You are on page 1of 1

 

 
 
 
August  22,  2014    
 
 
Beverly  Banister  
Sam  Nunn  Atlanta  Federal  Center  
61  Forsyth  Street  SW    
Atlanta,  GA  30303-­‐8960  
 
 
Dear  Ms.  Banister,    
 
The  purpose  of  this  letter  is  to  request  additional  air  monitoring  for  the  communities  in  north  
Birmingham  including:  Fairmont,  Collegeville,  Harriman  Park,  North  Birmingham  and  Tarrant.  
Specifically,  GASP  is  requesting  air  monitoring  of  both  ambient  air  quality  and  fugitive  emissions  from  
Drummond’s  ABC  Coke  plant  and  Walter  Energy’s  Walter  Coke  plant  utilizing  the  Differential  
Absorption  Lidar  system  referred  to  as  DIAL.    
 
According  to  EPA’s  own  analysis,  the  risk  of  cancer  from  air  toxics  is  significantly  higher  in  the  northern  
Birmingham  communities,  warranting  comprehensive  air  monitoring  to  determine  the  extent  of  human  
exposure  to  both  hazardous  air  pollutants  and  particulate  pollutants.    In  addition,  ATSDR’s  recent  
analysis  states  that  exposure  to  carcinogens  exceeds  EPA’s  acceptable  risk  levels  and  far  exceeds  the  
Jefferson  County  Board  of  Health’s  acceptable  risk  levels.  
 
The  two  largest  contributors  of  toxic  air  pollution  according  to  self-­‐reported  data  are  ABC  Coke  and  
Walter  Coke.  Their  fugitive  emissions  should  be  monitored  directly.  In  partnership  with  the  state  of  
New  York,  EPA  required  this  monitoring  of  Tonawanda  Coke,  which  revealed  false  emissions  reporting  
and  an  underestimation  of  human  exposure  to  benzene.  We  need  this  testing  in  Jefferson  County,  
Alabama.    
 
In  addition  to  lax  or  absent  regulatory  oversight  of  these  industries  surrounded  by  residential  
neighborhoods,  there  has  not  been  a  detailed,  health  assessment  of  these  communities.  The  Jefferson  
County  Department  of  Health  has  insufficient  data  to  demonstrate  how  decades  of  exposure  to  toxics  
and  particulates  have  affected  residents.  The  testimonies  of  chronic  illness  including  cancer,  heart  and  
respiratory  diseases  demonstrate  there  is  a  serious  problem.  Houses  and  property  routinely  covered  in  
black  soot  are  on  display  daily.    
 
The  suffering  in  north  Birmingham  communities  is  an  environmental  injustice.  Additional  monitoring  is  
required  to  reverse  the  disproportionate  burden  of  air  pollution  in  these  communities.  On  a  larger  
scale,  Birmingham  has  some  of  the  dirtiest  air  in  the  nation.  Addressing  these  facilities  will  improve  the  
air  quality  for  the  entire  region.    
 
Sincerely,    

 
Kirsten  Bryant  
Outreach  Director  

You might also like