Ravenous devourers of energy, cryptocurrency mining operations whirl 24/7 consuming more energy each year than entire countries. One energy source is to burn Tire Derived Fuel (TDF). Mountain sized piles of TDFs are proposed to be devoured along with waste coal by Panther Creek belching out emissions that will pollute local air and water unless combustion occurs in a well-designed, well-operated and well-maintained combustion device.

Scary? Even more so is that Panther Creek does not currently monitor it and the amount of carcinogenic PAHs release into the atmosphere by their operation.

“Electrostatic precipitators” which would help reduce dangerous emissions are not to be installed as part of emissions control equipment if DEP approved Panther Creek’s application. Even the upgrading of aging “bag house” filters is not in the picture.

Tire shreds are added to dirty waste coal to produce the energy needed to keep this behemoth going. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) found burning tires creates and releases into the air and our environment significant emissions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). PAHs are known to cause at least seven carcinogens. EPA is just now upgrading its regulation of Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons in TDF.

Nesquehoning residents and Carbon County are on the short end of this stick. We are the dumping ground. The tire shreds and waste coal will be trucked in from outside the county. The residents around Panther Creek suffer the smell, pollution and health impacts. Yet for Panther Creek operating in Carbon County is a good deal. The PA taxpayer and Carbon County residents heavily subsidize Panther Creek to run its plant and they do not have to be a good neighbor to the community.

One letter writer to this paper summed it up best: Let’s speak in one voice to get this plant closed or to get them to implement changes to prevent further health issues.

Lucy Freck

Kunkletown