Dutra Asphalt Plant – PWA’s Position Statement

The Dutra Materials Company wants to build an asphalt plant just across the river from Shollenberger Park.  After years of debate during the EIR, the final EIR, and subsequent hearings the project is still in limbo and is now back at the County Planning Commission for fine tuning of the noise issues. There is much denial about the projects shortcomings  by Dutra on their website, in their public comments and advertisements. Here are the real facts:

Fact #1 – Manufacturing asphalt does generate particulate toxins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Most VOCs are aromatic or polyaromatic compounds that are highly toxic and carcinogenic. According to three process engineers I have talked with, VOCs can only be removed from the manufacturing air discharge stream by either afterburners or catalytic converters. Dutra refuses to install either system on their plant but does offer to use bag filters which remove particulate toxins but not VOCs. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Board, the manufacture of rubberized asphalt makes even more VOCs than regular asphalt. Road construction websites predict that Caltrans will require 50% use of rubberized asphalt over the next few years.

Fact#2 – Asphalt plants can very easily get “out of control” and emit higher levels of toxins. This was shown when Dutra took several Petalumans to Irvine CA to show them a modern, “contained” asphalt plant in operation to convince them of how pollution- free the process was. The plant was making rubberized asphalt and within 30 minutes all of them were sick from the fumes just because “a door was not working”. Integrity and attention to details are critical in this business.

Fact#3 – As noted for all to read in the Marin Independent Journal, Dutra’s record of operating within their permits and respecting their neighbors has been poor. Such issues as Dutra being investigated by the Marin County Grand Jury, being under court order to follow their permits and “stop running roughshod over their neighbors”, being fined $750,000 by EPA for dumping into a marine preserve, and other violations all make for good but frightening reading. Dutra has also had numerous violations of operating permits at their old site in Petaluma. Do you think for one minute that Dutra will change their behavior at a new plant upwind and next to Shollenberger Park?

Fact#4 – Dutra will exceed legal air pollution and noise limits but is unwilling to fully contain their plant to significantly reduce either pollution problems. This shows their total disregard for the users of Shollenberger Park or the wildlife (including several endangered and threatened species) that live there.

Fact#5 – The people of Petaluma are connecting the dots and seeing how a mix of the above facts 1-4 will undoubtedly cause periodic significant releases of toxic chemicals and distressful noise into Shollenberger Park, producing negative, and probably injurious effects on park users, both human and nonhuman. Over 300 Petalumans showed up at the last Board of Supervisors meeting on 3 February to protest the project. Spoiling the most beautiful nature park in the county and jeopardizing public health to make more asphalt when the county already has three asphalt plants meeting its needs, is unconscionable and totally unacceptable.

Please read www.saveshollenberger.com for more information and help us move Dutra to a safer location. With the great support from our new associates from Save Shollenberger Park, and the Petaluma Mom’s For Clean Air (the same folks who used the internet to help elect Obama) we have a good chance to win this battle without resorting to a community-based law suite. The final public meeting on the issue at the Board of Supervisors is now scheduled for the afternoon 12 May 2009.