Health forum on Dutra plant postponed

<p>A community forum on health-care concerns related to the proposed Dutra asphalt plant just south of Petaluma has been postponed because additional speakers are needed.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>“We have two very strong technical speakers, but need to find at least one more speaker, someone with a strong medical background who can help decipher information provided on pulmonary and occupational diseases,” said Daymon Doss, executive director of the Petaluma Health Care District, which is facilitating the forum. </p><p>The forum originally was scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at the Petaluma Community Center in Lucchesi Park, at 320 N. McDowell Blvd. It will be rescheduled for a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in April, Doss said.</p><p>Alvin Greenberg, toxicologist for Risk Science Associates and Brian Bateman, director of engineering for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, each will speak at the beginning of the forum. Some questions submitted in advance by the audience will be directed to the speakers, followed by an open-mike period when members of the audience can directly present questions and concerns.</p><p>Greenberg and Bateman were chosen for their expertise and because they are not aligned with either proponents or opponents of the highly controversial, proposed plant, Doss said. </p><p>Besides trying to find a medical practitioner who can explain health issues related to the proposed plant, Doss also attempted to include a senior official from the Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department’s Planning Commission, but the department declined to participate. </p><p>The forum was proposed by Joan Cooper, a founding member of Friends of Shollenberger Park and Clean Air, as she raised concerns about the project during the PHCD Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 14. The proposed plant is located on the banks of the Petaluma River, opposite Shollenberger Park.</p><p>“She asked the board to facilitate and convene a community health forum regarding health-related issues that may be of concern because of the asphalt plant,” Doss said. “The board decided to do so, and to have the forum focus on health issues, not zoning or whether the project is within the urban-growth boundary.</p><p>“Our purpose for having the forum is to given Petalumans as much information as possible about health-care issues relating to the Dutra plant. We have no jurisdiction on the matter, and are being very careful not to take a position on it. We want to present an even, balanced, impartial forum.”</p><p>Cooper asked the PHCD board to consider writing a letter to Supervisor Mike Kerns, who represents southern Sonoma County, regarding the proposed project. The board unanimously passed a motion to send a letter to Kerns requesting that the board of supervisors complete all necessary EIR reports pertaining to the project and that appropriate health issues be addressed prior to the approval of the project.</p><p>(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)</p>