Problem: PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS IN PA - Qualified public health professionals, with knowledge about human health risks, are not part of the decision making process when DEP issues its pollution permits. The health of people in toxic damaged communities, like the Greater Pottstown area, is sacrificed to major polluting industries because DEP’s pollution permitting process does not protect public health.

Questions:
Would you work toward and vote for the following:
1. To consider public health as a major priority in every pollution permit issued by PA DEP? YES______ NO______
2. To include environmentally educated public health professionals in the permitting process and have them certify that no adverse health impacts will be caused by whatever activity is being applied for? YES______NO______
3. To raise health standards and lower acceptable levels of contamination. These have continuously been weakened by the Ridge administration to accommodate polluting industries, at the public’s expense? YES______NO______
4. To include an analysis of the area’s synergistic and cumulative public health risks in pollution permitting decisions? YES______NO______

Problem: GENERAL PERMITTING is a dangerous process being used to eliminate the public from the decision making process. It allows things like the Pottstown Landfill gas pipeline to be permitted without protective analysis.

Question:
5. Will you vote AGAINST GENERAL PERMITTING and for rules that demand full public participation in a meaningful way? YES______NO______

Problem: POLLUTION PERMITS issued by DEP in June, 2001.
1. Occidental Chemical in Pottstown, one of the worst polluters in the state, was permitted to increase its HAZARDOUS air emissions, increasing health risks to tens of thousands of residents and children around and downwind of Occidental.

2. Pottstown Landfill was permitted to transport offsite, its extremely hazardous, corrosive, explosive, flammable, unregulated, ever-changing landfill gas, through a heavily populated area too close to schools, parks, residents, the Schuylkill River (a source of drinking water), and industrial railroad tracks which transport and store hazardous chemicals.