Cleaner Air Equals Longer Life

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GYEjGi

Kwnecpnf of NC 2:33AM July 15, 2009

I live tn Erie Pa. I also live downwind from the Erie Coke plant. For years I have planted a small garden, and each year about august the zuchini and other plants leaves start turning white and dieing. Testing the soil and leaves show high levels of acid. Black soot particles fall from the sky at times and ruin painted surfaces outside. When The wind is right the air smells like burning sulphur and stings your nose as you ride along the east bayfront connector. Now two zoning comissioners who, by the way are not elected, but appointed voted 2 to 1 to give a varience to The proposed tire to energy plant for a 300 foot smokestack that will be needed to dissapate the polution that the plant will emit. This plant is a lot like the Coke plant as it will gassify rubber instead of coal to produce rubber gas instead of coal gas which can be used to "cook " the next batch or power boilers and make electricity. What is left from the tire gas will go up the smokestack. This is where it gets ugly. Tons of carbon dioxide each day along with smaller quantites of gassified metels. chemicels and toxic by-products used in making the tires in the first place. Last but not least will be fine ash particles that will be breathed by every breathing person.child, pet and animal for still unknown distances and durations. This will depend on which way the wind blows. Erie coke plant has ignored millions of dollars in fines for years and continues to pollute day after day. It may be my immagination, but It seems certain people are wearing thier cargo pants backwards. (4 pockets in the back.) Personally, I am closer to 70 than 30. This is not about me. I do have grand children who I would like to see live long and healthy lives and I would also like Erie Pa. to once again be known as the "Gem City" that it can be.

Mr. J. Fritz of PA 3:28PM June 27, 2009

Dear U.S. News and World Report,
You could do us all a big favor in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania and Erie County. Please do a national story on the damaging proposal of a Tires to Energy (Tire Burning Plant) for Erie, PA. Erie Renewable Energy, Caletta Renewable Energy and a few politicians like our Governor, our Mayor, and 3 out of 7 City Council Persons are in favor of the plant. If this Worlds Largest Tire Burning Plant ever comes to fruition it will be a real travesty with its Title V Major Pollution.
Pennsylvania has a miserable record when it comes to Pollution, Cancer Rates, Asthma Rates as well as other diseases caused by the air we breathe.

Rev. Jerry S. Priscaro of PA 11:29PM March 20, 2009

Staring at the sun results in blindness!New Harvard study concludes.
Jumping off a building causes internal trauma! Brigham Young University scientist amazed.
What a waste of resources

MIke Jones of NY 11:20AM January 22, 2009

This is something the citizens of Erie, PA understand but unfortunately not the community leaders, politicians and evidently not even the DEP. We continue to suffer the effects of Erie Coke plant in known violation of air quality standards for years, yet they are allowed to remain in business while they appeal their multi-million dollar fine. Because Erie is so hard up for jobs, they are considering putting the LARGEST TIRE BURNING INCINERATOR in the world right on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie (former site of toxic International Paper Plant). This will provide Erie with 40 mimimally paying jobs but supposedly that is more important than the health and well-being of it's citizens. I think in their ignorance, they are planning to cash in on the royalties of "Erin Brockovich Part II" because this is where it will be filmed. However, we will not need actors . . . there are plenty of real-life victims. It is a known fact that Erie, PA has a higher than average cancer rate. Maybe they are working for job security at the Regional Cancer Center. The above article is an eye-opener, but unfortunately not for the powers that be in Erie, PA. I pray they see the light one of these days.

Barbara of PA 10:30AM January 22, 2009

What a shock , breathing less toxic air makes you healthier . Must have taken a lot of science to figure that one out . The question is , how much is breathing the daily city toxic stew cutting your life short .

Daniel of OR 5:54AM January 22, 2009