SYLACAUGA — The special master in the city of Sylacauga’s civil court case against REEF Environmental Services has already been working on gathering information for her report to the court.

Talladega County Circuit Judge Bo Hollingsworth appointed Ashley C. Cousins of Montgomery as special master in the case in February under rule 53 in the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

Cousins said she went to the REEF facility just outside Sylacauga last week and began gathering information for her report. She said she would use the necessary resources to get the information she needs but did not reveal how she would be gathering her data.

“I’ll be doing an investigation based on what the judge has outlined. I don’t want to say exactly what I’ll be doing because it may change based on what I’m able to find.”

The court order establishing Cousins as the special master laid out five issues Cousins’ report will address:

• Whether REEF has in the past or is currently treating any “hazardous waste” (as that term is defined by applicable Alabama Department of Environmental Management or federal law and regulation) at its facility.

• Whether REEF has in the past or is currently discharging any waste into the ground, groundwater or streams.

• Whether the steps taken by REEF following the filing of this lawsuit have abated the emission of any objectionable odors from its facility so that such odors are not continuous or recurring, and if not, what additional steps should be taken to abate such odors.

• Any other facts that relate to the operation of REEF’s facility and whether the operation of such facility hurts, inconveniences or damages others.

• Any other facts that the special master believes may be useful to the court in reaching a judgment in this case.

Cousins said she does not have a set timeline as to when she plans to submit her final report.

“I’m trying to get a preliminary report ready fairly quickly,” she said. “I’ll start reviewing some information soon to get that finalized. I don’t have an absolute timeline. I think it would be premature to set a date right now.”

Cousins said she felt qualified to serve as special master based on her body of work over nearly 25 years.

“I’ve been working in environmental issues for most of my career,” Cousins said. “I’ve done consulting on a lot of different projects that are applicable to what’s being done here. I can hire other experts to answer questions if I need to do so.”

Cousins said she feels confident she will be able to get the information she needs and be able to submit a thorough report to the court.

Rule 53 under civil procedure states a court can appoint a special master if both parties agree and there is an exceptional circumstance to justify the appointment.

The court also found that Cousins is not related to nor interested in any of the parties so as to disqualify her from serving pursuant to Rule 53 (a).