Give me one good reason we should oppose the sewage sludge plant!

1. Sewage sludge pyrolysis is an unproven technology. There are only two such plants in operation in the US. A third was forced to stop operations last year. According to the QDC website, QSS Biosolids is “exploring another use for pyrolysis at a site on All American Way.” Why should North Kingstown be part of this experiment? Multiple municipalities across the US have said NO to these industries. Even Newark, New Jersey, known as one of the most polluted areas in the US, drew the line at a sewage sludge pyrolysis plant.

2. There are 1,340 active EPA Superfund sites in the US, including the former Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center at Quonset. Cleanup and monitoring take place there still today. Proponents of the QSS project claim that this industry needs to go somewhere, in an attempt to shame residents into believing they are unfairly holding up necessary progress. There are over 35,000 municipalities in America, including 39 in little Rhode Island. North Kingstown has more than done its part for nearly four decades of carrying the burden of pollution. Fairness dictates finding a more suitable location.

3. The QSS Biosolids project will be located less than one mile from dozens of homes, several schools and churches, and a popular town park. Several dozen homes are located less than a half mile from the proposed site. Contrary to local contrarians, no disclosure was given to the buyers of these homes regarding an industrial park, especially one that would allow toxic pollutants. The residents who have lived in other nearby neighborhoods didn’t sign up for this either. This fact alone will leave the door wide open to potential future lawsuits based on declining property values and quality-of-life issues.

4. The emissions data provided by QSS Biosolids have never been independently verified. In its application to RIDEM, QSS Biosolids admits it will emit more than 40 hazardous air pollutants as designated by the EPA. Literally tons of pollutants per year going into the air and ending up somewhere. All emissions data for the project, provided to RIDEM and the EPA, came from QSS Biosolids representatives. The EPA, in rubberstamping the project, stated, “EPA relied upon the accuracy of the information provided by QSS Biosolids, LLC to make this determination.” All very reassuring.

5. In 1989, North Kingstown petitioned the EPA to declare the HAP (Hunt-Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt) aquifer a sole-source aquifer, requiring the highest level of protection against contamination. To put any industry capable of emitting toxins in the aquifer recharge zone is reckless at best. End of story. (Add in the Bitumar plant, and this becomes an unbelievable scenario.)

6. The biochar that would be produced by the QSS plant is being increasingly scrutinized as a fertilizer for agriculture. Researchers in Europe and the US are studying the levels of certain toxins still present in biochar after pyrolysis. Closely related to this issue is the origin of the sewage sludge being used to create the biochar. It appears that QSS will “acquire” the de-watered sludge (feedstock) from a proposed facility in Providence, which could result in less control over the safety of the incoming feedstock. Contaminated sludge/feedstock results in increased biochar and air pollutant emissions. A declining market for biochar would spell economic disaster for the project.

7. The fact that this project was not rolled out as positive for North Kingstown and its residents is a huge red flag. In fact, the finger-pointing by the QDC and the NK Town Council over transparency is both troubling and embarrassing. Both parties (we have yet to be fully enlightened by the town about who knew what and when) were clearly aware that this project would be controversial at best; otherwise, it would not be shrouded in such secrecy.

8. Every resident of NK should be concerned with the stigma that will surely accompany being a town with multiple offensive industrial odors and hazardous air pollutants. Add to that image the distinction of being an EPA Superfund site.

9. It can take decades for research and risk assessments to truly identify contaminants. A generation or more could pass before the health and economic effects of allowing highly questionable industries to operate in NK are totally apparent.

10. What kind of world do we want to leave our children, grandchildren…

Please attend the town council meeting tonight at 7:00 PM at the NK High School Auditorium!

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