Sample Letter - Air Quality - Biomass

Please email this letter to the staff and Boards of Directors at the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District (don’t have 4 emails from Directors), Nevada County Planning Commission, and the Nevada County Board of Supervisors at the following email addresses:

Kyle.Smith@nevadacountyca.gov; danny.milman@co.nevada.ca.us; laura.duncan@co.nevada.ca.us; Terence.McAteer@co.nevada.ca.us; Mike.Mastrodonato@co.nevada.ca.us; jo.garst@co.nevada.ca.us; Jo@jogarstdesign.com; heidi.hall@nevadacountyca.gov; ed.scofield@nevadacountyca.gov;lisa.swarthout@nevadacountyca.gov; sue.hoek@nevadacountyca.gov; Hardy.Bullock@nevadacountyca.gov; julieh@myairdistrict.com; dawnl@myairdistrict.com; office@myairdistrict.com;

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]

Planning Commission
Nevada County
950 Maidu Avenue
Nevada City, CA 95959

Board of Supervisors

Nevada County 
950 Maidu Avenue
Nevada City, CA 95959 

Board of Directors
Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District
200 Litton Drive, Suite 320
Grass Valley, CA 95945

Dear Staff and Directors,

Subject: Opposition to the Proposed Alpenglow Sawmill & Glu-Lam Factory on Klondike Flat Road – Inadequate Air Pollution Controls – BACT – Project # PLN 23-0054 – CUP 23-0004 – APN 016-530-031

Dear Members of the Nevada County Planning Commission, Board of Directors of the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District, and Nevada County Board of Supervisors,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Alpenglow Sawmill & Glu-Lam Factory project. As a neighboring property owner, I am deeply concerned about the potential negative impacts on our local air quality and the health of our community.

The proposed project includes the installation of a biomass facility that will burn forest fuels. This type of facility is known to emit significant quantities of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM2.5). These pollutants are harmful to both the environment and public health, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

One of my primary concerns is that the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District (NSAQMD) does not have regulations as stringent as those of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), which has adopted Rule 231. Rule 231 establishes strict emission standards for industrial, institutional, and commercial boilers, steam generators, and process heaters. In contrast, NSAQMD lacks equivalent regulations to ensure the highest air pollution control standards for such equipment​ (Northern Sierra AQMD)​.

Without the requirement to implement Best Available Control Technology (BACT), the proposed biomass facility may not operate under the most effective pollution control measures. This could result in higher emissions of NOx, SOx, CO, and PM2.5, adversely affecting air quality in our area. The health of residents, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting health conditions, could be significantly compromised.

Furthermore, the potential increase in air pollution contradicts the objectives of the Nevada County General Plan, which aims to protect and enhance air quality for the well-being of its residents. The approval of this project would undermine these objectives and set a concerning precedent for future developments.

In light of these concerns, I urge the Nevada County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, the Board of Directors of the NSAQMD to deny the approval of the Alpenglow Sawmill & Glu-Lam Factory project. It is imperative that we prioritize the health and well-being of our community by ensuring that all industrial projects adhere to the highest standards of air pollution control.

Thank you for considering my comments. I hope that you will take the necessary steps to protect our air quality and reject this potentially harmful project.

Sincerely,