Letters to the editor

The Baltimore Sun

More toll roads the wrong route

After reading the article "I-95 changes rev up drivers" (July 1), I am shocked to see that people are accepting the idea of toll roads. Don't we pay enough taxes in this state!?

I can't believe passing the cost on to us is the only way to make this happen. I can't be more opposed to the idea. In my opinion, they should add more roads (general purpose roads, not toll roads!) and try to find ways to add more public transportation in and around Baltimore City.

For example, do they realize how less congested I-95/895 would be if there were a light rail system running from White Marsh to Baltimore? I live in Harford County and work down by BWI. I already pay a hefty amount to get back and forth to work. I have to pay a toll through the tunnel every day. Also, I am paying out more with the higher gas prices.

About six months ago I received a letter in the mail from the MTA soliciting feedback about the proposed changes to I-95. Specifically, my letter asked about the changes from the Harford County part of I-95 (i.e. should they add toll roads, general purpose roads or leave everything as it is). They also said in the letter they were asking people in the White Marsh area the same question. What happened to those results? It sounds like they are having public meetings to solicit feedback. I'd like to hear the results of what people said with the mail in (or e-mail in) feedback.

Paul McNulty

Abingdon

Sewage sludge poses a threat

Many of us have assumed that sewage sludge ("Crying foul over sludge," July 1) was the major environmental problem we faced, and we have focused our research in that area. The E. coli-contaminated spinach and lettuce outbreaks traced back to Salinas Valley, Calif., shed new light on the 76-plus million food-borne illnesses we endure each year.

The Salinas Valley has 43 miles of pipeline full of sewage effluent being used to irrigate the crops you might eat raw. Further research has shown that the waste industry is promoting the use of sewage effluent, that cannot be released to rivers, as safe irrigation water for crops, schools, playgrounds, lawns and even to flush your toilet in new housing developments.

It would appear that the Clean Water Act has failed so completely, and the rivers have become so polluted, the industry has to find someplace else to dispose of the sewage effluent and the CWA does not apply to land disposal.

So what we end up with is billions of dollars spent on building treatment plants to separate sewage effluent from sewage sludge and then mix them back together again - to fertilizer and irrigate the grass on school yards to make it green.

We do wonder why our children get sick, don't we?

Jim Bynum Smithville, Mo.

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