Citizens Against Regional
Dumping
| UPDATE:
On December 5, 2000, the Halifax
Board of Commissioners released a
statement which said, "The
Board of Commissioners will not consider
the proposal from Waste Management Inc.
for a Solid Waste Disposal
Franchise. As a result, the public
hearing and action on the franchise
request have been taken off the
agenda. It is the intent of the
Halifax County Commissioners not to
consider this proposal further." |
On November 21, 2000 the Blue
Ridge Environmental Defense League and our
Halifax County
chapter, Citizens Against Regional Dumping, held
a press conference and rally on the steps of
the courthouse in Halifax, NC. CARD members spoke
against the county’s plans for a
regional, commercial landfill to be operated by
WMX in their community. Residents of Aurelian
Springs stated their refusal to allow their land
to be taken for an expanded landfill site. BREDL
presented a report on existing groundwater
contamination at the closed solid waste landfill,
also
in Aurelian Springs.
|
Gary Grant of Tillery speaking on the
steps of the county courthouse. Gary said
that this would be an injustice to a
community which is already the site of a
closed landfill saying,
“We are not going to sit idly
by and allow our county to become the
dumping site of the world.”
|
|
The photo shows Wayne Hawkins speaking in
opposition to the landfill plan. He
lives near the landfill site in Aurelian
Springs. Doris Aycock, also of
Aurelian Springs, looks on. She
later addressed the rally and asked
citizens to join together in opposition
to the proposed dump. Doris
said, “We are asking all
citizens to join this fight...to save our
land, our homes and any hopes for
the future of our children.
Let’s unite in this fight.
Let’s stand tall and be counted.
This is our land. This is
our heritage. We don’t want a
regional waste dump in Halifax County.
Tell your commissioners to
vote NO on December 4”
|
|
This photo was taken on October 30,
2000 in Aurelian Springs at the site of
the proposed landfill. State groundwater
tests completed in February 2000 at the
old landfill nearby reveal carcinogenic
vinyl chloride 800 times above the state
standard. |
(photographs by L. Zeller)
Citizens
Against Regional Dumping
Statement of Doris Aycock
Halifax, NC
November 21, 2000
As the spokesperson for C. A. R. D. (Citizens
Against Regional Dumping), I am here this
morning to let the people know that we will not
give up the fight to save our homes and land.
The expansion of the Halifax County Landfill is
not and never will be good for the people of our
county.
The apparent arrogance of our commissioners has
really surprised us. The secrecy with which
this franchise agreement has been sought and the
total disregard for the people of this county
will not and cannot be tolerated today, tomorrow
or ever. We are ready to stand shoulder to
shoulder with our fellow citizens to fight Waste
Management today and forever. We are all
neighbors in Halifax County. What is in my
backyard today will be in your backyard tomorrow.
Don’t you forget that.
We are the stewards of the earth that God has
given to us. We as citizens of Halifax County and
as Christians do not take this duty lightly. We
are asking all citizens to join this fight as we
try in
the Aurelian Springs community to save our land,
our homes and any hopes for the future of our
children. Don’t let the commissioners and
big business take our lives. We need to stand
together.
Let’s unite in this fight. Let’s stand
tall and be counted. This is our land. This is
our heritage. We
don’t want a regional waste dump in Halifax
County. Just because Waste Management has been
asked to leave numerous counties and states, we
don’t have to let them in here. Tell your
commissioners to vote NO on December 4. Thank
you.
Doris Aycock, Spokesperson
Citizens Against Regional Dumping
November 21, 2000
more info: REPORT: Halifax County Landfill
Contamination
|
