Trucking biosolids a bad deal
The old mines in Copperhill, Tenn., left an indelible environmental imprint in the tri-state area. Today, a proposed Reclamation Pilot Project threatens to cause even more harm to our natural resources.
According to government documents, the “municipal wastewater residuals” (biosolids) for the Copperhill project would come from the South Cobb, Noonday and Northwest Wastewater Reclamation Facilities in Cobb County, Ga. While transportation was promised “via sealed trailer trucks,” at least one trailer leaked a large amount of liquid after being stopped by law enforcement officers.
The newest route for these biosolids has Atomic Transport trucks using Georgia 60 to cross the North Carolina border, connect with U.S. 64 and head toward Ducktown, Tenn. That means Cherokee County is facing environmental harm from a project that will be of little to no benefit to us.
On June 16, Polk County Executive Robby Hatcher sent a letter to numerous officials asking that transportation of biosolids through his county be stopped immediately. We’d like to see Cherokee County’s governmental leaders take a similar stand.
Community comes together
Ronney Freeman Sr. is a resident of Turtletown, Tenn., who two years ago decided to be a force for positive change.
So he partnered with Dee Dee Deal, owner of Kick Start convenience store, to start a petition to repave Runion Road, a through street that was so damaged it has been difficult to even drive 20 mph on it.
We’re happy to report that this month, the road work is finally starting. To help prepare for it, and despite his own medical challenges, Freeman and others got together on July 8 to pick up 11 bags of trash, which is on top of other significant cleanup efforts in the eastern Polk County community. We salute their efforts.
Freeman’s persistence and desire to help his neighbors – with the capable and enthusiastic assistance of people like Mike and Karen Herring, Frankie Womble, William Wallace, Michelle Degner and Deal – should inspire other communities that have needs residents want to address. It won’t happen overnight, but good things can happen when you find common ground and work together to identify the problems and overcome any obstacles.
– Publisher David Brown