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Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com
The 3-minute interview: Robin Davidov
Matthew Santoni, The Examiner 2008-04-21
Why have Carroll and Harford had such different reactions to plans for new waste-to-energy plants?
The difference, I think, is that
How does waste-to-energy compare to increased recycling, which is being discussed as an alternative in Carroll?
Our first steps are to reduce, reuse and recycle. But not everything can be recycled. To those who say, “Let’s recycle more instead of burning it for energy,” it’s not an either/or.
How do you respond to citizens’ worries about the facilities producing greenhouse gases and pollutants such as dioxins?
Waste-to-energy plants actually emit less greenhouse gas than trucking and landfilling garbage because landfills produce methane, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Dioxins are really pervasive. We’re pretty sure — not 100 percent — but pretty sure they’re destroyed at really high temperatures.
Examiner
Members of environmental panel quit over incinerator vote
Limo group: Unlicensed drivers ‘everywhere’ during prom season
3-year-old boy critically injured in lawnmower accident.
NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police
Public safety positions funded
The 3-minute interview: John B. Townsend II
The 3-minute interview: Esther Johnson
The 3-minute interview: Sandra Quel
The 3-minute interview: James Williams
The 3-minute interview: Vaughn Bennett
The 3-minute interview: Barry Levinson
The 3-minute interview: Greg Hamm
The 3-minute interview: George Jones
The 3-minute interview: Natalie Eddington
The 3-minute interview: Ann Compton
State Hispanic population growing; officials rethink outreach programs
Hispanic population in Md., Va.
Public pressure prompts change in natural gas project
Sewage sludge critics urge ban on spreading
Madame Tussauds cuts ticket prices, citing economic factors
_____
Links to related materials on Carroll County Maryland’s future solid waste management decisions… Related to: 20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released
20080317 Recent columns on the future of Solid Waste Management in Carroll and Frederick Counties
20080309 The Sunday Carroll Eagle: “History will know us by our trash”
April 16, 2008
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Tomorrow the Carroll County Board of Commissioners will deliberate in open session and – hopefully – make a decision regarding the offer from
In The Tentacle:
March 6, 2008
Kevin E. Dayhoff
The February 26th joint meeting between
March 5, 2008
Making Trash Go Away – Part One
Kevin E. Dayhoff
On February 26, the
*****
Related: Environmentalism Solid Waste Management or
Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Recycling or
Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Waste to Energy
And:
19880900 To Burn or Not to Burn an interview with Neil Seldman
19960900 The Five Most Dangerous Myths About Recycling
“Pay as you throw” By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer Sunday, August 12, 2007
20070912 Carroll County EAC votes to promote recycling by Carrie Ann Knauer
20071112 Frederick County seeks Carroll participation in trash incinerator
Carroll County Times editorial from November 14, 2007: “Talk some trash with the county”
20080318 Frederick News Post Tourism Council opposes incinerator by Karen Gardner
20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released
http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/pubworks/sw-future/default.asp
Board of
Future of Solid Waste Dates Released
Commissioner Discussion on WTE Shared Facility March 28, 2008
Future of Solid Waste Options March 10, 2008, public discussion
Future of Solid Waste Options March 5, 2008, public discussion
Joint meeting with Frederick County Board of County Commissioners
February 26, 2008
Presentation on home composting February 28, 2008
Economics of a shared Waste-to-Energy facility February 21, 2008
Presentation of recycling policy February 14, 2008
Discussion of integrated materials management strategy November 19, 2007
Report on recycling and update on solid waste August 14, 2007
Environmental Advisory Council Meetings
County's electronic recycling March 11, 2008
Food waste composting January 8, 2008
Council priorities review December 11, 2007
Presentation on composting November 13, 2007
Resource assessment, continuation of EAC discussion on waste management October 9, 2007
EAC discussion on waste management September 11, 2007
Pay per throw, Recycling August 14, 2007
Municipal waste options July 10, 2007
Waste To Energy Option for Carroll County
U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration
Waste to Energy: Investment/Expense/Income
Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations on Addressing
Solid Waste in Carroll County
Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations (DPW's presentation)
Multiple Pathway Health Risk Assessment
Municipal Waste Combustion Ash, Soil, and Leachate Characterization
Carroll County Waste Reduction, Recycling and Buy Recycled Policy
Resource Assessment (Richard Anthony report)
Integrated Materials (Waste) Management System
Carroll County, Maryland Solid Waste Management Options (R.W. Beck report)
The 3-minute interview: Robin Davidov
Matthew Santoni, The Examiner 2008-04-21
Why have Carroll and Harford had such different reactions to plans for new waste-to-energy plants?
The difference, I think, is that
How does waste-to-energy compare to increased recycling, which is being discussed as an alternative in Carroll?
Our first steps are to reduce, reuse and recycle. But not everything can be recycled. To those who say, “Let’s recycle more instead of burning it for energy,” it’s not an either/or.
How do you respond to citizens’ worries about the facilities producing greenhouse gases and pollutants such as dioxins?
Waste-to-energy plants actually emit less greenhouse gas than trucking and landfilling garbage because landfills produce methane, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Dioxins are really pervasive. We’re pretty sure — not 100 percent — but pretty sure they’re destroyed at really high temperatures.
Examiner
Members of environmental panel quit over incinerator vote
Limo group: Unlicensed drivers ‘everywhere’ during prom season
3-year-old boy critically injured in lawnmower accident.
NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police
Public safety positions funded
The 3-minute interview: John B. Townsend II
The 3-minute interview: Esther Johnson
The 3-minute interview: Sandra Quel
The 3-minute interview: James Williams
The 3-minute interview: Vaughn Bennett
The 3-minute interview: Barry Levinson
The 3-minute interview: Greg Hamm
The 3-minute interview: George Jones
The 3-minute interview: Natalie Eddington
The 3-minute interview: Ann Compton
State Hispanic population growing; officials rethink outreach programs
Hispanic population in Md., Va.
Public pressure prompts change in natural gas project
Sewage sludge critics urge ban on spreading
Madame Tussauds cuts ticket prices, citing economic factors
_____
Links to related materials on Carroll County Maryland’s future solid waste management decisions… Related to: 20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released
20080317 Recent columns on the future of Solid Waste Management in Carroll and Frederick Counties
20080309 The Sunday Carroll Eagle: “History will know us by our trash”
April 16, 2008
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Tomorrow the Carroll County Board of Commissioners will deliberate in open session and – hopefully – make a decision regarding the offer from
In The Tentacle:
March 6, 2008
Kevin E. Dayhoff
The February 26th joint meeting between
March 5, 2008
Making Trash Go Away – Part One
Kevin E. Dayhoff
On February 26, the
*****
Related: Environmentalism Solid Waste Management or
Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Recycling or
Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Waste to Energy
And:
19880900 To Burn or Not to Burn an interview with Neil Seldman
19960900 The Five Most Dangerous Myths About Recycling
“Pay as you throw” By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer Sunday, August 12, 2007
20070912 Carroll County EAC votes to promote recycling by Carrie Ann Knauer
20071112 Frederick County seeks Carroll participation in trash incinerator
Carroll County Times editorial from November 14, 2007: “Talk some trash with the county”
20080318 Frederick News Post Tourism Council opposes incinerator by Karen Gardner
20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released
http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/pubworks/sw-future/default.asp
Board of
Future of Solid Waste Dates Released
Commissioner Discussion on WTE Shared Facility March 28, 2008
Future of Solid Waste Options March 10, 2008, public discussion
Future of Solid Waste Options March 5, 2008, public discussion
Joint meeting with Frederick County Board of County Commissioners
February 26, 2008
Presentation on home composting February 28, 2008
Economics of a shared Waste-to-Energy facility February 21, 2008
Presentation of recycling policy February 14, 2008
Discussion of integrated materials management strategy November 19, 2007
Report on recycling and update on solid waste August 14, 2007
Environmental Advisory Council Meetings
County's electronic recycling March 11, 2008
Food waste composting January 8, 2008
Council priorities review December 11, 2007
Presentation on composting November 13, 2007
Resource assessment, continuation of EAC discussion on waste management October 9, 2007
EAC discussion on waste management September 11, 2007
Pay per throw, Recycling August 14, 2007
Municipal waste options July 10, 2007
Waste To Energy Option for Carroll County
U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration
Waste to Energy: Investment/Expense/Income
Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations on Addressing
Solid Waste in Carroll County
Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations (DPW's presentation)
Multiple Pathway Health Risk Assessment
Municipal Waste Combustion Ash, Soil, and Leachate Characterization
Carroll County Waste Reduction, Recycling and Buy Recycled Policy
Resource Assessment (Richard Anthony report)
Integrated Materials (Waste) Management System
Carroll County, Maryland Solid Waste Management Options (R.W. Beck report)
This week in The Tentacle
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Tomorrow the Carroll County Board of Commissioners will deliberate in open session and – hopefully – make a decision regarding the offer from
In recent separate interviews with Carroll County Public Works Director Mike Evans, and Carroll County Commissioners Mike Zimmer and Dean Minnich, the conversation quickly turned away from the actual choice to the intellectual, critical criteria necessary in order to make such a legacy decision.
Both commissioners bristled over the political threats and emotional advocacy and pleaded for more scientific information.
Commissioner Minnich immediately identified science and long-term safety as a decision driver. Commissioner Zimmer also identified science; and both commissioners agreed that a thorough public education and discussion process was critical.
And what an education process it has been so far. In a series of recent conversations with a few old-timers, all agreed that we have never witnessed such an exhaustive and open public discussion and education process on any public policy decision or environmental issue.
Bear in mind, a review of my files indicates that this is my fourth go-round regarding what to do with trash in
Read the entire column here: How to Make Trash Go Away
Tom McLaughlin
Viva
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Roy Meachum
After the cardinals' votes are counted, a white plume from the Sistine Chapel tells St. Peter's Square and the world "We have a pope!" "Havemus Papam," in Latin, once the customary language within the
Nick Diaz
As your son or daughter and their friends were moving from elementary school to middle school, you may have noticed that a number of them did not want to be identified as “smart kids” – even though they had always done rather well during their elementary years. Some of them were afraid that they would be picked on by other students if it were known that they were bright. Others just wanted to fit in.
Monday, April 14, 2008
General Assembly Journal 2008 – Volume 9
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
It never ceases to amaze. The Maryland General Assembly Session is 90 days long, as defined in the state constitution. Legislators are summoned to
Steven R. Berryman
I would never pretend to write a biography or obituary for Charlton Heston, and certainly have nothing first hand to offer as does The Tentacle’s Roy Meachum, but I have been affected by his life and his death. And his work.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Roy Meachum
Lurking in newspapers' back pages, correspondents report there are riots along the
Roy Meachum
Much to my surprise, "Smokey Joe's Cafe" enchanted and George Clooney's new flick did not.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Chris Cavey
This week the General Assembly was dismissed from
An Open Letter to the Commissioners
Joan McIntyre
I want to thank you in advance of the adoption of next year’s budget. I do this primarily because I know this may well be the most difficult budget year in many of your careers. There will be very little thanks in this particular portion of your job.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wendi Peters – Mount Airy’s Steel Magnolia
Kevin E. Dayhoff
People were delighted to see former Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., last Friday when he came to
Tom McLaughlin
I have trouble equating human life with money. It’s like combining an apple and an orange to make a new fruit. Shakespeare and algebra simply will not go together in a publishable book.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bemoaning Rick Weldon's Farewell
Roy Meachum
The legislative process, state or federal, frequently invokes the image of grass growing; it is generally long and tedious, unmemorable. The real trick for a journalist comes from watching out for "moles," the bills that work slightly undercover, like the fuzzy critters.
How to Avoid Getting Run Over…
Farrell Keough
Sometimes you are the bug and sometimes you are the windshield. It seems that recently we taxpaying residents of
Monday, April 7, 2008
Steven R. Berryman
Enabling legislation passed by our Maryland General Assembly will allow
The Yin and the Yang of Annapolis
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
This place is really odd. There is just no more appropriate one-word definition. We begin our legislative session in middle of winter’s icy grip, and we end it in all of spring’s emerging glory.
Roy Meachum
Charlton Heston and I met a couple of times in
Timeline to date on the
April 15, 2008
March 2005 -
October 2005 - R.W. Beck presented their report on long term waste disposal options indicating that WTE may be the lowest cost waste disposal option.
January 19, 2006 – Carroll County Commissioners adopted resolution 658-06, which among other things directed the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA) to conduct a procurement for waste-to-energy facilities, as detailed in the R.W. Beck Report.
May 3, 2006 - Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in Waste News (the most widely read solid waste weekly periodical with a circulation of over 50,000. The RFQ was posted on the NMWDA’s website along with all addenda.
August 1, 2006 - The NMWDA received 12 responses from the RFQ (9) technologies/vendors were deemed qualified to submit.
October 6, 2006 – Request for Proposals (RFP) were released to prequalified vendors.
December 2006 -
March 26, through April 1, 2007 - Staff from
April 20, 2007 - NMWDA receives three WTE proposals from pre-qualified vendors.
July 14, 2007 -
September 29, 2007 – DPW staff and Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) held a workshop on solid waste disposal.
October 9, 2007 -
October, 2007- Based on a recommendation of the EAC,
November 15, 2007 - The EAC presented their recommendation on solid waste option to the Carroll County Commissioners.
November 19, 2007 - DPW Staff with the assistance of the NMWDA presented their recommendation to the Carroll County Commissioners
December 13, 2007 - DPW Staff, NMWDA, EAC and the Carroll County Commissioners had a panel discussion on solid waste disposal.
February 14, 2008 – Carroll County Commissioners adopted a
February 21, 2008 - DPW staff presented information on the economics of a WTE facility to the Carroll County Commissioners
February 26, 2008 - The
March 5 and 10, 2008 – DPW hosts public information meetings to explain the integrated materials management strategy for handling all of
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 003 of the
Thursday, April 10th, 2008 - Public Hearing: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 003 of the
Thursday, April 17th, 2008 - The Carroll County Board of Commissioners will deliberate and make a decision regarding the
The following is the statement read into the record by the
*****
Commissioners; on February 26, 2008 the Frederick County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to invite you to join them in a joint ownership project to construct a waste-To-energy (WTE) facility in Frederick County.
In 2006, the Carroll County Commissioners passed Resolution 658-06. That resolution gave direction to the Department of Public Works to explore many areas in search of a solid waste management strategy. One of the elements of the resolution was direction to work with the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority to gather information about WTE and examine all aspects of WTE including cost, benefits and risks. The resolution also required us to explore partnership options with nearby jurisdictions.
There has been a robust dialogue about reuse and recycling as much of our waste as possible. We are redoubling our efforts in the area of recycling and are happy to report that single stream recycling is having some measurable impact. In FY 2006, before single-stream went into effect, the residential rate was 22.7%. Today, the rate is 25.4% per household. This is an increase of 12%. At the same time the great public discussion that has happened over the past year between the Environmental Advisory Council, Department of Public Works, and the press has helped make people more aware of the importance of recycling.
You have indicated a willingness to expand our staff so that we can focus one person exclusively on the reuse/recycling issue. I hope the person we select will be a pleasant blend between a persuasive and passionate speaker, and a skilled technician with detailed knowledge of the dynamic markets that exist in the recycling world.
Recycling and reuse takes care of part of the problem, but there is still garbage. By accepting the
Commissioners; you have a statutory responsibility to provide a safe and sanitary means of disposal for all of the county’s waste. I feel that building more landfills or transferring our waste out of State is both economically unsustainable and a moral affront to the environment. Much of the European Union is moving toward banning all organic material from landfills. That is not a bad policy.
This is a legacy decision on your part. If you choose not to join
If you approve the joint venture concept, we will go about the process of soliciting Best and Final Offers from the two firms who are the finalists in the procurement process. Simultaneously, we will work out the details of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the approval of both Boards of Commissioners and the Authority. Each of our roles will be defined and procedures will be established to ensure an amicable working relationship over a long period of time. This process will take about 4 months. At the end, you will be asked to sign the contract and MOU. If you sign at that time, we are committed for the whole project baring failure of some sort on the part of the contractor or failure of the Authority to secure satisfactory financing. That point should occur about July, 2009, with construction starting about May, 2010, and operation commencing about July, 2013.
7 PM, Tuesday, April 8, 2008
(I attempted to “live blog” this event as I watched it on cable TV. If anyone who attended the event has any corrections, amendments, additions or edits – please be in touch and I’ll be more than happy to make the appropriate changes.) See also: 20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released and 20080408 Links to related materials on Carroll County Maryland’s future solid waste management decisions
This evening, the Carroll County Commissioners, the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council, and the Carroll County Department of Public Works held a workshop on the future of Carroll County Maryland’s solid waste options.
-----
At 7 PM Cindy Parr,
Some of the panel members she introduced included:
Robin B. Davidov, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority’s executive director
Neil Seldman, Washington-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research group that advocates for resource conservation
Members of the
Michael Evans, county public works director.
Representatives from Covanta Energy and Wheelabrator Technologies of
And others…
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7:06 PM The first question:
Nancy Dunn: The question I would have … whether the county staff has the will to operate a comprehensive recycling in the county?
Mike Evans answers yes.
Vince DiPietro: Why aren’t we taxing people who do not recycle? The proposed tax would be referred to as a “recycle tax and it would appear on the homeowner’s property tax…
Mike Evans: Approx. 50 percent of the waste that comes to the landfills is generated by households.
Dean Minnich: reiterated that there is an emphasis by the current board to increase recycling.
EAC member Sher Horosko discussed having a bar code on each household’s trash container so that the government may keep track of the disposition of each homeowner’s trash.
Mr. DiPietro wants to go after the house of anyone who does not recycle.
Penn Township representative Hejmanowski discussed his constitutional right to go through a person’s trash. In
Rebekah Orenstein: “Thank you for the meeting… It cheers my soul that the EAC is here.” She encouraged folks to go to the EAC web site to see their recommendations. [see: Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations on Addressing Solid Waste in Carroll County and 20070912 Carroll County EAC votes to promote recycling by Carrie Ann Knauer] We don’t want an incinerator. We do not want the airport to be expanded. We don’t want a police force.
Gentleman from Finksburg is in favor of an incinerator. Suggests that we bring in more trash and build a larger incinerator.
Mr. Evans discussed rail options that have been explored in the past.
(Another question – I did not understand who asked it): Has mandatory recycling been explored?
Mike Evans responded that it has been explored. It is a decision that the commissioners must make. Recent court decisions seem to support the ability of local government to implement mandatory recycling.
Robin Davidov said that
(A discussion ensued of various recycling rates in various jurisdictions. I wish I had recorded the various numbers…)
Penn Township representative Hejmanowski described his process of checking the town residents’ trash.
EAC member and Mount Airy town council president Dave Pyatt discussed
A long and complicated question was asked about the particulars of the efficiency of the proposed waste-to-energy plant and specific business aspects of the operation.
Dean Minnich remarked that he views generating electricity as part of recycling trash. The bottom line for Commissioner Minnich is it safe?
Mike Zimmer cited an Environmental Matters report (I did get the name of the report) which has determined the
Covanta and Wheelabrator representatives addressed some of efficiency questions such as: 650 KW hours per ton of trash. There was some discussion about a compare and contrast with the efficiency ratios of generating electricity with coal and or oil…
Mr. Evans then detailed the business considerations..
EAC Chair Karen Merkle explained that many of the studies have only had a short duration of perhaps 5 to 15 years and that her concern was the long term affects for as much as 50 years.
Robin Davidov explained that waste-to-energy plants have operated in
_____ 8 PM _____
There ensued a protracted discussion of epidemiological studies and the construct of the various studies…
Neil Seldman questioned why no environmental groups support waste-to-energy.
[See: “U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration,” signed by the Carroll County Commissioners on August 30, 2007. It is a two page document… and an action item on page two reads:
Mr. Seldman said that living next to waste-to-energy is dangerous. [See: Cumulative Health Risk Study for Dickerson Area Facilities]
That the only folks who are here supporting the waste-to-energy plant are the folks who have a vested interest... (Clapping – I missed some of his additional remarks…) He addressed a number of financial aspects of solid waste management. [See: 19880900 To Burn or Not to Burn an interview with Neil Seldman]
Robin Davidov addressed a previous question as to what if EPA standards are not met. She explained that has not happened in the history of the plants in which the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority has been involved.
Covanta representative: Covanta operates 34 WTE plants in
All of the communities in which they operate a plant have aggressive recycling programs.
He cited an example of one facility that has increasingly improved their recycling program. He noted some of the improvements in the recycling markets.
Wheelabrator representative: Wheelabrator operates 16 plants. Wheelabrator is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management - the largest recycling company in the country.
Dean Minnich: Wanted to know more about the difference in the East Coast recycling market with that of the West Coast. Paper is stronger on the West coast…
Robin Davidov remarked 70 percent of our recycled paper material goes to
Dean Minnich: asked if either Covanta or Wheelabrator have ever been sued for health impacts and their answer was no.
Sally Sorbello from Frederick Co. praised the CC EAC - - including the pay as you throw. She feels that we are getting premature. She said that there is no public support for a waste-to-energy facility in
John D. Witiak, Union Bridge advocated recycling strategies and believes that a recycling center would be a better alternative than an incinerator. [See: 20080402 Recycling is better than incinerator by John Witiak or find it here - Recycling is better than incinerator]
Karen from Brunswick and that she is against the waste-to-energy facility and in favor of recycling.
Mr. Witiak wanted to know why the county hasn’t hired a consultant to help evaluate the options. [See: 20080306 Timeline to date on the Carroll County Maryland Integrated Waste Management Decision]
Mr. Evans explained that this process began with a consultant and the county has utilized various consultants throughout the process.
Ms. Davidov explained visiting countries in
Dean Minnich discussed the challenges of 100 percent recycling and risk ratios associated with any decision we make.
A gentleman from Chesterfield Farms explained his operation of recycling and composting combined food waste, horse manure and yard waste.
The Wheelabrator representative gave an overview of gasification technologies.
Steve Cassis, Solid Waste Analysis Group in Frederick was concerned that the issued were being oversimplified and that the question is not recycling versus waste-to-energy…
The workshop ended at 9:03.