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State Clearinghouse <br />March 16, 2009 <br />Page 4 \ <br />This news article contains a good general description of this .flawed .and <br />failed site selection process. A copy is attached as Exhibit E. The newspaper <br />concluded "that process has failed again. This time, commissioners determined <br />the technical and community criteria,. and their weighting, then directed Olver to <br />follow them when judging .potential sites. Yet the consultant's puzzling results <br />pointed to larger flaws in the evaluation process:' Id. <br />Contrary to the EA's assertions of community collaboration,. the site <br />selection process has been fraught with community outrage. The leaders of the <br />three towns in Orange County (Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough) have not <br />participated in the decision-making. The sites were scored by consultants <br />unfamiliar with the area and raised many questions from the community. The <br />evaluation process was changed midstream. Written community input forms were <br />abruptly discontinued. Contrary to the representations of the consultant, most <br />residents near the proposed site were entirely unaware of the county's plan until <br />the decision had been made. The proposed site has, as the EA asserts, a willing <br />seller-one who appears to be using the process for financial gain and to secure <br />commercial zoning for his adjacent property. <br />._ . <br />- _ <br />~. , <br />A full analysis of the severe problems with the siting process is beyond the <br />scope of this EA comment letter. The important point to take away is that the <br />description of the siting process in the EA creates a completely false impression. <br />This was a process that was illogical, convoluted, directly opposed by the <br />community at large, and that ultimately resulted. in a badly flawed selection. <br />FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THE PROPERTY AND THE SURROUNDING <br />AREA <br />We have already discussed the serious mistake the EA makes with regard <br />to wetlands on the property. Unfortunately, this. mistake is typical of other <br />elements of the misunderstanding of the site and its surroundings shown in the <br />EA. <br />The.. Fro claims that there are no farmlands of significance. To the <br />contrary, this is one of two prime farming communities in Orange County. , <br />There are viable, working farms near the site, including several that are historic, <br />having been farmed by the same family for many generations. These farmers <br />are opposed to this site. for the waste transfer station for many. reasons, not least <br />of which is their safety as they take their farm equipment on the rural roads that <br />would be used by dozens of garbage trucks and large transfer trucks every day <br />