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)
Perry County DA Michael Jackson calls this decision tragic.
The federal government's decision to let the Tennessee Valley Authority bury tons of coal ash at a landfill in a poor Alabama county is "tragic and shortsighted" and will endanger generations of residents, a state prosecutor said Tuesday.
Perry County District Attorney Michael Jackson said he would monitor the disposal process to make sure the landfill operator and the federal utility comply with environmental regulations.
But Jackson said he doesn't know if anything can be done to block the shipments.
Congressional Candidate Shelia Smoot (AL-07) who would represent the citizens of Perry County has also issued a statement calling for a public hearing so that citizens can be more informed about the plans. The backstory is that decision was made without public input or knowledge of how this material would be transported.
As a lifelong advocate for the "consumer," I feel and have always felt that it is the duty of our leaders to balance the benefits of jobs and business with the safety of its citizens. I am concerned that a substance considered toxic in Tennessee can be harmless to transport through Alabama and stored in a landfill in Perry County. The citizens of Alabama have the right to know the real risks involved in accepting the coal ash.
I am calling on EPA and TVA, the two agencies charged with the protection of the environment and health issues with respect to the coal ash, to hold a public meeting to discuss the risks and plans for the ash as well as to hear the concerns of the citizens. In that public meeting, I would hope that we would learn of the real risks involved in accepting the ash and the precautions that are being taken to combat those risks. We need to be assured by TVA/EPA of the safety of the transportation and storage of the ash. We need a public outreach program that maintains lines of communication with the public and provides off set funds to benefit the entire community. And finally, I hope we would see a plan for the future testing of the soil and water surrounding the landfill ensuring we have a partner in the Federal Government through the life of the coal ash.
I understand the need for balance and the potential economic impact for Perry County. In this economy and particularly my long suffering district, I will never stand in the way of job growth. However, it is my belief that we need to have unqualified assurances from the Federal Government that future generations will not pay the price for short term economic development. Furthermore, I want to insure the safety of the citizens along the path of transportation of the coal ash. It is my belief that all effected Alabamians have a right to be educated about these risks, have their concerns heard, and have the assurance of safety for their families.
For more background on this story also read this diary from Left in Alabama that analyzes the economic benefit as well as doing a great job of explaining the political context of this decision locally.
Unfortunately it appears that this rush job already resulted in this landfill being the storage point of the coal ash. However, the public input should still be considered as well as long term communication to make sure that the citizens are aware of the risks in transport as well as the real economic benefits.