CHRISTIANSTED — Last Friday, the question about whether or not to burn tree and plant debris felled by the hurricanes reached federal court.
This Friday, one of the senators connected to that lawsuit and former Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Commissioner Alicia Barnes duked the issue out on Facebook.
Virgin Islands Senate Vice President Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly, former V.I. senator Clarence Payne, the V.I. Conservation Society, and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court on St. Croix against the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Today, Barnes grilled Payne on Facebook about salient matters related to the lawsuit and questioned some of the logic behind it.
“What is the decomposition rate?” Barnes wrote. “In other words, what is the timeline to effectively handle/treat 600,000 yd3 of vegetative waste via mulching/composting? In your words, ‘If the debris projects are done by mid-march, the territory receives 100 percent reimbursement. After that, it’s 90 percent. However, the governor can apply for an extension from FEMA.’ What assurances exist that an extension will be granted?”
“Pollution has already increased due to the operation of diesel generators and indoor mold,” Payne said.
“Also what are the by-products of composting?” Barnes replied. “As you know, matter exists is three forms, liquid, solid, and gas. What gas(es) will emanate from the composting process; odorless, harmless? How will said gases be controlled and monitored? Also, please quantify or provide empirical data that, again in your words, ‘Pollution has already increased due to the operation of diesel generators and indoor mold.'”
Barnes wrote: “The alternative proposed by FEMA is to burn wood and vegetative debris in devices called Air Curtain Incinerators which have NO pollution controls.” Inherent in the descriptive title “Air Curtain Incinerator,” indicates a pollution control device. Please research the Federal Clean Air Act and associated regulations concerning the manufacturing of emission generating equipment/machinery in the United States of which the USVI is a part. Even our cars are required to have Pollution controls.
His response to Alicia:
USVI Debris Management Plan
http://islandgreenliving.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Debris-Management-Plan-.pdf
Following Hurricanes Irma & Maria, a world class group of local and state-side scientists, environmentalists and compost experts, including the former EPA administer, put together a comprehensive Debris Management Plan. It was submitted to the government in October 2017.
• The majority of the hurricane debris is fallen trees and green waste – much of which has been source separated from the rest of the waste stream.
• Large scale composting happens all over the world and the VI Waste Management Authority has RFPs from experienced composting company ready to manage the process and distribute the free mulch/compost.
• Composting/mulching is a proven and environmentally superior technique to deal with vegetative debris. It has been occurring naturally for millions of years.
• Valuable tropical hardwoods that can be used for furniture making and the arts are separated.
• After that the wood is chipped and then composted or used as mulch.
• Each island should have its own composting center which should stay in place long after the storm debris is handled.
• Windrows (piles of chipped wood and green waste and a nitrogen additive) are established and the piles are turned as needed. After the decomposition process, a rich organic fertilizer is produced.
• Mulch can also to be used in coastal zone management operations.
• The fertilizer will be given out for free to local hotels, public works projects, farmers, home gardeners, landscaping companies, schools, airports, etc. This will save them money since they will not need to purchase compost. The application of the compost will greatly improve soil health on the islands.
• The Army Corps of Engineers is effectively chipping and composting 3 million cubic yards of woody debris in Puerto Rico. USVI has far less: approximately 600,000 cubic yards.
• If the debris projects are done by mid-march, the territory receives 100% reimbursement. After that, it’s 90%. However, the Governor can apply for an extension from FEMA.
• The alternative proposed by FEMA is to burn wood and vegetative debris in devices called Air Curtain Incinerators which have NO pollution controls. They are a source of air pollution that can damage health, especially for people with asthma and other respiratory diseases or heart problems. They are particularly problematic in hot and humid environments. Pollution has already increased
All of the info posted is the position I support. You have yours. Mine is supported by science and what is in the best health interest of our world. Burning in any fashion is not the solution supported by sound science. A few senators saw the air curtain process and now those who saw that process are absolutely going to vote against it. I support Obama’s position on the health our planet ? and this approach contradicts that..
There are 14 doctors/ scientist that support the VI not burning the debris. But people have already taken sides which is 100 percent fine with me. All I try to do is support my positions as amicably as possible and those who opposes are free to do the same I am putting out information that supports my promise. If there is another angle that is based on science that is different than my position please post ASAP.