Asphalt Batch Plants

Sumner is a beautiful quaint little town. It is in a valley where the smell of asphalt would ruin our little town, make it an unpleasant place to live, might make people sick and will have a negative impact on property values. The smell will stagnately settle in this valley I am adamantly opposed to it. Why not build it on a higher elevation where it will not be surrounded by valley walls and will dissipate? And build it in a remote area further away from this highly populated residential area here in the valley?
Shirley Ely

I think it would be a shame to allow an asphalt production facility to move into Sumner. It would only hurt our air quality, and it would increase the volume of noisy trucks on our roads.

Sumner City Council must vote to continue their IDR prohibiting new asphalt batch plants in Sumner in order to allow for additional studies. The Location and size of a potential asphalt batch plant on the Corliss property constitutes an emergency to conduct a full comprehensive study of its impact on Air Quality, Water Quality, Health impacts, Property Value degradation, Traffic, and effect on Salmon Creek and the Threatened Species that live there. The Centers for Disease Control CDC NIOSH Guide to chemical hazards states exposure to asphalt fumes cause irritation eyes, respiratory system (potential occupational carcinogen) and causes skin tumors in animals. The health facts alone is enough to declare an emergency to validate an IDR requiring complete study.

I am a homeowner in Sumner and believe this is a really bad idea. One of the biggest draws in Sumner is our wonderful WMCA. This is hardly any distance from the proposed facility. Who is going to want to go workout breathing in that on your way in and out?

the question before the public hearing was: Should the city continue to study this issue. I believe that the answer to that question is yes. The community and the council needs all the facts before a final zoning decision is made. I know that people were quoting facts that they found - but I don't believe anyone has all the facts and the decision needs to be made from solid facts, and not emotional statement. I appreciate the council for working for us, not just as individual citizen but for the future of our community. My hats off to the council.

We do not need or want a asphalt plant in this town. This town is in a valley and all pollution from such a plant will hang in the air making it unbearable to breath and enjoy our homes. Property values will plummet because of this do not allow this to take place. It will ruin this community

We do not need or want a asphalt plant in this town. This town is in a valley and all pollution from such a plant will hang in the air making it unbearable to breath and enjoy our homes. Property values will plummet because of this do not allow this to take place.

I do not want an asphalt plant built in Sumner for the following reasons: traffic, noise and air pollution. In addition, the plant will take away some of the charm of this town. We just moved over the summer from Bonney Lake to Sumner. One of the reasons we moved to Sumner was for its charm. An asphalt plant will definitely take away from the charm of this city.

Short-sighted leadership: Sumner became a parking lot for the Sounder.... then North Sumner became warehouse cement wasteland with trucking routing through town... the warehouses provide little tax revenue and turned this town into a micro-city with little tax revenue...
Now leadership is going to support a smelly asphalt company that provides little tax revenue and few jobs.
Don't crap on our little city, again...

It's interesting the the Council already made "zoning code changes related to an existing mineral extraction company"(prompting the IDR) if no such asphalt batch plant is being planned. Although the city states they have "not received an application for a new asphalt batch plant" it's obvious some discussion has taken place behind the scenes.

I do not want my property value diminished let alone the TOXIC CHEMICALS. I will not allow you to expose myself and children to such nasty cancer causing, reproductive harm, etc from the plant.

No way. Now how. This is unacceptable.

“Asphalt processing and asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, and toluene. Exposure to these air toxics may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems and skin irritation." [EPA]. According to one health agency, asphalt fumes contain substances known to cause cancer, can cause coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, severe irritation of the skin, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. [NJDHSS] Animal studies show PAHs affect reproduction, cause birth defects and are harmful to the immune system. [NJDHSS] The US Department of Health and Human Services has determined that PAHs may be carcinogenic to humans. [DHHS]

Flawed Tests Underestimate Health Risks. In addition to smokestack emissions, large amounts of harmful "fugitive emissions" are released as the asphalt is moved around in trucks and conveyor belts, and is stored in stockpiles. A small asphalt plant producing 100 thousand tons of asphalt a year may release up to 50 tons of toxic fugitive emissions into the air. [Dr. R. Nadkarni] Stagnant air and local weather patterns often increase the level of exposure to local communities. In fact, most asphalt plants are not even tested for toxic emissions. The amounts of these pollutants that are released from a facility are estimated by computers and mathematical formulas rather than by actual stack testing, estimates that experts agree do not accurately predict the amount of toxic fugitive emissions released and the risks they pose. According to Dr. Luanne Williams, a North Carolina state toxicologist, 40% of the toxins from asphalt plant smokestacks even meet air quality standards and for the other 60% of these emissions, the state lacks sufficient data to determine safe levels.

Even if an asphalt plant meets all air pollution standards, people living nearby are still exposed to cancer-causing substances that can cause long-term damage.”

I do not want this in my area.

This needs to put to a stop to not bring the charm and value of the homes and businesses in our area. To be a thriving town, we can't be selling out to industrial businesses so close to homes. Let's focus on our infrastructure to improve our daily quality of life and bring back the charm this old Town has.

Just like building more crowded apartment complexes, tall parking structures and the likes, bringing an asphalt plant, or any other type of chemical-like plant, will negatively impact the people of Sumner. Our kids and elderly will suffer, our house value will plummet and we will successfully destroy the last shred of charm this town has. We moved here to enjoy a peaceful and quiet lifestyle, not to worry over crime, growing traffic issues and now health concerns. Is there a particular reason for why you, the City, keep implementing all of these platforms for comments and concerns but are literally ignoring them and moving forward with the plan to allow these unhealthy and money-grubbing businesses to come into town? Is destroying this town the ultimate goal?

I do not want an asphalt plant in our community. Any small amount of research in asphalt plants speaks to the detriment to the surroundings area. The proposed site is within blocks of residential housing. The request to change the zoning is the first step toward the building of this plant. Do not allow this asphalt plant ruin our community.

Smelly asphalt plant and 4 story building in downtown Sumner? Have you seen what what the city of Auburn WA looks like? People need places to park not live and work.

We do not want this in our community, it's toxic! We don't want a town that smells, we don't want the extra traffic, we don't want the pollution! Save the tax payers money being spent on this study and just say no now. Keep Sumner safe, clean properly represent the people of this city. We are saying NO

I dont feel the city is listening to the citizens of Sumner. I have lived in Sumner most of my life and have seen the changes over the years. Recently I and my family have become more concerned because the city doesnt seem to be taking the health and safety of its citizens into their decisions to increase the density of the city, not when they approved new businesses. This seems to be the case here with the asphault plant. I have not talked with one neighbor, friend or relative that lives in sumner that feels allowing the plant is a good idea. I see the same on social media. I never see anyone stand up and say building the plant is a good idea. So why are the few we elected overruling the masses that voted for them. Why is it been done in what is viewed as sneaky and slimey. People have the opinion that it was being slid in without the voters knowing what was being done. Many I talk to state that they feel that council members and the mayor will personally profit from the plant being built. I and my family dont think the plant being built is good for the city and its citizens. It will not enhance our lives. It will not enhance our city. We also feel beleive that no matter what we feel, the council and mayor will never listen to us. There is a disconnect and until the council puts citizens before business our city may continue to grow but as it does it will also be dying and become a place many of us will no longer want to call home.

Raising a family near a toxic chemical plant that is known to cause cancer, among other health issues, is not what our family will put up with. We will gladly move out of Sumner if this happens.