The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will be on hand to solicit community input on: • The proposed Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for the Russell City Energy Center • The conditions of the proposed permit • The Statement of Basis document for the proposed permit Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2008 Place: Hayward City Hall 777 B Street Hayward, CA 94541 Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm The proposed Russell City Energy Center is a 600-megawatt, natural gas fired, combined-cycle power plant. The proposed facility would be located at 3862 Depot Road near the intersection of Cabot Boulevard in Hayward. The plant would consist of two combustion turbine generators, two heat recovery steam boilers, a steam turbine generator and associated equipment, a wet cooling system and a diesel fire pump. Project documents are available online at http://www.baaqmd.gov in the Permits section at the bottom of the home page. For more information please contact Daniel Smith, Public Information Officer with BAAQMD, at (415) 749-5130 or dsmith@baaqmd.gov.  Para información en Español llame al 415-749-4686.  View or Print out flyer

Eastshore Energy Power Plant Licensing Case 10/8/08 - Full Energy Commission denies license and certification for project, thus terminating the proceeding.  Hooray for the citizens who fought to preserve the air they breathe. Click here for more information  California Energy Commission's entire decision (559 pages)

California Energy Commission Action The following document is the most important in the citizens struggle to protect the air they breath.  Hooray for them.  A David and Goliath story. September 22, 2008 decision by the CEC regarding Rob Simpson's appeal.

State of California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Order on Petitions for Reconsideration Concerning Extension of Construction Deadline On July 30,2008, the Commission extended the deadline for the start of construction of the Russell City Energy Center ("RCEC"). (Docket No. 01-AFC-7C, Order No. 08-730-3 (July 30, 2008).) On August 27, 2008, petitions for reconsideration of that decision were filed by two groups of interested persons: (1) Rob Simpson ("Simpson"), Californians for Renewable Energy ("CARE"), Hayward Area Planning Association, and Citizens Against Pollution; and (2) CARE and Simpson. This order directs parties to file written arguments on whether the Commission should grant the petitions and establishes a hearing date of September 24, 2008 for the Commission to consider the matter. Section 1720 of the Commission's regulati~ns allows any party in a power facility certification case to file a petition for reconsideration of a decision or order, within 30 days after a determination is final. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 20, § 1720, subd. (a).) That section also lists the required contents of such petitions and specifies deadlines for Commission action thereon. (Id., § 1720, subds. (b)-(c).) The Commission must grant or deny a petition for reconsideration within 30 days of its filing. (Id., § 1720, subd. (b).) If the Commission does not grant the petition, the original determination stands. If the Commission grants the petition, that does not mean that the original decisionis changed; rather, it simply means that the Commission then holds a subsequent hearing (which may include the taking of evidence), within 90 days, to consider whether to change the original determination. (Id., § 1720, subds. (b)-(c).) The Commission will hold a hearing to consider whether to grant or deny the RCEC petitions for reconsideration at the regularly-scheduled Commission Business Meeting on Wednesday, September 24,2008, in Hearing Room A at 1516 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California. (Hearing Room A is wheelchair accessible.) The applicant and the Staff shall, and any other party to the RCEC deadline-extension proceeding may, file written arguments supporting or opposing the petitions. Such arguments must be electronically filed with the Commission and electronically served on all parties no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19,2008. September 03,2008                             By: Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, Chairman   Read Original September 3, 2008 Document

Excerpt from an article in the East Bay Business times EPA pulls air district permit for Calpine's Russell City plant in Hayward by Mavis Scanlon, Staff reporter July 30, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rescinded a pollution permit issued for Calpine Corp.'s Russell City Energy Center by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and ordered the air district to re-notice and re-open a public comment period before it makes a new decision on the permit. In its 42-page remand order issued July 29, the three-judge environmental appeals board of the EPA delivered a stern rebuke to the air district over the way it complied with public notice and outreach regulations for the Hayward plant's pollution permit, known as a Prevention of Significant Deterioration, or PSD, permit. PSD permits are required for construction projects that may increase air pollution emissions by any significant measure, and EPA regulations lay out very specific procedural requirements for public notice and a comment period before a permit is issued. In its decision, the EPA said, "the board concludes that the (air) district fell conspicuously short of its general outreach obligations by failing to adhere to the provision requiring a permitting agency to compile 'mailing lists" of persons potentially interested in receiving information about permitting activities." The remand appears to be only the third issued by the EPA on procedural grounds in the last decade. EPA officials were not immediately available to comment. The EPA appeal of the air district's permit was filed in January by Rob Simpson, a Hayward resident who is opposed to the plant. ----- July 30, 2008 - Calpine received authority in 2002 from the California Energy Commission to construct the 600-megawatt plant in Hayward. Today the company received a two-year extension for a deadline to begin construction; its current license for the plant called for construction to begin by Sept. 8, 2008.

Background events...

Consider this ... September 13, 2007 -- San Jose’s Calpine Energy Center sounds green, but it really stands for an army of noisy, gas-fired engines the size of your house spewing plumes of hazy brown smog across the greater East Bay, not just Hayward.   Calpine calls their plant the “Russel City” power plant, which sounds far away, but it is physically right here in the densely populated west side of the City of Hayward surrounded by businesses, residences, schools, eateries, shopping centers, churches, colleges, etc.    How polluting is this?   This plant will dump 35,000 LBS. OF AIR POLLUTANTS DAILY[1] into the air breathed by workers and residents in and around Hayward, Castro Valley, Union City, Newark, Fremont air. It is equivalent pollution of 2876 diesel city buses[2] running 12 hours/day or 1,470,000 Chevy Suburbans[3] with an average drive distance of 40 miles/ day (14,600 mi/yr) or 5,670,000 Honda Accords[4] with an average drive distance of 40 miles/ day (14,600 mi/yr). [1] 1348 pounds each hour of carbon monoxide and 97 pounds of nitrogen oxides, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. http://www.joannegardiner.com/ProposedPowerPlantinHayward.html [2] A diesel powered city bus produces 23 grams per mile of NOx and HC. Capital Metro bus pollution http://www.austinliberty.org/index.php?module=article&view=21&d0b3e3c8eacc9735fd3306f0d531a792=294505fc26032b12f4f2b571807a3adb average of 240 mi per day = 12.17 lbs./bus/day [3] “a 2005 Suburban at .27 grams per mile” Capital Metro bus pollution, ibid. [4] “a 2005 Honda Accord at .07 grams per mile” Capital Metro bus pollution, ibid.

People living and working in and around the one mile and six mile buffer areas will be most affected. Free to Everybody... especially those in the 6-mile buffer Main Pollutents from the two Energy Plants PM10 (particulate matter): A criteria air pollutant consisting of small particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 microns (about [1/7—the diameter of a single human hair). Their small size allows them to make their way to the air sacs deep within the lungs, where they may be deposited and result in adverse health effects. PM10 also causes visibility reduction. Nitrogen oxide (NOx): A general term pertaining to compounds of nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other oxides of nitrogen. Nitrogen oxides are typically created during combustion processes, and are major contributors to smog formation and acid deposition. NO2 is a criteria air pollutant, and may result in numerous adverse health effects. Carbon monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless gas resulting from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. CO interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body's tissues and results in numerous adverse health effects. More than 80 percent of the CO emitted in urban areas is contributed by motor vehicles. CO is a criteria air pollutant. Organic compounds: A large group of chemical compounds containing mainly carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. All living organisms are made up of organic compounds. Precursor organic compounds (POC) react with other compounds and can contribute to ozone. Sulfur dioxide (SO2): A strong-smelling, colorless gas that is formed by the combustion of fossil fuels. Power plants, which may use coal or oil high in sulfur content, can be major sources of SO2. SO2 and other sulfur oxides contribute to the problem of acid deposition. SO2 is a criteria air pollutant. Source: California Air Resources Board

No, No, it's a gift ... It is worth noting that in 2005 when the City of Hayward approved Calpine's Russell City Energy Center it was on condition of Calpine donating a $10 million dollar "gift" to the City of Hayward. (See the last paragraph on page 2 of the 10/11/05 City Manager's Agenda Report ).   Maybe they're not eating enough catsup ... Although the Eastshore and Russell sites are both zoned industrial, the City of Hayward Planning Commission recommended the City Council not approve the Eastshore site. In reading both planning commission reports it seems the Planning Commission applied the same reasoning in recommending disapproval of Eastshore as it did in recommending approval of Russell City.  (See the 2/15/07 Planning Commission Agenda Report ).  The difference seems to be the $10 million donation. In 2001 when the Planning Commission recommended approval of Calpine's application for the Russell City site its primary concern was the aesthetic affects the plant would have on visitors to Hayward via the San Mateo Bridge. No concern was expressed  about air contamination the plant would produce. (See report by Planning Commission ).  It can't be legal to inhale this stuff ... The proposed Russell City Energy Center (RCEC) on the west side of Hayward would be a nominal 600-MW, natural-gas fired, combined-cycle merchant power plant consisting of two natural gas fired combustion turbine generators, one steam turbine generator and associated equipment, two fired heat recovery steam generators, a 9-cell wet cooling tower, and a 300 hp diesel fired pump engine. The PDOC documents the Air Pollution Control Officer’s preliminary decision to issue an Authority to Construct for the proposed RCEC. According to the BAAQMD, the plant is designed to run round the clock, so the impact of high startup emissions is reduced. The proposed power plant would be permitted to emit the following maximum quantities of regulated air pollutants: Nitrogen Oxides 134.6 tons per year Carbon Monoxide 389.3 tons per year Particulate Matter (PM10) 86.8 tons per year Precursor Organic Compounds 28.5 tons per year Sulfur Dioxide 12.2 tons per year The emissions of nitrogen oxides (as NO2), carbon monoxide, particulate matter (PM10), and precursor organic compounds associated with this project will meet the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) requirement of District Regulation 2-2-301.1. The emission increases of nitrogen oxides and precursor organic compounds associated with this project will comply with the emission offset requirements of District Regulation 2-2-302.  Click here for the full report Sort of like musical chairs ... Or the old shell game ... Aerial view of original site for the Russell City Energy Center is bounded by red. That parcel is owned by Salen Broadcasting Company and is no longer the site of RCEC.  At the top of the photo is the City of Hayward's sewer treatment plant. Aerial view of new location on the Russell City Energy Center outlined in the red.  (See first paragraph on page 2 of 10/11/05 City Manager's Agenda Report ). Toxic dust good for biotech ... hmmm ... I didn't know that.  Only two people in attendance spoke in favor of the power plants. Scott Raty, President of Hayward's Chamber Of Commerce voiced support for both power plants.  "We believe that incorporating a use like this makes it attractive for other kinds of industry to be here, for example biotech," said Raty. "Hayward's got a pretty good concentration of biotech industries. It's important to them to have reliable energy." Supporters of the power plants say the new plants would also bring in property tax revenue, new jobs, and more financial support for the community.  They argue that upwards of $1 million dollars would be spent in the local economy as a result of the energy center being in Hayward. However, residents across Hayward disagree.  Kim Finn, who has lived close to the Eastshore site most of her life launched a letter writing campaign in February. To date, the California Energy Commission has received about 1300 letters opposed to the plan.  The need for power in the Bay Area and throughout California will continue to grow.  Decisions made by the CEC in approving sites for power plants should not be at the expense of people's health.  Perhaps it is naive to hope the CEC will keep the well-being of California residents foremost in their consideration of these power plant locations. Consider this ... Though these proposed plants are located on the west side of Hayward, the prevailing southerly and easterly winds off the bay will carry toxins across Hayward, the Hayward Hills, and to surrounding areas depending one the wind intensity.  These gas-engine plants release an enormous amount of toxic particulate matter into the air, the air you and I have to breathe.  We cannot go down to the store and buy a different brand of air because we don't like this one.  We can only breathe the air that surrounds us, period.  And that air should not be made toxic because people are too busy with demands on their own lives to raise objection. However, without public objection these plants will be approved by the CEC and they will be built.  And, that's a fact.

Is Hayward the next Pittsburg? Toxic Gas Leak Under Investigation May 27, 2007 - Pittsburg, Calif. (KCBS/AP) - "There's been a release from the Los Medanos Calpine power plant in Pittsburg," explained Randy Sawyer, director for Contra Costa County's hazardous materials program. "And basically what it looks like is being released at this time is chlorine gas and it looks like most of it is contained on site but the chlorine is very toxic and some of it could be going off site north side of the power plant. Sawyer said workers at the plant accidentally mixed acid with bleach, creating a chlorine gas. "It was definitely mistake, I think they hooked up a delivery truck to the wrong tank, but I don't know for sure," he said." The 500-megawatt Los Medanos Energy Center in Pittsburg, as photographed in May 2001, contains two natural gas turbine generators and one steam turbine generator. The natural gas generator is shown in the foreground. Hayward is up against the possibility of having two power plants located in the same area: Russell City Energy Center, a 600-megawatt combinedcycle turbine plant, and the hotly contested Eastshore Energy Center, a proposed 115-megawatt peaker plant. (Nader Khouri - MediaNews) Contra Costa authorities are investigating a chlorine leak at an energy plant in Pittsburg which required a precautionary shelter in place order. The order was in place for an area 2,500 ft. to the north of the Los Medanos Energy Station. It has since been lifted. Workers at the plant were mixing some materials and chlorine gas was released into the building, injuring three people. "We sounded the sirens in the area and we're sending out telephone messages to the people north of that area to shelter in place," Sawyer described the initial response. "It's a system that can call like 500 people at a time," he described the community warning program. "It'll call everybody that's north of the facility." Crews responded to the scene to neutralize the leak. Three people were taken to the hospital, but their injuries are reported as minor. According to Sawyer, chlorine can be a very harmful substance. "Chlorine can actually, if it's in concentrations high enough, if you breathe it it can affect the lungs very badly. It can actually produce an acid like substance in your lungs. It can be very dangerous to your lungs if you inhale it."   View Map of the Location

How to "Shelter In Place" Shelter In Place for Hazardous Materials Incidents Description: There was a hazardous chemicals emergency in Pittsburg.  Here is what those residents had to do to try to protect themselves. Instructions: People in the vicinity are advised through public address systems, phone systems, etc. to 'shelter in place' immediately. That means: Go inside, and close all windows and doors. Turn off all heaters, air conditioners, and fans. Unless you are using your fireplace, close your fireplace dampers and vents. Cover any cracks around doors or windows with tape or damp towels. Stay off the phone unless you need to report a life-threatening emergency at your location.  Wait and listen to your radio to be told when it is safe to go outside.

Meet one of your new neighbors?...  There will be 13 more just like it.   Above is a Wartsila 20V34SG natural gas-burning reciprocating engine. This is 1 of 14 engines in Eastshore in Hayward if approved by the CEC.  Fourteen of these humongous Wartsila engines, associated equipment, and towering stacks would comprise the Eastshore Energy Plant in Hayward near the intersection of Clawiter and Depot Road if approved by the California Energy Commission.  The plant would not be able to exceed annual emmissions of about 54 tons of nitrogen oxides, 84 tons of carbon monoxide, 64 tons of particulate matter, 76 tons of precursor organic compounds (POC) and six tons of sulfur dioxide per year.  However, many Hayward residents and Hayward business' object to breathing any of these pollutents.

The Air We Breathe ... What is ammonia? Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals in the United States. It is used in industry and commerce, and also exists naturally in humans and in the environment. Ammonia is essential for many biological processes and serves as a precursor for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. In the environment, ammonia is part of the nitrogen cycle and is produced in soil from bacterial processes. Ammonia is also produced naturally from decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals and animal wastes. Some chemical/physical properties of ammonia are: At room temperature, ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia and is hygroscopic (readily absorbs moisture). Ammonia has alkaline properties and is corrosive. Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water to form ammonium hydroxide, a caustic solution and weak base. Ammonia gas is easily compressed and forms a clear liquid under pressure. Ammonia is usually shipped as a compressed liquid in steel containers. Ammonia is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed to high heat. How is ammonia used? About 80% of the ammonia produced by industry is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Ammonia is also used as a refrigerant gas, for purification of water supplies, and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals. It is found in many household and industrial-strength cleaning solutions. Household ammonia cleaning solutions are manufactured by adding ammonia gas to water and can be between 5 and 10% ammonia. Ammonia solutions for industrial use may be concentrations of 25% or higher and are corrosive. How can people be exposed to ammonia? Most people are exposed to ammonia from inhalation of the gas or vapors. Since ammonia exists naturally and is also present in cleaning products, exposure may occur from these sources. The widespread use of ammonia on farms and in industrial and commercial locations also means that exposure can occur from an accidental release or from a deliberate terrorist attack. Anhydrous ammonia gas is lighter than air and will rise, so that generally it dissipates and does not settle in low-lying areas. However, in the presence of moisture (such as high relative humidity), the liquefied anhydrous ammonia gas forms vapors that are heavier than air. These vapors may spread along the ground or into low-lying areas with poor airflow where people may become exposed. What is ammonia’s mechanism of action? Ammonia interacts immediately upon contact with available moisture in the skin, eyes, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and particularly mucous surfaces to form the very caustic ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide causes the necrosis of tissues through disruption of cell membrane lipids (saponification) leading to cellular destruction. As cell proteins break down, water is extracted, resulting in an inflammatory response that causes further damage. What are the immediate health effects of ammonia exposure? Inhalation: Ammonia is irritating and corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation. Ammonia's odor provides adequate early warning of its presence, but ammonia also causes olfactory fatigue or adaptation, reducing awareness of one's prolonged exposure at low concentrations. Children exposed to the same concentrations of ammonia vapor as adults may receive a larger dose because they have greater lung surface area-to-body weight ratios and increased minute volumes-to-weight ratios. In addition, they may be exposed to higher concentrations than adults in the same location because of their shorter height and the higher concentrations of ammonia vapor initially found near the ground. Skin or eye contact: Exposure to low concentrations of ammonia in air or solution may produce rapid skin or eye irritation. Higher concentrations of ammonia may cause severe injury and burns. Contact with concentrated ammonia solutions such as industrial cleaners may cause corrosive injury including skin burns, permanent eye damage or blindness. The full extent of eye injury may not be apparent for up to a week after the exposure. Contact with liquefied ammonia can also cause frostbite injury. Ingestion: Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia from swallowing ammonia solution results in corrosive damage to the mouth, throat and stomach. Ingestion of ammonia does not normally result in systemic poisoning. How is ammonia exposure treated? There is no antidote for ammonia poisoning, but ammonia's effects can be treated, and most people recover. Immediate decontamination of skin and eyes with copious amounts of water is very important. Treatment consists of supportive measures and can include administration of humidified oxygen, bronchodilators and airway management. Ingested ammonia is diluted with milk or water. Will laboratory tests assist in making treatment decisions if someone has been exposed to ammonia? Laboratory testing for ammonia exposure will not be useful in making emergency treatment decisions. Medical tests that can detect ammonia in blood or urine are available. However, because ammonia is normally found in the body, these test results cannot serve as biomarkers of exposure. After exposure to low levels, ammonia is either rapidly cleared from the body or metabolized to compounds found endogenously at appreciable levels. Clinical indices of body ammonia or nitrogen levels after exposure to exogenous ammonia have shown no or minimal change from prior levels. Exposure to high concentrations is immediately and overtly toxic, generally providing an adequate basis for diagnosis. How can I get more information about ammonia? Call the following numbers, or visit the websites listed among the "Sources." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Response Hotline (1-888-246-2675) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1-888-422-8737) Regional Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) Sources: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2004. ToxFAQs for Ammonia. Division of Toxicology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA. Accessed May 6, 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts126.html Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2004. Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Ammonia. Division of Toxicology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA. Accessed May 6, 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg126.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2003. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Sheets. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA. Accessed May 6, 2004. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ammonia/index.asp The source of this article is the State of New York's Health Dept: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/bt/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_tech.htm

This page is a public service to the residents and business's in and around Hayward.   For information on buying or selling east bay homes, please contact me at 510-429-4800 or send me a note on the Contact Joanne form.  Sign up for email alerts Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker, e-PRO Realtor Advantage Realty 3205 Whipple Road - Union City, California 94587 (510) 429-4800 San Francisco Bay Area  San Francisco East Bay Real Estate Our primary realty service areas in the San Francisco Bay Area: Hayward, Castro Valley, Fremont, Newark, Niles, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Ramon, Sunol, Oakland, Foster City, Burlingame, and San Mateo. The types of real estate in which we specialize are:  single family homes, detached homes, attached homes, duets, condominiums, townhomes, garden homes, PUDs, manufactured homes, mobile homes,  income property, investment property, tri-plexes, four-plexes, apartment property, and special use properties such as churches for sale.