Richmond considers rezoning for cremation

[Guest guest]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/14867195.htm Richmond considers rezoning for cremation By Geluardi CONTRA COSTA TIMES RICHMOND - Richmond's planners have been quietly working to bring one of the state's busiest crematoriums to an area near homes and youth centers. The city prohibits cremation except at cemeteries. But on June 1, the Planning Commission approved permitting cremation in nine types of zoning areas including near schools, senior centers and businesses. The City Council is to consider adopting the change on July 11. Before the June 1 vote, planning staff members did not tell commissioners that Enterprises, owner of the Neptune

Society and one of the top three funeral corporations in America, sought the zoning change. It wants to move its Emeryville crematorium to a 20,000-square-foot building at 1151 Hensley St. on the border of North Richmond, a low-income community of mostly African-American and Latino families. The staff report also does not mention that Neptune would cremate more than 3,000 bodies a year, generating at least 3 pounds of mercury emissions annually, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics. The staff report also asserts that allowing crematoriums would not require an environmental report. Mercury is particularly hazardous to children's developing nervous systems and brains. It is known to affect cognitive ability, memory and language skills. In adults, it can cause disorders such as excessive shyness, attention deficit and respiratory problems, according to the EPA. Planning staff members were

not deliberately hiding information from the commissioners and the council will have more background for its meeting, assistant city attorney Renfro said. "It's not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes but staff sometimes gets overwhelmed with projects and can't research what each proposal means," she said. "We are aware now that there is more information available. We are reviewing whether the ordinance change will require a environmental impact review." Two commissioners said they would have liked more information before their vote. Commission Chairwoman Virginia Finley said she was not sure she would have voted differently, but she would have liked the "back story." Commissioner Nagaraja Rue said he would have voted against the change had he known mercury would be released over North Richmond, a community affected by pollutants from industries including the Chevron refinery. "It is the duty

of staff to research these issues and provide us with information," he said. Many other cities across the state are grappling with the same issues. In 2003, more than half of the state's dead were cremated, an 8 percent increase from 1999, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The commission estimates that rate will rise to 65 percent by 2010. Crematoriums typically have been mom-and-pop operations cremating an average of 300 bodies a year with relatively small toxic emissions. But in the past few years, large funeral companies have been acquiring and consolidating crematoriums, increasing local toxic emissions. There is no reason to be concerned, Neptune regional vice president Bill Farrar said this week. "There have been a lot of studies done and it's a safe process," he said. "With the machines available today there is very little risk." According to a joint study by the EPA and the Cremation

Association of North America, a cremated body emits about 0.46 grams of mercury. Nonindustry sources estimate as much as 3 grams of mercury per cremation. At the industry rate, Neptune's Hensley Street crematorium would emit about 3 pounds of mercury a year. By comparison, the Conoco Philips refinery in Rodeo emitted 80 pounds in 2002, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. It is uncertain whether mercury from the proposed crematorium would be harmful to North Richmond residents, said , an air district spokesman. "All I can say is that the crematorium won't be allowed to operate if it exceeds state standards for noncarcinogenic emissions." One community watchdog said it would be unacceptable to add any more toxic pollution in the North Richmond community, said Henry , executive director of the West County Toxics Coalition. "The prevailing winds will blow

mercury from that facility on Hensley right over North Richmond and then on to Parchester Village, both low-income communities of color," he said. "We are trying to clean up our environment to protect our children, our public health and prevent disease. Here again someone wants to use North Richmond as a toxic dumping ground." He said Neptune's crematorium plan is particularly upsetting because the YMCA Child Development Center, licensed to care for 60 infants, toddlers and preschoolers, is four blocks downwind. A variety of pollution sources affect North Richmond residents, including chemical manufacturers, the Chevron refinery, two major truck routes and a large sea port, said Meena Palaniappan, a Pacific Institute senior research associate. "Children under the age of 14 in North Richmond are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized for asthma compared to the county and the state," she said, citing a

2005 study. The proposed ordinance change has attracted the interest of another crematorium operator. Clinton Love, president of Bay Area Cremation and Funeral Services, said he has selected a Richmond site for a crematorium. He refused to say where it is. One city refused to let Love come in. San Leandro residents banded together in 2004 to keep him from opening a crematorium there. The public outcry at several raucous meetings so overwhelmed city leaders that they permanently banned crematoriums. Richmond Mayor Irma said Tuesday it's too soon to tell how she will vote July 11. She did say she is very concerned about another smoke-stack industry affecting North Richmond and surrounding communities. "The thing I'm most distressed about is that the public did not have an opportunity to address this issue at the Planning Commission hearing." Councilman Tom Butt also was unsure of how he

would vote, but expressed frustration with the planning staff. "Why can't they just say 'No, we don't want you here'? They'd let a coal mine operate downtown if somebody asked." Reach Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@... ONLINE TIME LINE The Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov The Cremation Association of North America: www.cremationassociation.org The Pacific Institute: www.pacinst.org or 510-251-1600 ONLINE TIME LINE Feb. 1: The Neptune

Society applies for a zoning modification to permit it to operate what would be one of the state's busiest crematoriums on Hensley Street on the North Richmond border. June 1: The Richmond Planning Commission preliminarily approves the change to allow cremation in nine city zones. July 11: The City Council is scheduled to consider adopting the zoning change. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Everyone knows about the crematorium in North Ga. (where I am from)

that did not cremate the bodies. But most people do not know is the

father developed Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease and the Mother

had to call her son home from college to run the business and then I

believe the son develop mad hatter.

And what most do not know is the Crematorium was inside a building

where the father and son worked and the Crematorium smoke stack had

developed a hole in the smoke stack.

I have done a lot of research on Crematoriums and in ALL 50 states

Crematoriums are exempt from air quality standards and Crematoriums

have only been tested 2 times in the US one in New York and it was

releasing .25 grams of mercury per hour but do not know how much

mercury was in the Crematorium when it started and one time in Ca.

and they did not check for mercury

>

> http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/14867195.htm

>

> Richmond considers rezoning for cremation

>

> By Geluardi

> CONTRA COSTA TIMES

> RICHMOND - Richmond's planners have been quietly working to

bring one of the state's busiest crematoriums to an area near homes

and youth centers.

> The city prohibits cremation except at cemeteries. But on June

1, the Planning Commission approved permitting cremation in nine

types of zoning areas including near schools, senior centers and

businesses. The City Council is to consider adopting the change on

July 11.

> Before the June 1 vote, planning staff members did not tell

commissioners that Enterprises, owner of the Neptune

Society and one of the top three funeral corporations in America,

sought the zoning change.

> It wants to move its Emeryville crematorium to a 20,000-square-

foot building at 1151 Hensley St. on the border of North Richmond,

a low-income community of mostly African-American and Latino

families.

> The staff report also does not mention that Neptune would

cremate more than 3,000 bodies a year, generating at least 3 pounds

of mercury emissions annually, based on U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency statistics. The staff report also asserts that

allowing crematoriums would not require an environmental report.

> Mercury is particularly hazardous to children's developing

nervous systems and brains. It is known to affect cognitive

ability, memory and language skills. In adults, it can cause

disorders such as excessive shyness, attention deficit and

respiratory problems, according to the EPA.

> Planning staff members were not deliberately hiding

information from the commissioners and the council will have more

background for its meeting, assistant city attorney Renfro

said.

> " It's not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes but

staff sometimes gets overwhelmed with projects and can't research

what each proposal means, " she said.

> " We are aware now that there is more information available. We

are reviewing whether the ordinance change will require a

environmental impact review. "

> Two commissioners said they would have liked more information

before their vote. Commission Chairwoman Virginia Finley said she

was not sure she would have voted differently, but she would have

liked the " back story. "

> Commissioner Nagaraja Rue said he would have voted against

the change had he known mercury would be released over North

Richmond, a community affected by pollutants from industries

including the Chevron refinery. " It is the duty of staff to

research these issues and provide us with information, " he said.

> Many other cities across the state are grappling with the

same issues. In 2003, more than half of the state's dead were

cremated, an 8 percent increase from 1999, according to the Federal

Trade Commission. The commission estimates that rate will rise to

65 percent by 2010.

> Crematoriums typically have been mom-and-pop operations

cremating an average of 300 bodies a year with relatively small

toxic emissions. But in the past few years, large funeral companies

have been acquiring and consolidating crematoriums, increasing

local toxic emissions.

> There is no reason to be concerned, Neptune regional vice

president Bill Farrar said this week. " There have been a lot of

studies done and it's a safe process, " he said. " With the machines

available today there is very little risk. "

> According to a joint study by the EPA and the Cremation

Association of North America, a cremated body emits about 0.46

grams of mercury. Nonindustry sources estimate as much as 3 grams

of mercury per cremation.

> At the industry rate, Neptune's Hensley Street crematorium

would emit about 3 pounds of mercury a year.

> By comparison, the Conoco Philips refinery in Rodeo emitted

80 pounds in 2002, according to the Bay Area Air Quality

Management District. It is uncertain whether mercury from the

proposed crematorium would be harmful to North Richmond residents,

said , an air district spokesman.

> " All I can say is that the crematorium won't be allowed to

operate if it exceeds state standards for noncarcinogenic emissions. "

> One community watchdog said it would be unacceptable to add

any more toxic pollution in the North Richmond community, said

Henry , executive director of the West County Toxics Coalition.

> " The prevailing winds will blow mercury from that facility on

Hensley right over North Richmond and then on to Parchester

Village, both low-income communities of color, " he said.

> " We are trying to clean up our environment to protect our

children, our public health and prevent disease. Here again someone

wants to use North Richmond as a toxic dumping ground. "

> He said Neptune's crematorium plan is particularly upsetting

because the YMCA Child Development Center, licensed to care for 60

infants, toddlers and preschoolers, is four blocks downwind.

> A variety of pollution sources affect North Richmond

residents, including chemical manufacturers, the Chevron refinery,

two major truck routes and a large sea port, said Meena

Palaniappan, a Pacific Institute senior research associate.

> " Children under the age of 14 in North Richmond are more than

twice as likely to be hospitalized for asthma compared to the

county and the state, " she said, citing a 2005 study.

> The proposed ordinance change has attracted the interest of

another crematorium operator. Clinton Love, president of Bay Area

Cremation and Funeral Services, said he has selected a Richmond

site for a crematorium. He refused to say where it is.

> One city refused to let Love come in. San Leandro residents

banded together in 2004 to keep him from opening a crematorium

there. The public outcry at several raucous meetings so overwhelmed

city leaders that they permanently banned crematoriums.

> Richmond Mayor Irma said Tuesday it's too soon to

tell how she will vote July 11. She did say she is very concerned

about another smoke-stack industry affecting North Richmond and

surrounding communities.

> " The thing I'm most distressed about is that the public did

not have an opportunity to address this issue at the Planning

Commission hearing. "

> Councilman Tom Butt also was unsure of how he would vote, but

expressed frustration with the planning staff.

> " Why can't they just say 'No, we don't want you here'? They'd

let a coal mine operate downtown if somebody asked. "

> Reach Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@...

> ONLINE

> TIME LINE

> The Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov

> The Cremation Association of North America:

www.cremationassociation.org

> The Pacific Institute: www.pacinst.org or 510-251-1600

>

> ONLINE

> TIME LINE

> Feb. 1: The Neptune Society applies for a zoning modification

to permit it to operate what would be one of the state's busiest

crematoriums on Hensley Street on the North Richmond border.

> June 1: The Richmond Planning Commission preliminarily approves

the change to allow cremation in nine city zones.

>

> July 11:

>

> ---------------------------------

> The City Council is scheduled to consider adopting the zoning

change.

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>