November 11, 2012
The update below is from Gary Smith:
David Richardson and I met with representatives of S.T. Wooten Wed afternoon, 11/7/12, to communicate our organization's position regarding any further attempts to re-zone the 17 acre site and the continued operation of their asphalt plant.
Dave and I both agreed they understand we will oppose any rezoning attempt, are committed to mitigation of the existing TCE/other toxic pollutants on the existing asphalt plant site and have strong political capital as well as strong community support for relocation of the existing plant.
Fortunately they indicated Wooten was willing to continue conversations regarding the relocation of their existing plant if the economics of such a move could be developed in manner that minimizes their losses. The existing TCE contamination
is actually the responsibility of NCDO due to its asphalt testing lab at this site but the recent environmental report shows additional contamination from the current operation and Wooten admitted NCDOT has already asked them to contribute
to the remediation effort.
We have requested Sally Kost chair a "fact-finding" meeting composed of NCDOT reps, NCDENR reps, EPA rep, Chatham County Manager, county health department officials, county environmental review board members, Wooten reps and our group to investigate the TCE contamination issue including the development of a workable remediation plan that hopefully includes the relocation of Wooten's existing operation. Our goal is to hold this meeting in the next 30 days, develop a remediation plan to prevent further TCE contamination and create a situation where it is in Wooten's best interest to relocate rather than risk further liability.
In the meantime we are also requesting NCDOT and/or the county fund the testing of all private wells within a one mile radius of the Wooten plant for VOC (volatile organic compounds which are the major pollutants from asphalt/oil/diesel fuel spills) in our drinking water. So, while we have prevented the rezoning application for a concrete batch plant the TCE contamination from the asphalt plant site continues to expand and Wooten's operation has contributed other water pollution along with the toxic air pollutants allowed under their NC air quality permit.
We will continue to strive for a solution to this these issues that hopefully includes the relocation of Wooten's asphalt plant, stops the continued groundwater aquifer contamination and eventually remediates the sites.
Butch Lawter of S.T. Wooten just called and indicated he reviewed our position with Chris Wooten, President of the company , and he directed Butch to continue conversations with us to determine some method/solution for the relocation of the plant in the future.
Gary Smith
Sunday, October 28
Dear Neighbors,
Friday evening I received the a file , the latest report on the effort to monitor some of the contaminants at the ST Wooten asphalt site.
I did not see this 409 page document until this morning. I waited several hours ( wh... ile I read) thinking I should offer an "executive summary" so that you would not be overwhelmed.
I am sorry but this report is overwhelming, both in size but also in the information it confirms.
I feel it is my responsibility to share it with our community, immediately.
It is our responsibility as a community to come together to fully understand the report and the contamination at the Wooten site.
It is our responsibility as a community to pressure our local health dept, county commissioners and the state of North Carolina to deal with this problem instead of wasting another 15 years and millions MORE taxpayer dollars while it spreads further.
They have had 15 years to study the problem. It is time to clean it up!
This is a large file and i don't want to jam your servers sending to 500+ people.
This report can be found on the website www.noheavyindustrial.com
or the direct link is
http://www.noheavyindustrial.com/uploads/1/3/5/0/13506059/2012_pittsboro_6-8_first_semi-annual_monitoring_and_supplementalsite_investigation_report.pdf
This contamination is the result of heavy industrial activity.
Heavy industrial activity should not be located in a residential area.
Business is good as long as it does not poison soil, air or water.
When businesses do pollute soil, air and water they should be made to clean it up at their expense, not at the expense of the taxpayers!
I think we should find answers to the following questions;
- who is legally liable for the original contamination?
- who is liable for the present contamination?
- if NCDOT accepts responsibility for only TCE who is responsible for the other contaminants?
- what contaminants are not addressed by the 1999 & 2000 "Corrective Action Plan"?
- ST Wooten owns this property, are they responsible for cleaning up any of the known contaminants?
- has this contamination crossed property lines, either on the surface or in ground water?
- since surface contaminations appear to have crossed the stream buffer is it also in the stream?
- is the contamination in the sugar lake quarry?
- has the contamination been allowed to flow downstream into the Haw river? Jordan lake?
- is it true that municipal water treatment plants can't take TCE out of the water?
- what other contaminants are being released by the current asphalt operations?
I think it is time that the Chatham county commissioners and Health Dept start a task force to solve this problem for our community.
I think running hundreds of heavy trucks daily through this contamination is probably not helping contain it.
I would like to see the ST Wooten asphalt plant Shut down, NOW! Then, Clean it up!
Shut it Down!
Clean it up!
Wednesday, October 03
We understand there was a meeting on the morning of 3 October between Brian Bock and representatives from ST Wooten to discuss the feasibility of the proposed Rezoning application that was working its way through the planning committee at that time. We had requested Brian Bock share with Wooten some of the ideas that had been presented in earlier discussions. Some of those ideas were as follows;
- there is a growing community opposition,
- that the noise and current disruption to the neighborhood was already incompatible,
- that adding a concrete plant in a residential neighborhood was incompatible,
- that there were other better locations,
- that the neighbors had already formed a cohesive opposition and retained Cindy Perry in order to present opposing arguments against the Rezoning if it were to get to a public hearing before the county commissioners
- that the core committee opposing the Rezoning and Heavy Industrial expansion had developed a framework for a Win / Win solution and wanted to discuss it with ST
Wooten.
Apparently after the morning meeting (3 Oct) with Brian Bock, ST Wooten decided to withdraw their Rezoning application. Later that morning Patrick Bradshaw (Wooten attorney) called Cindy Perry to inform her that the application had been withdrawn and it would not be resubmitted.
Later that afternoon Patrick Bradshaw called Cindy Perry again to ask how another proposal would be considered by our group. ST Wooten was suggesting that 5 acres be split from the 17 acre site and Rezoned Heavy Industrial for the specific use of grinding asphalt shingles for
use in their asphalt operation. ( this activity was already occurring on the adjacent asphalt plant site)
Our group reiterated to Cindy that we are opposed it any Heavy Industrial use in a residential
community.
Our goal is to block any Heavy Industrial expansion on Sugar Lake Road.
Our goals include;
- to mobilize community support to encourage the relocation of the existing Asphalt plant to a more appropriate location.
- to work with Wooten to make this relocation a profitable decision
- to work with county officials to encourage and facilitate a relocation
- to clean up the existing contaminated asphalt site. Working with private investors, county, state and federal authorities to stop the spread of the contaminants and remediate the
property
- to incorporate the 3 properties ( asphalt plant, 17 acres and old quarry ) into a clean and viable location for further smart compatible development.
Monday, October 01
S.T. Wooten's first application to the Planning Dept was withdrawn last week because it was inadequate. We expect them to reapply this Friday, October 5th, which then sets up a public hearing for our presentation of facts opposing the application on November 19th.
Kevin Flynn and David Richardson met with Commissioners Bock and Petty last week to discuss issues concerning neighbors in opposition to the proposed rezoning, and to offer an alternative proposal. Both commissioners were receptive to the alternative proposal and Commissioner Bock was going to discuss it with S.T. Wooten. We hope to hear by Friday, October 05 from Commissioner Bock S.T. Wooten's response to the alternative proposal.
Additional meetings are being pursued with other commissioners to discuss the rezoning issues.
In the meantime, subcommittees are being formed to coordinate efforts of the entire group as so many people want to contribute in some manner we are hoping to channel your energies within each of these subcommittess. Please feel free to join more than one group if you like to. Please click here to join a committee
The update below is from Gary Smith:
David Richardson and I met with representatives of S.T. Wooten Wed afternoon, 11/7/12, to communicate our organization's position regarding any further attempts to re-zone the 17 acre site and the continued operation of their asphalt plant.
Dave and I both agreed they understand we will oppose any rezoning attempt, are committed to mitigation of the existing TCE/other toxic pollutants on the existing asphalt plant site and have strong political capital as well as strong community support for relocation of the existing plant.
Fortunately they indicated Wooten was willing to continue conversations regarding the relocation of their existing plant if the economics of such a move could be developed in manner that minimizes their losses. The existing TCE contamination
is actually the responsibility of NCDO due to its asphalt testing lab at this site but the recent environmental report shows additional contamination from the current operation and Wooten admitted NCDOT has already asked them to contribute
to the remediation effort.
We have requested Sally Kost chair a "fact-finding" meeting composed of NCDOT reps, NCDENR reps, EPA rep, Chatham County Manager, county health department officials, county environmental review board members, Wooten reps and our group to investigate the TCE contamination issue including the development of a workable remediation plan that hopefully includes the relocation of Wooten's existing operation. Our goal is to hold this meeting in the next 30 days, develop a remediation plan to prevent further TCE contamination and create a situation where it is in Wooten's best interest to relocate rather than risk further liability.
In the meantime we are also requesting NCDOT and/or the county fund the testing of all private wells within a one mile radius of the Wooten plant for VOC (volatile organic compounds which are the major pollutants from asphalt/oil/diesel fuel spills) in our drinking water. So, while we have prevented the rezoning application for a concrete batch plant the TCE contamination from the asphalt plant site continues to expand and Wooten's operation has contributed other water pollution along with the toxic air pollutants allowed under their NC air quality permit.
We will continue to strive for a solution to this these issues that hopefully includes the relocation of Wooten's asphalt plant, stops the continued groundwater aquifer contamination and eventually remediates the sites.
Butch Lawter of S.T. Wooten just called and indicated he reviewed our position with Chris Wooten, President of the company , and he directed Butch to continue conversations with us to determine some method/solution for the relocation of the plant in the future.
Gary Smith
Sunday, October 28
Dear Neighbors,
Friday evening I received the a file , the latest report on the effort to monitor some of the contaminants at the ST Wooten asphalt site.
I did not see this 409 page document until this morning. I waited several hours ( wh... ile I read) thinking I should offer an "executive summary" so that you would not be overwhelmed.
I am sorry but this report is overwhelming, both in size but also in the information it confirms.
I feel it is my responsibility to share it with our community, immediately.
It is our responsibility as a community to come together to fully understand the report and the contamination at the Wooten site.
It is our responsibility as a community to pressure our local health dept, county commissioners and the state of North Carolina to deal with this problem instead of wasting another 15 years and millions MORE taxpayer dollars while it spreads further.
They have had 15 years to study the problem. It is time to clean it up!
This is a large file and i don't want to jam your servers sending to 500+ people.
This report can be found on the website www.noheavyindustrial.com
or the direct link is
http://www.noheavyindustrial.com/uploads/1/3/5/0/13506059/2012_pittsboro_6-8_first_semi-annual_monitoring_and_supplementalsite_investigation_report.pdf
This contamination is the result of heavy industrial activity.
Heavy industrial activity should not be located in a residential area.
Business is good as long as it does not poison soil, air or water.
When businesses do pollute soil, air and water they should be made to clean it up at their expense, not at the expense of the taxpayers!
I think we should find answers to the following questions;
- who is legally liable for the original contamination?
- who is liable for the present contamination?
- if NCDOT accepts responsibility for only TCE who is responsible for the other contaminants?
- what contaminants are not addressed by the 1999 & 2000 "Corrective Action Plan"?
- ST Wooten owns this property, are they responsible for cleaning up any of the known contaminants?
- has this contamination crossed property lines, either on the surface or in ground water?
- since surface contaminations appear to have crossed the stream buffer is it also in the stream?
- is the contamination in the sugar lake quarry?
- has the contamination been allowed to flow downstream into the Haw river? Jordan lake?
- is it true that municipal water treatment plants can't take TCE out of the water?
- what other contaminants are being released by the current asphalt operations?
I think it is time that the Chatham county commissioners and Health Dept start a task force to solve this problem for our community.
I think running hundreds of heavy trucks daily through this contamination is probably not helping contain it.
I would like to see the ST Wooten asphalt plant Shut down, NOW! Then, Clean it up!
Shut it Down!
Clean it up!
Wednesday, October 03
We understand there was a meeting on the morning of 3 October between Brian Bock and representatives from ST Wooten to discuss the feasibility of the proposed Rezoning application that was working its way through the planning committee at that time. We had requested Brian Bock share with Wooten some of the ideas that had been presented in earlier discussions. Some of those ideas were as follows;
- there is a growing community opposition,
- that the noise and current disruption to the neighborhood was already incompatible,
- that adding a concrete plant in a residential neighborhood was incompatible,
- that there were other better locations,
- that the neighbors had already formed a cohesive opposition and retained Cindy Perry in order to present opposing arguments against the Rezoning if it were to get to a public hearing before the county commissioners
- that the core committee opposing the Rezoning and Heavy Industrial expansion had developed a framework for a Win / Win solution and wanted to discuss it with ST
Wooten.
Apparently after the morning meeting (3 Oct) with Brian Bock, ST Wooten decided to withdraw their Rezoning application. Later that morning Patrick Bradshaw (Wooten attorney) called Cindy Perry to inform her that the application had been withdrawn and it would not be resubmitted.
Later that afternoon Patrick Bradshaw called Cindy Perry again to ask how another proposal would be considered by our group. ST Wooten was suggesting that 5 acres be split from the 17 acre site and Rezoned Heavy Industrial for the specific use of grinding asphalt shingles for
use in their asphalt operation. ( this activity was already occurring on the adjacent asphalt plant site)
Our group reiterated to Cindy that we are opposed it any Heavy Industrial use in a residential
community.
Our goal is to block any Heavy Industrial expansion on Sugar Lake Road.
Our goals include;
- to mobilize community support to encourage the relocation of the existing Asphalt plant to a more appropriate location.
- to work with Wooten to make this relocation a profitable decision
- to work with county officials to encourage and facilitate a relocation
- to clean up the existing contaminated asphalt site. Working with private investors, county, state and federal authorities to stop the spread of the contaminants and remediate the
property
- to incorporate the 3 properties ( asphalt plant, 17 acres and old quarry ) into a clean and viable location for further smart compatible development.
Monday, October 01
S.T. Wooten's first application to the Planning Dept was withdrawn last week because it was inadequate. We expect them to reapply this Friday, October 5th, which then sets up a public hearing for our presentation of facts opposing the application on November 19th.
Kevin Flynn and David Richardson met with Commissioners Bock and Petty last week to discuss issues concerning neighbors in opposition to the proposed rezoning, and to offer an alternative proposal. Both commissioners were receptive to the alternative proposal and Commissioner Bock was going to discuss it with S.T. Wooten. We hope to hear by Friday, October 05 from Commissioner Bock S.T. Wooten's response to the alternative proposal.
Additional meetings are being pursued with other commissioners to discuss the rezoning issues.
In the meantime, subcommittees are being formed to coordinate efforts of the entire group as so many people want to contribute in some manner we are hoping to channel your energies within each of these subcommittess. Please feel free to join more than one group if you like to. Please click here to join a committee