Intel Air Emissions Meetings Set
A federal agency investigating health concerns related to Intel’s air emissions is holding public meetings next week.
The sessions will give the public in Rio Rancho and Corrales opportunities to meet with agency representatives to discuss health problems which could conceivably be related to Intel’s emissions.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the sister agency of the Centers for Disease Control, began investigating complaints of health problems in February.
Some residents in Corrales and southern Rio Rancho have complained of adverse health effects for more than a decade. Many of them blame Intel’s emission stream.
Intel officials have repeatedly denied the allegations.
Rachel Powell, an agency media officer, said the investigation is ongoing. “We’re still in the process of reviewing information,” she said Tuesday. “This is still a fact-finding mission right now, and we don’t have anything to report yet. “When we come into town, we’ll be meeting with residents and discussing their concerns regarding Intel’s emissions as it affects their health. That will set up a framework for us to move forward with.” Marcy Brandenburg of Corrales Residents for Clean Air and Water petitioned the agency to investigate Intel last year. “We are very excited that they are coming and we are glad that someone is taking time to discuss these health problems our community members have,” she said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “I’m excited. The agency has gathered a lot of information and the jury is still out, but this is a very important step.” It is the first study specifically targeting Intel emissions. Previous studies have targeted the entire Corrales/southern Rio Rancho airshed. Intel spokeswoman Augusta Myers said the company welcomes the inquiry. “If the ATSDR were to find something, we want to be the first to know about it,” she said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “We use extremely advanced air-purifying technology to remove emissions and we welcome their being here and aiding us in that process. It’s also important that we listen to those who have concerns. It doesn’t matter if it’s one or 100 people in the community, it’s important to us.” Last summer, the state Environment Department completed a two-year study of the Corrales/southern Rio Rancho airshed that cleared Intel emissions of being the cause of any ill health effects. The conclusion mirrors that of the Gradient Corp. risk assessment conducted for the study, stating it “did not find evidence that any of the measured or modeled chemicals are associated with increased acute or chronic health risks.” It says the data collected for the assessment were limited to about two months of monitoring and modeling, and that it is possible the health complaints .
are related to local pollutant emission sources, such as vehicle emissions.
Some scientists within both the Environment Department and the state Health Department disputed the results, saying that Gradient overstepped its scope of work and was not qualified to make blanket assumptions on the emission inventory.
They said that during the study period, several carcinogens were monitored numerous times above the federally recognized safe level. Many of those chemicals were linked to Intel by a scientist who worked on the emissions inventory component of the air study.
The ATSDR will analyze elements from last year’s study of the airshed: an emissions inventory, a monitoring study, a modeling study and the risk assessment.
The agency also will examine monitoring conducted by the Corrales Residents for Clean Air and Water over the past year and conduct interviews with the affected residents as well as state, local and Intel officials.