Not In Our Backyard, Senators!

Editor’s Note: Since the public hearing on St. Croix last month, there have been rumblings that some revision of the Alpine Energy deal is in play. According to statements on radio by Sen. Craig Barshinger, the revised plan would  all but eliminate the use of pet coke from the waste to energy process.  There are few other details on this “new” plan so there’s not much more we can tell you. What we do know is that Alpine has begun some construction activity on St. Thomas and whatever plan they’re following, that causes us some concern. In the meantime, until some official information is released, we must continue to stay focused on the issues of the plan as we know it. Mr. Payne’s editorial addresses a key point in his article here. The Alpine St. Thomas leases are on Monday’s Legislative agenda.

By Clarence Payne

There is startling information within the Information Packet submitted by Alpine to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that must be discussed. This particular concern has flown under the radar and probably for good cause. Or because the other components of the Alpine Project are so alarming that we didn’t tackle this issue; however, it is about time that this issue comes front and center. 

Clarence Payne

Ash management is going to be a huge problem. A few of the Senators along with Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. and Paul Chakroff visited a PET COKE fired plant in Jacksonville, Florida. Even though the PET COKE fired plant appeared to be operating in compliance, it was reported to this writer by several of the members of the group, that they saw a pile of ash the size a pyramid! They were “deeply concerned” by what they observed. Why would a pile of ash, the size of a pyramid, in Jacksonville, Florida, cause deep concerns? This writer does not believe there is a structure the size of a pyramid in the Virgin Islands, so if the size of the pile of ash “was cause for concern”, we are in for a rude awakening. 

The following is an excerpt from the Information Packet sent to the E.P.A., Provided by Alpine, Prepared by Trinity Consultants; page 3-15 section 3.4.4 reads: “Fly Ash; two 10,000 cubit feet fly ash silos, one for each steam generator, are located adjacent to the common unit stack. The silos represent approximately two days of ash storage capacity at nominal, full load production rate of 7.9 tph. Ash will be collected in the fly ash hoppers on the steam generators, multi clone, economizer, dry scrubber, and bag house and will be pneumatically conveyed by vacuum to the storage silo. From the storage silo, the ash will be discharged to a truck and TRANSPORTRED TO A TEMPORARY ASH STORAGE silo capable of holding 3,000 tons of ash. The ash will ultimately either be sold to an external agency to be processed for beneficial use or TRANSPORTED OFF SITE FOR PERMANENT DISPOSAL.”  

One would think that a contract of this magnitude would answer the most basic of questions such as defining a plan of action to address the ash substance. Questions should include but not be limited to:

1. Where does Alpine plan to erect the “Temporary” Ash Silo capable of holding 3,000 tons of ash; how much does it cost and who will be responsible for this arrangement?

2. Who are the prospective external agencies that would procure fly ash from PET COKE over the entire 20 or 40 yrs of this agreement?

3. Will those external agencies procure the ash as long as the plant is producing or will Alpine have to relentlessly search for buyers of this absolute dirty product every other year?

4. Have the potential Permanent off site disposal locations been identified for St. Thomas or St. Croix?

5. Where are some of the areas on both islands that are being considered as the permanent off site locations, how many acres are being considered for the off site location, and how much does that cost and ultimately who will pay for it?

6. How will the ash be transported to the permanent off site location?

7. Who will manage the permanent off site location and ensure that the first tropical storm does not blow the ash around the territory affecting our valuable cistern water?

8. How many acres will Alpine need to purchase or lease to store ash at their temporary or permanent off site location?

9. Being that we depend of cistern water for our survival, what happens to the water when the next yearly tropical storm arrives and blows the ash, smoke, soot all over our island? 

In addition to the 30 acres of fragile coast line that is currently under consideration by the 28^th legislature for this project, Alpine will need additional acreage as reported in the Information Packet, to facilitate the “temporary and permanent storage sites” for this venture. Where can Alpine place a storage container that can store 3,000 tons of ash in the Virgin Islands? This writer along with the other residents of this territory would like to know if the following areas are under consideration as “Temporary or Permanent” site to store ash; Smith Bay, Savan, Hospital Ground, Mahogany Estate, Agnes Fancy, Kirwin Terrace, Garden Street, Mafolie Estate, Magens Bay, Mahogany Run, Frenchtown, Mandahl, North side, Hull Bay, Botany Bay, Fortuna, Bordeaux, Sub-base, Crown Bay, Tabor and Harmony, Tutu Bay, Bakkero Estate, Frenchman Quarter, Estate Dorethea, Crown Mountain, Mafolie Estate, Nazareth Bay in-between The National Guard Armory and Wassen Dominic Park or Vessup Bay next to the Ritz Carlton. Mr. Hixon, Mr. Beach, Mr. Hurd and the other managers of Alpine along with the executives at WAPA should come clean with the residents of our beautiful territory and fully report every aspect of the PET COKE burning plants and tell us where they plan to place the “Temporary and Permanent” storage sites for the ash before the lease agreement is discussed anymore! Committee members; Craig Barshinger, Michael Thurland, Samuel Sanes, Louis Hill, Shawn Malone, Neville James, and Nellie O’Reilley; analyze the section above and do not approve this lease which might place one of these sites in your constituencies backyard and you will never hear the end of your decision. 

Each resident that is not in favor of having a “Temporary ash silo or a Permanent disposal site” placed in your backyard, community or anywhere in the Virgin Islands; contact the Senators listed above ASAP at 340-774-0880, which is the phone number of the legislature, and demand that the lease planned for St. Thomas be terminated! In addition you can also write to the Senators at: 28^th legislature P.O. Box 1690, St. Thomas U.S.V.I. 00804. We must call and write starting today because the final hearing for the Alpine lease agreement will be scheduled between March 6^TH and March 12, on the island of St. Thomas. Encourage your family, friends, co-workers and grassroots organizations to join in and participate with us to resist any “Temporary or Permanent” off site location that will store Ash, in the Virgin Islands. 

To my many wonderful friends who live on St. Johns and St. Croix and cares about the health of the people, the health of the environment, and social justice, show your full support for our endeavor and participate. The Alpine lease agreement is not a St. Thomas problem; it is a Virgin Islands problem! We are well within our rights as tax paying, free residents of this territory. These projects are bigger than the proposed plan and our community needs to see the entire scope of this project, in its entirety. There is no way our community can effectively examine this project without all of the information in front of us.

The Alpine project will continue to be the focus of our attention as long as legitimate questions are left unanswered.

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