Residents look for foul odor resolution
Dec 02, 2009 | 3104 views | 54 
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Clara Curtis spoke during citizens’ communications. Curtis asked the mayor and council members what the city was doing regarding the plant.
REEF, a wastewater treatment facility, has emanated a foul odor throughout the city and surrounding area for several months.
Curtis said residents could not wait until the city’s March 2010 court date with REEF to see action taken.
“I’ve been told you need to go to the county and you need to go to the city,” she said. “Frankly, I’ve been to everybody there is. I’m asking the city, do you have a plan to stop REEF from permeating their odor immediately, not March, because we can’t make it through the winter months like this.”
Wright said city officials were speaking to their attorneys, Jerry Fielding and Blake Lazenby, to see if something could be done before their court date.
Mayor Sam Wright said there would be a special meeting sometime in the next few weeks, most likely after the next regular council meeting Dec. 15.
“We want to see if we can address some things before too long,” Wright said. “This last week was probably about as bad as it’s been.”
Wright also said the city was continuing to do its part to fix the situation, despite the plant not being within the city limits.
“It’s a fine line of how you approach it because there are not a lot of guidelines,” he said. “The city has jumped in because nobody else was willing to and I think the city has gone great. But we have caught the flack. [Some residents] have been ugly to us, extremely ugly. We get ugly phone calls and we’re the only ones trying to do something.”
Also at the meeting, the council voted 5-0 to reschedule a public hearing on the annexation of the former Avondale properties. Council President James Heigl said the meeting was moved to allow the Planning Commission to hold its own hearing for zoning on those properties and several residential areas.
“This is to let the people know that they can come to [the Planning Commission] for any questions,” Heigl said. “It’s going to affect a lot of people in that area. People touching those properties have a right to request annexation into the city.”
A new board member for the Parks and Recreation Department was nominated and voted in by the council. Council member Doug Murphree nominated Ray Holmes for the position.
Holmes received a majority vote from the council and will replace Steve Masters on the board. Masters vacated the position after taking over as the department’s athletic coordinator.
Murphree said he believed Holmes was a good fit for the board.
“He’s been involved with Parks and Recreation for a long time,” Murphree said. “He does a lot of coaching with the little league. He had a lot of involvement with Parks and Recreation already.”
Other business:
• The council approved the yearly grant agreement with the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission. The grant goes towards service programs for the elderly.
• The rental of two portable toilets for the Christmas parade on Dec. 5 was authorized.
• The council voted to pay $750 for a full-page advertisement to promote the city in “Sylacauga Today.” They also authorized $175 for advertisements with Abrams Broadcasting.
• The council authorized payment of $15,121.78 for accounts payable invoices.
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Daily Home comment section
Aug 28 09 - 01:41 AM
REEF’s sophisticated and flexible treatment facility can be configured to process wastes with metals, oily wastes, weak acids and alkaline wastes, high BOD and COD wastes, many hydrocarbon laden wastes, septage and vacuum truck wastes and many others. REEF’s group of experienced operators, engineers and chemists assures that all wastes are treated to the highest environmental standards.
The REEF operation is one of good environmental stewardship. Once wastes leave the transport container (trucks, drums, tote bins), they are contained in the biological treatment system. All of REEF's tanks and distribution systems are within this containment so that even an accidental tank or pipe failure will not result in a runoff spill to any surface water. REEF further reduces environmental impact by incorporating a treated water re-use system. This automated system allows treated waste water to be filtered and re-introduced in the plant process. Water reuse within the REEF facility minimizes fresh water demands and effluent discharge. IN FACT, for many months during the year REEF is a ZERO water discharge facility (due to water reuse and evaporation from the large treatment basins)."
Audit information on REEF, to include State Permit Discharge Permit, Audit Summary, Key Personnel Bios, et al is located at http://www.reefenviro.com/default.asp?ID=17
State/ADEM Indirect Discharge Permit lists location as: City of Sylacauga Utilities Board/J. Earl Hamm POTW?
Again, lot of very intersting info listed there...
Question - If EPA and ADEM is not moving, or not moving fast enough - Why not file an environmental lawsuit as a private citizen or group of citizens? Quick Google Search indicated:
The type of environmental lawsuit you file depends on what your outcome is. If you just want the polluters to be forced to clean up the mess they made, you can bring the case to the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency, who can then take administrative action against the offender. If you choose this course of action, the EPA will usually investigate to determine if there is contamination.
You can also hire a lawyer and bring a “citizen suit” in court that requests the court make the polluter clean up the contamination. You can do this on behalf of the government, if the EPA has already identified contamination. You can also do this if the government hasn’t shown that a hazard exists, but you will be responsible for investigating and proving the hazard.
If you want to recover monetary damages for harm caused to you by exposure to an environmental hazard, or for damage caused to your property by pollution, you will need to file a standard civil suit in a court of law. This is just like any other personal injury or tort case- you need to get a lawyer, who can help you prove your case in court. Proving your case involves proving that you were exposed to a hazard, and that the hazard caused you harm.
Sometimes joining a class action lawsuit is a shortcut to proving you were harmed. Once you prove you were exposed and should be in the class, the class takes over the responsibility of proving that the company did something wrong.
If you don’t want to join a class action, or if there is no class action to join, then you need to be able to prove “causation.” This means you need to be able to prove that the exposure hurt you. You can do this by proving that the hazard is known to cause a certain illness; for example, asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma or asbestos. You can also collect evidence to show that others who were exposed also got sick.
Lots of great lawyers within a 50-mile radius of Sylacauga. Just a thought...
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bosley alderman
TO HANK SMALLEY...I apologize for not responding before now, but my internet ability crashed and the ATT folks have just left the house. If I were the Mayor of Sylacauga, the first thing I would do, with the support of the majority of the counci, try to convince Rep. Ron Johnson, to annex the REEF property into the city of Sylacauga, This would have to be done with an act of the legislature. Once this was accomplished, then local ordinances could be adopted to deal with this type problem. I am not sure that they do not hve a nuisance ordinance on the books now that might address this issue. The second thing I would do, would convince the water and sewer board to cancel their permit allowing REEF to use the facility...this would basicly shut them down. The third thing I would have done would be to get the council to fire the lawyers that are being paid to represent the city and get some lawyers who will stand up and request the judg to have an expidited hearing and see if the judge would not issue a temporary injunction blocking REEF, until the hearing could be held in March. I served as mayor of Talladega for 11 years before I was convicted of a $5,925.00 expenditure that the fed said was illegal. I was sentenced to 53 months in federal prison and served 37 months before the courts ordered my case back to court and the judge sent me home. Was I guilty of what I was charged with...certainly not...I was guilty of the decision I made in the matter and offered to plead guilty to the charge, but the late Asst Chief Willard (Pee Wee) Hurst and DA Investigator Ken Sisk wanted me to serve time...The two men were city employees during this time and I had to take administrative action against several months back...They saw the opportunity to get even. Am I bitter? Certainly not...I would not want to go back to prison, but I would not take anything for what I saw of the fed govt. As a leader, you have to take a stand and do what you think is right for the citizens...If I were the mayor, I would not hesitate taking a stand for the folks...even if it meant being arrested...The thing that bothers me most about this problem with REEF, if the folks are becoming sick breathing these fumes, it may be several years before it seriously effects their immune system...what about the little babies....this could effect their lungs permanently? As long as God gives me breath and I have access to the t.v., I will continue speaking out on behalf of the folks....I hope I have answered some of your questions and if not, please let me know and I will respond again quickly....if the computer stays operational...
Sincerely,
Bosley Alderman
I have reported this to the EPA as an emergency this morning; you can too at the following site:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html
PLEASE DO THIS; THE MORE OF US WHO COMPLAIN, THE FASTER EPA WILL ACT IN CLOSING THEM DOWN!
Here is the information they will ask for at the top of the form:
Your name, address, phone, etc.
Suspected Violator Name: REEF Environmental
Suspected Violator Address: 71 Twin Street
Suspected Violator City: Sylacauga
Suspected Violator State: Alabama
Suspected Violator Zip: 35150
Still Occurring: yes
Notified State DEP/DEQ/DEM: yes
Department Contact: Onis "Trey" Glenn III
Intent: Intentional
Type: Release
Media: Air
Media: Land
Entity: Company
Here's what I told them:
REEF is an industrial waste recyling plant located on the outskirts of our town. Their process constantly emits a foul smelling, acrid aroma which causes coughing and burning of the eyes. Its' waste water is pumped through the town's sewer system. In some instances, it is so bad it permeates the homes in the surrounding neighborhood and can be smelled for miles. The local high school is within about a mile and, when the doors are opened after an extended break, the smell is over-powering. This problem has been on-going since at least March. This problem is well documented in local newspapers (see links below), the Alabama DEM has fined them a small amount (but refuses to have a public hearing), a class action suit is scheduled for March and yet they continue to emit a very noxious odor into the air.
http://www.dailyhome.com/pages/full_story/push?article-REEF-s noxious odors return &id=3766615
http://www.dailyhome.com/pages/full_story/push?article-REEF trial in March &id=4089977
http://www.dailyhome.com/pages/full_story/push?article-ADEM requires REEF to pay -72-000 penalty &id=3809809
http://www.dailyhome.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Citizens still seeking relief from REEF odor &id=3885347
http://www.dailyhome.com/pages/full_story/push?article-ADEM denies residents- request for hearing &id=4961254
The mayor of Sylacauga(Sam Wright) states that the site is technically outside of our city limits and the county commissioner (John Carter) repsonsible for the area has yet to comment.
This is affecting lives, homes and our way of life. Please help.
**************
EVERYONE in Sylacauga and surrounding communities; let's not talk any longer; let's take action! Enough notes like this and EPA will act to shut these people down!
Sincerely,
Bosley Alderman
I will gladly be the leader. There is not much that I do not know about REEF and all the government has not done to help the citizens of Sylacauga. Let me say for those who have accused me of doing this because I plan to run for public office. THAT IS NOT TRUE!!! I just wish to sit in my home each day and night and breathe without inhaling toxic fumes. What do you wish for me to organize. I am ready. Road blocks will not do it. City Council meets Dec. 15 I just attended last week and it was another joke to their reply. I wrote CNN tonight like someone recommended. Tomorrow I will write the Attorney General and request those financial audits. I have a large container of information. If someone would like to read I will share.
Here's what I would like to see the elected officials do and it's really simple. I would like for them to act like they give a damn. I want them to stand up and start yelling about the atrocities being forced upon their citizens; I want them to do something, just anything!
What are they doing now? Absolutely nothing.
While I realize it's not in their city limits, I'm all for disrupting their council meeting; if nothing else, it makes a statement. Count me in; I've fought larger battles than that! We must have a buy-in from a lot of people, however; just a few of us going would look like no one on our side gives a damn. Clara - are you the leader? Call us to action!
It's interesting. I visited the Sylacauga Municipal Complex once upon a time. I noticed some type of Christian symbol hanging outside the mayor's office. What kind of Christian would act so listlessly when it comes to their constituents?
Perhaps I shall move to Sylacauga and run against him next time. My campaign slogan would be, "Something is better than nothing."
Sincerely,
Bosley Alderman
Hank
i guess your right darryldavis
Yep you can say he is right. Darryl does his research and though we sometimes disagree, he is still firm in what he writes and believes. I respect him for his post. I believe he is 100% on this subject.
I've been watching from afar (that's not "a fire"). I think the reason there are so many posts is that you have a major problem in Sylacauga. Several things come to mind...
The mayor, council and planning commission should annex all of the land around REEF and then put severe weight restrictions on all of the roads leading into there.
The city needs to hire attorneys that are aggressive and proactive; seems that you have a couple of less than desirable barristers going up to bat for you!
Ms. Clara should advertise her roadblocks so that we can all participate.
The DH is doing an excellent job in keeping this in the public eye; there have been suggestions made for other news outlets? I'm going to the site mybad suggested and file a complaint with CNN today!
The citizens should "encourage" the mayor and commissioner to, at the very least, be the standard bearers. Why aren't they outside REEF every day screaming their lungs out (assuming they could breath that close to the plant)? At the same time, perhaps they are saving their energy for playing checkers once they are both not reelected.
Perhaps the citizens should consider a recall vote? While it may never come to pass; at least it brings more heat on the "leaders" and makes them look bad if they do not take more prudent actions!
I remember the scene in Frankenstein where the villagers were fed up; they marched to the gates of the castle with torches! Maybe that's too much to ask, but I can definitely picture the citizens of Sylacauga doing the same!
I'm back to stay.
Sincerely,
Bosley Alderman