Local Issues: Air & Water Quality - Omaha Steel Castings

May 6, 2002

Mayor Mike Fahey
City of Omaha
1819 Farnam Street, Suite 300
Omaha, NE 68183

Dear Mayor Fahey:

Today we are presenting to you a petition that contains over 1300 signatures from concerned citizens requesting state of the art air quality monitoring and testing of emissions from Omaha Steel Castings, a foundry located at 460l Farnam Street.

A number of citizens have been affected by emissions from Omaha Steel Castings for years. Many citizens have brought the issue to the attention of various mayors of Omaha as well as to the City of Omaha Air Quality Control. We have listened to the testimonies of local citizens who tell of personal health problems, toxic smelling odors, strong vibrations and visible damage to their personal property--all related to Omaha Steel Castings.

We have carefully researched Omaha Steel Castings, obtaining documents from the city of Omaha Air Quality Control, the Environmental Protection Agency Region VII, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and other research sources both traditional and internet. We have spoken with Chester Black, Chief of Omaha Air Quality Control; EPA regulators; Nebraska Health and Human services officials; Douglas County Health Department officials; and OSHA officials.

Based on our research, we believe the Omaha Steel Castings air pollutant emissions situation is sufficiently serious that it is imperative the City of Omaha identify and monitor the full range of emissions from the foundry. Omaha Steel Castings has pollution control equipment for particulates (dust) only. According to a report filed by the foundry itself, the plant emits uncontrolled hazardous air pollutants. Some of these are napthalene, manganese and phenol, which according to the New Jersey Department of Health are linked to internal organ damage. The limit on hazardous air emissions proposed by the foundry in its 1996 air permit application, and approved in its 2000 air permit issued by the City of Omaha, make the foundry one of only two steel foundries in the United States that is a major source of hazardous air pollutants, according to an EPA official. A major source has the potential to emit 25 or more tons of hazardous airpollutants based on its physical and operational design.

The situation is especially critical because the foundry is located in a valley in a residential neighborhood, and emissions frequently blow along the ground rather than rise into the atmosphere. Nearby homes constantly are being bombarded by hazardous air pollutants, while homes further out even as far as two or three miles are blasted on a regular basis depending upon wind direction and speed. Citizens are being forced to breathe these emissions, and they have a right to know what these pollutants are.

We are appealing to you as the Neighborhood Mayor to assist in resolving this longstanding problem by authorizing the improved monitoring and testing we are requesting.

As concerned citizens and neighbors, we respectfully ask to hear from you by May 20, 2002, regarding action to be taken upon our request to protect our health and environment.

Sincerely,

Coalition of Neighbors and Missouri Valley Group (Omaha) Sierra Club
 

cc: James Guilliford, Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VII
Michael Linder, Director, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Ron Ross, Director, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Doug Clark,Acting Director, Douglas County Health Department

Please respond to:

Carole Larson
Conservation Chair, MVG Sierra Club
P.O. Box 4664
Omaha, NE 68104
402-558-4663
researchercl@yahoo.com

Alternate contact:

Dorothy Lanphier
MVG Sierra Club
402-554-1108
dlanphier@cox.net

P.S. Signatures now total over 1400.