Joe Ratliff wrote this open letter in response to the Humboldt County Road Superintendent’s request for comment and/or suggestions from residents in regards to terminating the magnesium chloride treatments on the dirt roads in the Tycana area:
Dear Mr. Garrett:
This is in response to your correspondence to property owners of February 4, 2016, concerning dust control treatment on Tycana, Reins, Alice, Betty, Donald and Kathy.
I have lived on Alice Lane for almost 15 years, and we have an ongoing, serious dust problem in this area, with a significant amount of dust emanating from all the dirt roads. This problem has significantly gotten worse during this time frame due to the increased number of residential homes that have been built and the subsequently higher number of vehicles using these roads.
These are some of the reasons that I strongly oppose any action to remove the Tycana area from the Magnesium Chloride Treatment Program. I know from my past professional experience that Mag Chloride does help to reduce dust emissions from dirt roads. And, my living on Alice Lane for 15 years, while using these roads, has also substantiated that fact.
I have a different suggestion. I urge you and the county to seriously consider paving some of the heaviest used roads, such as Donald, Alice, Tycana and Reins. I don’t know if a comparative benefit/cost analysis has been done between having these roads paved or continuing to maintain them as they are. But as a long term resident of this area, I do know that the county spends a considerable amount of time and money in grading, watering, bringing in fill and mag chloride treatments.
I am a retired air quality management specialist, and I must emphasize that this area has some of the worse air quality I have ever encountered, and that includes Los Angeles County. And most of it is caused by dust and other air particulates from the denuded fields and the numerous dirt roads when generated by frequent strong winds.
Therefore, besides road maintenance costs, we are also talking about human health issues (especially children) and other related major problems such as constantly having to clean our vehicles and homes from dust and mud. I hope that you and the county seriously consider my comments.
Sincerely yours,
Joe Ratliff
Winnemucca
