State air quality representatives address asphalt emission for EDC

By Lisa Majors-Duff

DAQ staffers were invited to meet with EDC members Monday in a continuation of the commission's investigation into the probable impact of a proposed asphalt plant in Qualla.

County leaders placed a yearlong moratorium on such construction in May, after a Bryson City paving contractor announced plans to build a plant on the old Worley Farm property. Commissioners then asked the EDC to study the economic impact of such facilities and make a recommendation on the issue within the time frame of the moratorium.

Overcash explained that DAQ's air toxics program is designed around a set of "acceptable ambient level" guidelines for toxic air pollutants. The program is designed to protect public health by minimizing exposure to and risk from TAPs emitted from man-made sources, he said.

Overcash was one of five DAQ employees to address the EDC Monday. Others, including Mike Koerschner, Tom Anderson and Jeff Hayward, explained the permitting process required of those operating asphalt plants and how DAQ determines if a plant's emissions are within AAL guidelines.

DAQ monitors 105 toxic air pollutants using AAL guidelines, Hayward said. AALs were determined by the department in 1986 by setting the acceptable standards for the toxins at levels lower than what would affect humans, he said.

With these guidelines in place, DAQ uses computer dispersion models to determine if AALs are being exceeded beyond the fence line of a permitted operation, said Anderson, a DAQ meteorologist. These models take into account stack height, source material, flow rate and meteorological data, including wind, water, temperature and topography of the surrounding property, he said.

"North Carolina is only concerned with the AALs off the property," Anderson said. "The ones on the property come under OSHA guidelines."

After explaining briefly how most asphalt plants in the state operate and pointing out that most asphalt emissions come from the dryer, which is used to remove moisture from the rocks that are mixed with the petroleum, Koerschner said that 90 days after his department determines that " a facility will comply with our rules, then we issue them a permit."

After such a facility is permitted, DAQ inspects it at least once a year, he said. During these inspections emissions control devices are reviewed, as are annual reports and the source material, which in the case of an asphalt plant is the petroleum. Also, DAQ responds to all citizen complaints against permitted facilities within 24 hours and requires plants to report malfunctions of more than four hours.

" A lot of time, complaints are how we find out about violations," Koerschner said.

About six members of the Qualla community group opposed to Mark Fortner's asphalt plant attended the meeting and posed questions of the state representatives. Many of the questions centered around air, groundwater and noise contamination caused by asphalt plants.

" We are not here as proponents or opponents of asphalt plants," Overcash told the group. " I think (DAQ) has a good program in place to protect the citizens of North Carolina.

" We consider asphalt plants a small source (of contamination)," he continued. " I don't want one in my backyard, but (DAQ) can't regulate land use. The state statutes say that is a local issue."

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