Studies have shown that Claremont’s air quality has improved, and dust has been raised along Route 9

The results of two multi-year air quality studies are investigating complaints from residents of industrial areas in Delaware.
Residents near the Garden of Eden near the Port of Wilmington live in industry. But the State Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) said it found that many air quality indicators in the community were below state and federal health standards—except for dust. Officials said the dust raised nearby came from soil, concrete, broken vehicles and tires.
For years, residents of Eden Park have complained that dust in the air will reduce their quality of life. Many people even stated in a 2018 survey that if the government buys them out, they will move out of the community.
Angela Marconi is the head of DNREC’s air quality department. She said that nearby facilities that generate concrete dust have developed a dust control plan-but DNREC will follow up every month to make sure they do enough.
“We are thinking about watering the ground, keeping the ground sweeping, and keeping the truck clean,” she said. “This is a very active maintenance work that must be carried out all the time.”
In 2019, DNREC approved an additional operation in an area where dust emissions are expected. Walan Specialty Construction Products obtained permission to build a slag drying and grinding facility in southern Wilmington. Company representatives stated in 2018 that they expect emissions of particulate matter, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide to be below the thresholds in Newcastle County. DNREC concluded at the time that the proposed construction project complies with federal and state air pollution laws and regulations. Marconi said on Wednesday that Varan has not yet started operations.
DNREC will hold a virtual community meeting at 6 pm on June 23 to discuss the results of the Eden study.
The second study conducted in Claremont investigated citizens’ concerns about volatile organic compounds on the industrial borders of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. DNREC found that the levels of these chemicals that can cause many health problems are very low, similar to the levels at a monitoring station in Wilmington.
She said: “Many industries that were worrying in the past are no longer operating or have undergone major changes recently.”
DNREC will hold a virtual community meeting at 6 pm on June 22 to discuss the results of the Claremont study.
State officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control know that dust levels in the Garden of Eden are rising, but do not know where the dust comes from.
Last month, they installed new equipment to help them solve this problem-by looking at specific components of dust and tracking them in real time based on wind direction.
For many years, Eden Park and Hamilton Park have been advocating to solve environmental problems in their communities. The latest community survey results show residents’ views on these issues and their thoughts on relocation.
Residents of Southbridge will ask for more answers about the proposed slag grinding facility at a community meeting on Saturday.