Save the Westfield River – Be Heard at EPA Public Hearing
Take Action: Click here to add your name and comments to our letter
The U.S. EPA will hold a public hearing on the NPDES discharge permit for Russell Biomass on August 13. We are gathering comments which we’ll print and submit. Should Russell Biomass be permitted to discharge heated effluent from their biomass burning electrical utility into the Westfield River? What do you think of taking 885,000 gallons per day of cold river water, evaporating off 85%, and returning warm water to the river filled with harmful chemicals? The effluent (discharged water) will contain aluminum leeched from the cooling equipment. Aluminum is toxic to juvenile Atlantic salmon.
Water will be taken from the Westfield to cool electric generators. During seasonal low flow periods the 885,000 gallons per day withdrawal could overstress river wildlife. Russell Biomass’s pumps would have a pumping capacity of 1.1 million gallons per day. During hot dry days in August and September, when the river flows at it’s lowest levels, ORI is concerned that Russell Biomass may draw more than their stated 885,000 gallons per day limit and keep discharging effluents when its most harmful for salmon and river life.
 
The warm discharged effluent, 15% of what is withdrawn, will be contained in a "mixing zone" that will cover one half of the width of the river. Essentially, as interpreted by EPA and Mass DEP, the mixing zone is a "killing zone" so that any fish or wildlife that enters the zone is subjected to the toxic impacts of Russell Biomass' heated and treated effluent.
Russell Biomass asserts that the fish will have a "safe zone of passage" in the other half of the river where there will be no pollutants. However, even if salmon manage to swim on the safe side of the river, only 100 yards further downstream, where the river ripples over gravel beds, effluent and river water will be completely mixed.
Take Action: Click here to Sign ORI’s letter & Say Why You Care
Please respond before August 13. ORI will format and print all letters received in time for the August 13, 2009 EPA Hearing on the Westfield River and Russell Biomass. The EPA Hearing with public informational meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Russell Elementary School Auditorium/Gym. For more information on what you can do to help save the Westfield please email Harper@oceanriver.org.
http://oceanriver.org/support.php
Write-in $12 on the donation page and help ORI to meet the average per person costs of influencing decision-makers to save the Westfield River. When saving wildlife and ecosystems every holler helps. Thanks for helping us all get heard.
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Sign and Comment ORI's Westfield River Letter