We first wrote about this situation ,about a month ago, when the idea of sending toxic coal from a Tennessee Spill into an Alabama landfill was in the planning stages.
Despite a number of concerns from residents, environmentalists and public officials a public hearing was never scheduled on this matter. Every two days for approximately a year 85 rail cars, containing coal ash containing heavy metals and other hazardous compounds, will trek from Eastern Tennessee through Birmingham all the way to Perry County, Alabama. This is at a minimum a 350 mile distance.
While local officials contend that this will produce jobs and economic development in the poor community, others are not so sure of the long term impacts to the health and safety and even economic stability of this
decision.
The local DA Michael Jackson and Congressional Candidate Shelia Smoot (AL-07) have recently weighed in on this matter and hopefully their calls for impact studies and public education will bring some needed attention. (read their thoughts below the thread)
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