Will they notice if it afffects D.C. summer homes

[Guest guest]

Here is recent story in paper

Indian River power plant pollition activists are gaining strength

I think those in Washington D.C. may take notice since so many have

summer homes in Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach Delaware.

Please help get the word out.

Debbie Mccabe

By Spence

Cape Gazette staff

Mercury-contaminated residents, oncologists and new residents who

thought they were moving to paradise are among new members of an

expanding grassroots organization that seeks to reduce toxic Indian

River power plant emissions.

Once a loosely organized, rag-tag group, the Citizens for Cleaner

Power (CCP) is becoming more visible.

Almost 40 new members surfaced Jan. 3 in Lewes to form subcommittees,

email lists and a statement of purpose in what may be Delaware's

first activist group targeting the plant that was built in 1956.

Nearly 46 percent of Delaware's sulfur dioxide output comes from the

plant. The old coal-powered plant, grandfathered by the Clean Air Act

of 1973, has been operating for 50 years without pollution control

equipment required of more modern plants. Among the toxins it spits

out are arsenic, mercury and lead.

But, after a documentary produced by Wesley College student Mike

Short exposed some of the plants hazards, new residents have been

added to the groups roster.

Recently, under political pressure, Dominion Energy in Virginia

allocated $500 million to clean up nine coal-fired plants.

State-enforced pollution-reduction measures may be ineffective,

however, as contaminants from the nation's rust belt and the

Northeast fall onto Delaware's shores. Others say toxins from New

Castle County – the states industrial sector – may be the cause of

locally found pollutants.

Local outrage

Feichtl, who grew up in the shadows of the power plant, is all

too familiar with Indian Rivers fallout.

The 60-year-old, whose father was a plant superintendent, said, " I

knew about the increase in pollutants. My father was concerned as

time went on, " she said.

At 38, she underwent open-heart surgery – a necessity she said which

was caused by plant contamination.

Her sister, too, she said, is an asthmatic.

Feichtl is a former school principal who said over the years, she has

seen a spike in children's asthma attacks and increased inhaler and

nebulizer use.

" They were cramming steroids into a tiny schools nursing office, "

said Feichtl. " I saw it first hand. "

Louise White, an andria, Va., transplant said she is aware of

other polluted metropolitan areas, but she never guessed Delaware

would be one of them.

" I thought I was moving to a sweet, fresh-air, rural community, " she

said.

For Long Neck resident Mark Engle, who lives five miles from the

plant, a family member's failing health caused him to join CCP's

forces.

" My wife was recently diagnosed with high levels of mercury

poisoning, " said Engle. But some attendees suggested the cause of

high mercury levels may come from chicken processing plants - a

longtime scapegoat for mercury infection.

Dan Lecates, who lives a half mile from the plant, said sonic booms

coming from the plant and constant coal-hauling rail traffic,

including flying ash, spurred his attendance.

As a result of the CCP's efforts, a local teacher has enlisted

volunteers from his concerned students.

Will Revels, an Indian River teacher, plans on showing Short's

film, " Fuente de Electricidad " (Energy Fountain), to his class soon.

" I have well over 100 students eager to volunteer in any way they

can, " said Revels.

State responds to concerns

For its part, state officials say they are attentive to residents'

concerns.

In early November, DNREC launched plans designed to implement

guidelines for emission reduction.

Ali Mirzakhalili, with DNREC's air quality management team, attended

the Jan. 3 meeting.

" What about the regulatory action process, signed Nov. 7, 2005? "

Mirzakhalili said in response to residential outcry.

DNREC Secretary A. said the new regulation will target

Indian River Power Plant.

H. Bunting, Jr., a state senator from Bethany Beach also vowed

to influence legislators.

" His present position is that he is still committed to the notion

that something needs to be done now. He's open to suggestions and is

being supportive, " said Zak.

Mirzakhalili said, " I'm hoping to have a regulatory measure on the

books by this September. "

He assured a wary collective that DNREC is - and will continue -

doing its part to clean up Delaware.

" This does seem like a prosperous time. We seem to be getting signals

at a state level about cleaning up the power plant, " said Zak.

But for others, states' efforts need to be accelerated.

For Oak Orchard transplant, Robin Snow, if the plant does not shape

up, she may move out.

" Every day when I read the obituaries I think these people are too

young. I'm not sure I want to stay here, " said Snow.

In the meantime, the growing mass is scrambling to acquire more

copies of Short's movie.

Zak is calling for more civic groups to join CCP's ranks.

He is urging anyone with political contacts, computer skills or grant

writing experience to help spread the word.

In the very least, more testing needs to be done, he said.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 2, at

the meeting room of St. 's Church in downtown Lewes.

Short's film will be aired before the meeting.

" We need to motivate the electorate, " said Zak.