monthly Archives: August 2013

A Letter to the Editor of The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal

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

Tire incinerator update/action alert

Key points:

o       Call into WDEL, Al Mascitti Show, after 10:00 on Thursday, Aug 22nd.  Ask your questions and share your thoughts on the tire/plastics incinerator in New Castle.

o       Call on Gov. Markell and DNREC Secretary Collin Omara to publish a proper public notice and press release about the extended incinerator comment period.

Send comments to Collin. OMara@state.de.us, Michelle.Jacobs@state.de.us, jack.markell@state.de.us

O’Mara’s office phone:  302.739.9000  Markell’s office:  302.577.3210

o       Get your comments on why the incinerator is an incinerator ready for the Sept 9th deadline (detailed suggestions upcoming on this).
Continue reading

Two poultry litter incinerators proposed in Delaware “Renewable Oil International”)

There are actually three incinerators in Delaware, going through the official process intended to conclude that an incinerator is not an incinerator.

The first of these is the “Renew Oil” tire and plastics burner proposed in the City of New Castle, DE.  The public comment period on this has been extended to September 9, 2013.

The other two schemes are from “Renewable Oil International” and proposed to be located in Seaford, Delaware, and Millsboro, Delaware.

The so-far-received FOIA documents for these are located here:

FOIA Response Docs – emails

The applications to the State of Delaware for an  “Incinerator Ban Applicability Status Decision”   are here:

Seaford:       Renewable Oil International DE LLC – Seaford Site

Millsboro:    Renewable Oil International DE LLC – Millsboro Site

Urgent incinerator action alert–Stop the tire/plastics incinerator in New Castle!

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

New Castle, DE, threatened by tire/plastics incinerator

(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

Files related to the “ReNew Oil” tire incinerator application

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