As physicians concerned about human health and patient welfare, we, the undersigned, hereby request the Pennsylvania DEP to reverse its recent decision to permit the burning of Pottstown Landfill gas at Occidental Chemical. In accordance with the policies of the American Medical Association, physicians must encourage preventive as well as corrective medicine. Just as the presence of lead in household paints and pipes can severely damage human development, so can unmitigated exposure to other pollutants degrade human health. It is unacceptable for DEP to permit a 310% increase in hazardous air pollutants dangerously close to our community's hospital. As our Hippocratic Oath requires us to "First do no harm," so must PA DEP "First do no harm" to the residents of the greater Pottstown area.