Category Archives: Landfill

Toxic Waste? Coal ash in Alabama and Georgia landfills

Oregon denying a permit for a coal dock on the Columbia River Monday may seem far away, but the effects of coal ash are right here in Lowndes County. Effects that an Alabama county is calling a toxic chemical civil rights violation in the Arrowhead Landfill in Uniontown.

AP reported 14 August 2014, EPA investigating claims west Alabama landfill violates civil rights of black property owners,

It’s not the first time that the Arrowhead has been in the news. In 2009, an estimated 3.9 million tons of coal ash was dumped at the landfill. It was brought in after a Tennessee Valley Authority dam breached in east Tennessee, spilling toxic ash into a river and damaging about 300 acres. To date, it’s the largest coal ash spill in U.S. history.

Much of that ash ended up being dumped at the landfill in Perry County, which in return received Continue reading →

Videos: budget, baords, and approvals @ LCC 2014-06-24

None of the appointees spoke, but all were appointed unanimously, and they unanimously approved a landfill expansion item without ever seeing a site plan. Ray Devery and Barry Barr to the Library Board, Sheila Wakeley to the South Georgia Community Service Board, and John Sineath to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, even though Valdosta’s web page says he’s a city appointee.

They also unanimously approved everything else: a grant for help getting a grant, re-evaluation of all rural agricultural tax assessments, the annual mosquito testing contract with VSU, and the landfill public hearing clarification item about the hearing of the public notice already posted for 17 July 2014.

Here’s the agenda, with some notes, and links to the videos.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Videos: 5 board appointments, budget, and 4 For Approval @ LCC 2014-06-23

The county’s response to the weekend storms (straight-line event, not tornado) was less confused than its proposed board appointments. They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM, including on the budget.

Likely return of Ray Devery to the Library Board as Chairman, and reappointment of Barry Barr. Sheila Wakeley for the South Georgia Community Service Board, but even the Commissioners had no bio for her. John Sineath for Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, even though Valdosta’s web page says he’s a city appointee. None of the applicants spoke.

A grant for help getting a grant, re-evaluation of all rural agricultural tax assessments, the annual mosquito testing contract with VSU, and the landfill public hearing clarification item apparently is about the hearing of the public notice already posted for 17 July 2014.

Here’s the agenda, with some notes, and links to the videos.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

5 board appointments, budget, 4 For Approval incl. Landfill @ LCC 2014-06-23

The second and last Budget Hearing is 5PM Tuesday 24 June 2014, just before the Regular Session.

But first, at the Monday morning Work and Tuesday evening Regular Sessions, 4 appointments to 3 boards, and four obscure For Consideration items about a grant, a schedule, a contract, and a landfill public hearing that may or may not be the one of the public notice already posted for 17 July 2014.

Here’s the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

What else you missed: Landfill public hearing 2014-07-17

In Georgia Public Notice for the VDT, but not on the county’s calendar or website public notice list:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

300x273 0058 002B Veolia ES Evergreen Landfill Inc., in Evergreen Landfill, by John S. Quarterman, for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), 20 June 2014 In accordance with Section 12-8-24(d) of the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act, the Board of Commissioners of Lowndes County gives notice of a public hearing to be held at 5:30 p.m. on July 17, 2014, in Chambers of the Board of Commissioners in the Lowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex, located at 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia. The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comments regarding the issuance by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of a proposed modification to the solid waste handling permit for an expansion of the existing Evergreen Municipal Solid Waste Landfill located off Wetherington Lane in Lowndes County, Georgia, requested by Advanced Disposal Services Evergreen Landfill, Inc., for the purpose of modifying the boundaries and waste disposal capacity of that solid waste handling facility.

Board of Commissioners of Lowndes County

00073850

6/13/14

Here’s the law the public notice cites: Continue reading →

Two arrest warrants issued for $1 mllion landfill scam

Interesting things sometimes turn up when a landfill is investigated.

Taylor West wrote for the AJC 5 June 2014, Police: Arrest warrants issued in connection with $1 million scam,

Robert Stevens (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office) Multiple arrest warrants have been issued in relation to a trail of criminal activity resulting in the theft of more than $1 million from a Fulton County business, authorities said.

Police began an investigation in mid-April when Waste Management Inc. made a complaint regarding Willow Oak Landfill, which it owns, following an anonymous tip and a private investigation, according to the Palmetto Police Department today.

In this case it was the landfill operator that filed a complaint. Waste Management is one of the two largest solid waste companies in the U.S.; the other is ADS.

The complaint alleged Continue reading →