We Write Letters

Opinions from the 33rd District Democratic Club

Fly Ash in Anne Arundel County

Letter to the editor:

The March 9th article in The Capital questioned the "many hats" donned by Torrey Jacobsen. Is he a fly ash activist or pro-union lobbyist? As an ordinary citizen who lives in Anne Arundel county near the fly ash landfill, what kind of hat he wears is irrelevant to me. The more important issue is the immediate and long-term health impact resulting from this site. Citizens have reason to be concerned about the environmental and health risks associated with this development. Anne Arundel county is a hot bed for lung cancer. Fly ash and its components are known carcinogens. In 2007, the American Lung Association gave our county a failing grade for poor air quality. Our houses and cars have been topped with fly ash dust and some of our wells contaminated. If development is allowed to proceed at Waugh Chapel South, who will do the continued monitoring of this area? Who is responsible both physically and financially for the regulatory system needed in this area? Until these questions can be answered and our assurances met, development should be stopped.

Jutta Schmidt
972 Summer Hill Drive
Gambrills, MD 21054