Saturday, June 02, 2007

Keep toxic waste out of Waycross!

(The following is from Gordon Rogers of Satilla Riverkeeper)

Governor Sonny Perdue has signed HB 325, giving the citizens of Ware County another tool they need to combat the placement of a subtitle D landfill in their community, a landfill that is proposed to be sited in altered wetlands which are tributary to a creek feeding into the Satilla . The bill allows a public referendum on the bond funds requested by the corporation seeking to operate the landfill in a leasing/operational arrangement with Ware County .

Ware County certainly must be responsible for, and plan for, its future with regard to waste disposal. Currently, the majority of Ware’s waste is shipped to the Broadhurst Landfill in Wayne County , a facility that has many of the same issues as the site in Ware. Therefore, Ware Countians share in the responsibility for impacts at that site. However, simply because there are similar issues at Broadhurst does not mean we should duplicate the problems on another disturbed wetland in South Georgia, particularly veiled in the lure of cheap landfill prices for residents subsidized by heavy waste streams coming out of Florida .

In related news, a local group, the Anti-Landfill Corporation, Inc. has filed suit challenging the validity of the contract between county officials and North American Metals Company, the Florida operation seeking to rail and truck waste into South Georgia from the Sunshine State .

Tremendous thanks goes to Representative Mark Hatfield (R-Waycross) and Senator Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) for guiding this important legislation through the House and Senate. Another hearty thanks goes to Randy Carter and other members of the Anti-Landfill Corporation for starting and continuing this important battle for their community and their environment. Deep thanks also to Jack Williams and the good folks at the Waycross Journal-Herald for doing a tremendous job of publicizing this issue, and for taking a strong editorial position against the siting of this landfill. And, thank you again to the Governor for signing the bill.

This fight is not over, but today is a happy day in this important labor.

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