Spring, 1997
Kaiser's PR Fouls the Air
Opposing Kaiser Cement's plan to burn tires for fuel, 6,700 residents have signed cards and letters that were delivered to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. As a result, Kaiser Cement, owned by British multi-national Hanson PLC, has not burned a tire since its test burn in 1996.
Trying to sway public opinion, Kaiser Cement has recently hired a public relations consultant from CH2MHill. Its first tactic is to set up a citizen's advisory panel or CAP. Used effectively elsewhere by polluting corporations seeking permits, CAPs are composed of people selected by the corporation from the community, stacked in favor of the corporation, allowing it to claim community support.
West Valley Citizen's Air Watch (WVCAW) answered Kaiser Cement's invitation to two of its members by exposing Kaiser's CAP as a public relations tactic."Not once has Kaiser answered our letters ...(yet)... Kaiser is now aggressively pushing creation of a CAP, in which ...they suggest they will finally begin to address our questions and issues," wrote WVCAW.
The proposed CAP doesn' t include key organizations and experts in the community. Also, the proposed facilitator is being paid by Kaiser and has in the past and present been assisting Kaiser in handling community concerns about Kaiser operations.
According to the 1995 Air District Toxic Inventory, Kaiser Cement's toxic emissions increased by 20% over the previous year--just burning coal. Kaiser Cement's 1996 tire-burning test showed burning tires would increase toxic emissions and particulate matter.
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