Comment Log Display

Dear Ms. Mary Nichols,

I am writing to support you on regulating Industrial polluters
that lead to increasing national global warming and local health
issues. Thank you for looking out for the little guys and
population affected by their offsite impacts.

 I found that under a California loop hole intended to allow
property owners to sand blast the exterior of their buildings from
1978, this Pre-cast company could actually sand blast 6 tons of
abrasive per day at cement walls outside with no protection to keep
their toxic cement dust from blowing on our food supply and
adjacent properties.   This dust contains a tiny particle that
can be carried in the wind miles away and can lead to silicosis and
other health related problems. Our County Supervisors did not put
any measures in place to protect the neighboring properties from
this outdoor sand blasting activity. Their high dollar attorneys
told the county it was to costly to sand blast inside.

My interest is a personal issue and describes how these Industrial
giant polluters avoided regulation. We moved to Yolo County and
located in an agricultural area.  The Industrial users found this
area as cheap ground and could strip it of its groundwater, pollute
and are not under a watchful eye. The county changed our
agricultural zoned area in the Draft EIR for the General Plan to a
120 acre Industrial park, in the middle of the best Class 1 soils
in California. The beautiful productive agricultural land was
bought last year by Danny Ramos of Ramos Oil, Clark Pacific –
Precast Concrete and other Industrial type interests. 


Industrial by definition has off site impacts. The cement
companies are the worst polluters.  Specifically the large
Industrial cement company that is relocating from West Sacramento
next door to us with batch plants, outdoor sandblasting and such.
They build complete sky scrapers, buildings and parking structures
for other cities, this means all of the impacts these cities would
have are now being placed on the backs of the properties that
surround this plant.  Their trucks drive down the road with the
structures and one can watch the cement dust blowing off the
structures in the wind and out into the ag fields.  This cement pre
cast company is in the middle of an agricultural area and
negatively impacts adjacent organic farms producing our nations
food supply on the West and South sides, homes for developmentally
disabled to the West and our ranch to the East and the Nelson Ranch
Foundation which helps adults with disabilties. We have tall trees
with nesting Swainson Hawks and I am worried this cement dust will
affect their young. If these Industrial companies had moved to the
City they would be on water and sewer and more scrutiny; but it was
cheaper to buy off the politicians and locate and pollute on county
land.

The people that lived and worked next to their plant in West Sac.,
sought me out when they learned I was fighting the comapny.
Hispanic men that worked at this factory in West Sac. who did the
sand blasting spoke to me and they mentioned  breathing/lung issues
and said they mainly did it dry to see and get the finish on the
walls etc...  The neighbors around their plant in West Sac. 
described issues of dust that blew over from the cement factory and
scratched their windows, paint on cars and would end up in their
homes. These people said they tried to do something about it, and
went to the city but no one listened and they were up against big
money Industrial groups and unions. After dealing with Yolo County,
I am begining to share their sentiments.

This company gets a lot of government work and funding, and should
be required to protect the environment from harm. However, they
also have deep pockets to politically fight regulation. I hope you
can implement measures to correct this loop hole that allows
outdoor sand blasting and to regulate these polluters.

Nancy, thank you for taking these guys on and please forward this
to the appropriate departments.


Sincerely,

BrendaECedar-blade
remove AT change to @ in email:-brendacedarbladeATyahoo.com