Candor NC- Tonight at a meeting organized by Candor citizens concerned about a proposed biomass incinerator to be operated by NC-CHP 1 LLC, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released their white paper Second Opinion: The Medical Profession Diagnoses Biomass Incineration. The white paper compiles statements of concern from medical organizations and professionals across the country who oppose biomass incineration. In an April 19, 2010 letter to North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Dee Freeman, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians stated, “Biomass burning of poultry litter and wood wastes creates emissions of particulate matter that research has shown increase the risk of premature death, asthma, chronic bronchitis and heart disease.”

Therese Vick, BREDL community organizer and author of the report points out that “Biomass incineration uses the same dirty technology and inadequate pollution control as any other combustion process, and emits the same poisons. The citizens of Candor who are organizing to oppose this facility have abundant reason to be concerned about its effect on their community.” Vick concludes, “It is time that policy makers listen to their doctors- and stop the pandemic of biomass incineration.”