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From:K Brazil
To:Clerk of the Board
Subject:Public Comment 10/14/25 meeting non agenda item 4.2
Date:Monday, October 13, 2025 8:43:34 PM
Hello,
This is my public comment for the record.
I am writing to address the fact that the best interests of your constituents are being ignored
and overlooked by both the County Board of Supervisors and the City of Oroville
representatives with the support and continued pursuit of bringing Biomass big industry to the
disadvantaged community of Oroville. I question who is set to gain financially? I question
who of you is personally willing to jeopardize the health of the people you serve in favor of
profit? The grave health risks of particulates that are generated in the process of Biomass
plants are well known as well as the potential for serious plant accidents. Is the City of
Oroville equipped to handle haz mat emergencies of such serious toxic levels?
I am concerned that the departments of the Butte County Public Health, Butte County
Regional Air Quality Board, Butte County Environmental Health as well as Butte County
Public Works have not seemed to have weighed in on this major decision of bringing in
Biomass facilities to Butte County, that will impact all County residents. I question the
decisions being made BEFORE any public outreach. Where is the transparency about building
Biomass plants in Oroville? Have tribal representatives being consulted? Have local daycares
and school boards been made aware that the air will be compromised for the students that
attend schools and families that recreate and play outdoor sports in Butte County?
I wrote to my district supervisor about my concerns of Biomass facilities being proposed in
Oroville and the response from his office was it is “not a County issue.”
This is a very concerning response and seems negligent to the good people of Butte County.
Allowing industrial Biomass to operate in Oroville is indeed a County issue, even more so
since If I am correct, I believe the proposed sites reside in unincorporated County properties,
or that may be another topic as the City of Oroville seeks to annex County parcels? Either way
allowing Biomass facilities in the disadvantaged community of Oroville is not an acceptable
nor is it addressing the 2025 issues of environmental justice for its residents.
Please read these links and educate yourselves.
The Health Dangers of Wildfires Are Well Known, Why Not
Biomass? https://www.lung.org/blog/dangers-wildfire-known-biomass
The American Lung Association says how toxic biomass is to our lungs.
“These particles are so small that they can enter and lodge deep in the lungs, triggering
asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and even death. Burning biomass also releases carbon
monoxide (https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/indoor/indoor-air-
pollutants/carbon-monoxide.html), leading to headaches, nausea, dizziness, and in high
concentrations, premature death. Burning biomass for electricity also produces nitrogen oxides
(like nitrogen dioxide (https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/outdoor/air-
pollution/nitrogen-dioxide.html)) and nasty cancer-causing chemicals, including benzene and
formaldehyde.”
“While these pollutants are harmful to us all, they pose even greater health risks for millions
of more vulnerable Americans, such as infants and children, older adults, individuals with
respiratory or cardiovascular disease, and diabetics. Too often, power plants are located where
lower income communities live or work. People in lower income communities are even more
vulnerable to these pollutants.”
https://www.nrdc.org/bio/sasha-stashwick/health-groups-congress-burning-biomass-bad-
health
I am a concerned citizen.
K Brazil