Minutes 05-17-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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partner with RENA. I've presented the results of the well and septic system failure analyses that we did with the students of the Engineers Without Borders program at UNC, which led to a partnership with Tom Konsler and Rosemary Summers. I also led an air pollution study with the residents to investigate the relationship between air pollutants specific to releases from landfills and impacts on health and quality of life in this community. Most recently, I was working with the same students at the Engineers Without Borders group to identify these illegal dumping sites that have been known by the residents to exist as a magnet for the solid waste operations in the community. There's also been a Rogers Road history book and a host of other gestures to `study' the environmental, health, and quality of life concerns of residents of the Rogers-Eubanks community. Some improvements have been made — but there's still a long way to go. We were encouraged by your comments on April 5th and we hope that after you've seen what we've prepared with the help of the county, you will agree that we are fairly close to delivering the material that you need to decide how you'd like to handle mitigation for the Rogers Road Community. We appreciate the suggestion of the Solid Waste Department to use reserves and a tipping fee premium to fund $2.5 million dollars for mitigation. However, in your packets you'll see that OWASA is estimating $3.5 million for sewer and that doesn't include the hookups to the homes. If these estimates are close and you add the items that you'll hear tonight, the mitigation could cost $4 to $6 million. It's a lot of money— but as you know it is a debt that we have been accruing for nearly 40 years. Once you have all the documents that we are preparing —you will be better able to discern what's fair and how to fund it. We do have a question —we noticed that the county has estimated the tipping fee premium based on waste volumes of 48,000 tons per year. But the waste volumes provided on page 48 at the end of the report were closer to 37,000 tons per year. If you intend to use tipping fees to fund the plan, might you clarify the volumes? Finally, please appreciate that we believe that it is the wish of the citizens of Orange County— and hopefully you agree —that the mitigation plan be pursued as a necessary "settling of accounts" for over 39 years of waste disposal in the Rogers Road community. We have all been complicit in taking revenues and resources for a landfill at the cost of one community. We are relying on this sitting Board of County Commissioners to make this right for all of us. Thank you." Robert Campbell read a prepared statement: "Good evening. I'm Minister Robert Campbell, a member of RENA/CEER and Justice United. Why are we here tonight? Not just because we opposed a landfill in 1972. Not just because of promises made and promises denied. Nor just because in the 1980's, the county announced an expansion of the landfill. And not just because a landfill is in our backyard. Not just because of failed Landfill Owner's Agreement or failed Neighborhood Working Groups. Not just because of the 14-point enhancement list that was denied by the Assembly of Governments....but because of Injustice! We are here tonight to finally right the wrongs of nearly 40 years. We have given you each a copy of a draft mitigation plan for your review and consideration. It lists the critical actions that our community needs to begin our path to restore the health and dignity of our families and our neighbors. We thank Orange County Voice and Justice United, the UNC School of Public Health, and the UNC Center for Civil Rights for helping us develop this plan —which we believe complies with county policies and jurisdiction.