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Chemical companies focus of hearing
To register to speak, call the health department at 412-578-8115 no later than 4 p.m. on the day of the hearing, or e-mail written testimony by the day of the hearing to aqpermits@achd.net. Written testimony also can be mailed to Allegheny County Health Department, 301 39th St., Building 7, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.
Allison M. Heinrichs can be reached via e-mail or at 412-380-5607.
The Allegheny County Health Department is inviting people to comment on Eastman Chemical Company in West Elizabeth on Tuesday and Neville Chemical Company on Neville Island on Wednesday. Both companies make chemicals used in adhesives, paints and plastics.
"The public hearings ensure that the community has input and they can voice whatever concerns or opinions they may have related to the sources in question," health department spokesman Guillermo Cole said.
Representatives from area environmental and resident groups, including Clean Water Action, the Group Against Smog and Pollution, Residents for a Clean & Healthy Mon Valley and the Neville Island Good Neighbor Committee, plan to speak at the hearings.
"For both of the plants, the thing that we're mostly concerned about is the rate of emissions monitoring," said Suzie Brindle, a program coordinator with Clean Water Action. "We feel it should be more regular than what's currently stated in the permit."
Bill Hendon, the health, safety, environmental security and quality manager for Eastman Chemical, said the company has been working with the county to develop the permit for eight years and doesn't foresee any new requirements coming from the hearing.
"We don't expect any real surprises," Hendon said.
Neville Chemical Company did not immediately return calls requesting comment.
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