Editors, Daily Planet:
I am outraged by the constant pollution to our air quality in Berkeley thanks to Pacific Steel Castings--the largest steel foundry on the entire West Coast. They continually violate their agreements with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District by operating night and day with their doors wide open-allowing all of the toxins to freely escape into the surrounding community. On top of that they use city streets like their private property--allowing their castings to cool and off gas on public streets. Where is the city to crack down on this? If they were on Shattuck Avenue and they put their work out on city sidewalks they would be shut down in five minutes. Where is the city on this? What is Mayor Bates doing? What is Linda Maio doing?
And what is the public doing? The residents of Berkeley need to come together in this time of a public health crisis and demand that this is not allowed to continue. Anyone reading this who is concerned for their health and the health of their families should attend the planned public rally and protest set for Nov. 11 at 11 a.m at Ninth and Gilman streets in Berkeley. Come out and make some noise!
And for those of you unaware, here are a few facts:
1. PSC dumps over 250,000 ponds of toxins into our air every year.
2. Our of over 2,000 stationary pollution sources in six Bay Area counties, PSC is number 12--ahead of the Richmond Chevron refinery!
3. PSC dumps known carcinogens into our air such as maganese, lead, zinc, copper and many other toxins.
4. Berkeley has a real public health threat on it’s hands with PSC and it cannot be allowed to continue.
David Landon |
