With all eyes on the primaries, caucuses, debates and the upcoming elections, some crucial environmental issues may be slipping through the cracks.
One of these issues is the recent threat to undo HB 428, which has served us well by helping to clean up our environment since 2008. Pushed by corporate interests is the controversial new bill SB 381, which would allow, once again, the incineration of construction and demolition debris that is known to produce toxic air pollutants.
In 2007, then-Gov. John Lynch signed into law HB 428, which banned the incineration of C&D, thus providing protection from the emissions of dangerous pollutants, such as mercury, lead, dioxin and other toxins into our air and our already fragile groundwater.
It has been demonstrated that these pollutants have been associated with the increase in asthma in our vulnerable children as well as other pulmonary problems in the general population. We should not compromise our environment by caving in to corporate greed by allowing SB 381 to pass and, therefore, reversing the progress we have made.
Wheelabrator in Concord, a waste-to-energy business, would benefit financially should the law be changed to allow the incineration of debris and possibly open the door to other corporations and, even worse, allow importation of C&D from other states.
A hearing has already been held on SB 381 but it is not too late to call your legislators, express your concerns and inform them that you oppose the passage of SB 381. The health of New Hampshire citizens is of utmost importance.
IRENE FAIRCLOUGH
Concord