Former President Jimmy Carter reached out to Microsoft founder, philanthropist, and billionaire Bill Gates asking him to join a coalition which aims to keep millions of tons of toxic coal ash out of a Georgia landfill. Gates controls 32 percent of the company, Republic Services, that is seeking a permit to make the dumps. The action has been led by Dink NeSmith, the owner of the Jesup Press-Sentinel and two dozen other newspapers. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
Opponents of the Broadhurst Environmental Landfill near Jesup say the dump — which has already leached beryllium and other toxic byproducts of coal ash into the groundwater — would further endanger the water as well as creeks and rivers. Republic Services is seeking state and federal permission for a rail spur to handle up to 10,000 tons of coal ash daily.
“This will adversely impact some favorite streams of mine, where my father took me fishing many years ago,” Carter wrote June 28 in a handwritten note to Gates.
Carter’s letter underscores the range of tactics landfill opponents are deploying to keep more coal ash out of South Georgia landfills. They’ve filled public hearings, hired attorneys, penned strident editorials, lobbied elected officials, established an anti-coal ash website and filed countless comments with state and federal permitting agencies. All to keep Republic, the nation’s No. 2 waste-disposal company, from bringing as many as 100 train car loads of coal ash daily to Wayne County.
A decision this fall will be made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as to whether Republic Services will get the permit.
As much as 4 million tons annually of coal ash, which contains arsenic, chromium, lead and other toxic metals, could be imported mostly from other states.
The issue has been ongoing and NeSmith hopes with the help and influence of the 39th U.S. president, Bill Gates will take heed and action to “help to prevent this environmental derogation.”
At 91, Jimmy Carter continues to advocate for human rights with relentless and veracious fortitude and compassion. To honor him, over 170,000 people have joined the Facebook page Honoring Jimmy Carter and are sharing their thoughts about this remarkable man. In addition, many are also showing their appreciation by signing the Thank you note to Jimmy Carter:
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