OCR Text |
Show Bureau to discuss BFI permit issue raised by citizens ty of the incinerator to the Jordan River, stating it may be too close to a water source. Each of Silver's concerns must now be addressed in writing before the Bureau may issue BFI its permit. per-mit. Others who attended the hearing spoke in favor of the facility. Richard Harvey, director of environmental envir-onmental health for Davis County, said he is "impressed with BFTs preparation." He endorses the construction con-struction of the incinerator. Harvey agreed that if built, the BFI incinerator will be in direct competition with the proposed autoclave, which would allow medical wastes to be incinerated at the Davis County Burn Plant. "We're pleased to have the competition," com-petition," said Harvey. With both incinerators in use in the county, infectious medical waste must be transported from out By JUDY JENSEN Asst. Managing Editor Concerns raised by opponents of the proposed North Salt Lake medical waste incinerator at a recent re-cent public hearing must be addressed ad-dressed by the Utah State Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste before permits are issued. Karen Silver, representing the Salt Lake Community Action Program, Pro-gram, told representatives of the Bureau who were conducting the hearing that her group is joining with the Sierra Club in protesting Browning Ferris Industry's (BFI) proposed facility. The permit discussed contains 29 conditions relating to the handling of solid medical waste. Silver cited over 20 "concerns" she has with BFI's application for the permit which would allow the company to proceed with construction plans. She questioned the procedures drivers would follow if an emergency occurred as they are transporting the infectious, hazardous hazard-ous medical waste to the proposed North Salt Lake facility. "It's up to the driver to scan all medical wastes for radioactivity, and I couldn't see a procedure outlined on how the driver is supposed to determine high or low levels," said Silver. She also questioned the procedure pro-cedure that would be followed if a spill occurs. Silver claimed the recommended rec-ommended procedure in the application ap-plication is unclear. Page 32 of the application suggests sug-gests if a spill occurs during transport, and the driver comes in contact with the infectious medical waste, the driver should immediately immediate-ly get to a shower and shower for 10 minutes. "They (BFI) suggest a local hospital would most likely allow the driver to shower. I think that needs to be guaranteed," Silver said. The proposed site for the facility is also a concern according to Silver. She questioned the proximi- centers, dental offices, nursing homes and medical laboratories. Harvey said his department will regulate all vehicles that will be used to transport the hazardous waste. If all of the questions raised at the hearing can be adequately addressed, address-ed, the Solid and Hazardous Waste permit will be issued. BR officials will then petition North Salt Lake for necessary permits per-mits to construct the facility. Company Com-pany officials hope to begin construction con-struction early in 1991. The project should take six to eight months to complete. The Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Hazard-ous Waste will meet to discuss the BFI permit Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Cannon Health Bldg., Room 125. BFI CONT. FROM PAGE A-3 of state to make both facilities profitable. The proposed BFI incinerator incin-erator has a burning capacity of 1,350 pounds per hour. It will be used to incinerate all infectious waste from hospitals, medical |