To the editor:
Brooke Adams' article entitled, "Geneva plans gas blanketing to trim benzene emissions," in your May 9 Utah County Section is clearly biased in favor of Geneva Steel.
No sources are mentioned that could counter the claims made by Dick Clayton (a lawyer, a non-expert on health effects of benzene) and other Geneva officials. It appears that Adams has simply copied Geneva Steel's press release concerning this matter.
Here are the questions the community which breathes the air that contains Geneva Steel's benzene deserves to have answered:
1. How much benzene is Geneva Steel currently putting into the air? Although Utah's Bureau of Air Quality had planned to conduct a Geneva-funded air toxics incentory, Geneva has reneged.
What, then, is the best estimate by Utah's Bureau concerning Geneva Steel's benzene into our air? How much of Geneva Steel's benzene will this gas blanketing capture? Will the blankeing cover all sources of benzene at Geneva Steel? If there is Geneva benzene not blanketed, how much?
2. What does Geneva Steel's benzene contribution mean to public health? what is "no detectable emissions" standard?
3. What are the reasons Geneva Steel gives for needing a 2-year extension beyond Sept. 1989 plus 90 days to cut benzene emissions--and what interim alternative to breathing benzene do they suggest for community breathers?
4. What support do Geneva officials give for stating that their request for an extension does not pose any health risk to employees or the community?
5. What other coke emissions variances or extensions has Geneva Steel requested and been granted by Utah's Air Conservation Committee? I know of at least one: An additional 2 years that Geneva is allowed to dump devil coke liquor on 300-degree slag. At that temperature, benzene evaporates intact into our air supply.
Linda R. Clark
President
League of Women Voters of Utah County