Vox Populi in Conecuh County, Alabama--No Landfill

**Updated Feb 16 (see end of post)
WKRG--Dozens Protest a Proposed Landfill in Evergreen, Alabama. 

It would be located near Repton and would be the largest in the country

The people do not want this dump despite the continued push and a four year battle by certain interests and some local well-to-do influences who have been persistent in their push to make Repton the biggest stinking heap in the country. We have learned that there is a back story to this issue that's not been reported in the media.

A local Repton citizen tells us that a meeting occurred last July that was called by Representative Larry Miilender who invited local government leaders to meet and discuss how to "move Conecuh County forward." We were surprised to learn that an NAACP led group was in attendance at this meeting represented by Jerome Boykin which also included the former Mayor of Evergreen, Alabama, Larry Fluker and Reverend Freddie Stallworth.

They were all in agreement for the landfill according to our source, and we have to wonder what dog they have in the fight considering the NAACP has taken a position of environmental justice and worked against landfills in the past.

There weren't any other "groups" in attendance, so what was Rep. Millender's motive behind inviting the NAACP? We would ask the same question of any other group who would be invited to what was supposed to be a meeting of local government officials discussing ways to improve their community's economic status. It smacks of undue influence and Rep. Millender and his 'guests' should explain their real agenda.

We hope this isn't similar to the Perry County coal ash dump that was a scheme conceived and implemented  by minority Alabama officials, the Jones Group lobbying firm (minority owned and run) and the son of the late Civil Rights era leader Albert Turner, Sr. who all worked together against the good of Perry County's minority residents. If Alabama's minority citizens cannot count on 'their own' to protect them, then that's a sad state of affairs that speaks to bigger issues going on with the so-called champions of minority rights.

We think that is an under-reported issue that the press won't touch for fear of retribution by these powerful groups that will defend themselves by playing the always explosive race card.

Readers of this site know that we aren't shy about calling things the way they are, and if what you're doing is against any class of the people, we're going to call you out on it every time. The people will always come first in our view, not special interests or scurrilous politicians who are seeking personal enrichment over all people's rights to live and work in clean environments and have a strong voice in what happens to their communities.

The ongoing war against certain classes of people in Alabama, particularly in poor and economically depressed areas, which Repton is, deserves much more attention than it gets from Alabama's mainstream media. In addition to really examining what the state's role is in these unjust 'crimes' against Alabama's less fortunate. 

The state of Alabama is at the top of the list of egregious offenders through their supposed environmental management department ADEM, who enjoys fat profits from toxic entities that choose Alabama to dump on and pollute at their will knowing there won't be any strong repercussions from ADEM.

ADEM doesn't shut any environmental offender down no matter how many violations they rack up, and that list is growing longer every year. Instead, they occasionally bring enforcement violations against them that don't serve as any real deterrent as much as it does to further increase revenue for the agency.

They're in the business of profiting from pollution and are responsible in large part for Alabama the Beautiful becoming Alabama the garbage heap of the United States.

And with landfills, Alabama attracts the waste industry with some of the lowest fees in the country, which in turn, sends out a message to the waste industry that we're wide open and willing to accept all the toxic waste you can bring us.

Alabama's permitting process is part of the attraction. ADEM leaves most of the decisions about whether to allow a landfill to local governments, and the siren song of a quick and steady income source has proven attractive to county commissions and city councils statewide. Alabama is home to nine landfills that accept garbage from more than one state.

This "dumping on Dixie" attitude has gone very badly in the past. One word--Emelle.

The same thing will happen in Reston if this Conecuh Woods landfill comes in. What ADEM should do is deny the permit in the first place, but they're hiding behind the horribly written Alabama laws on landfills and giving the appearance of leaving it up to local government to decide. But that's a hiding in plain sight ploy, because they are fully aware that the laws are written to allow approval with a no vote.

Reston is in very real danger of becoming the second Emelle, and if we didn't learn anything else from the "Cadillac of Toxic Waste Dumps" we should learn that it is an idea whose time should not come again.

The people of Reston have spoken again and again. 
They do not want this landfill. 
Who's listening?

So Say We The Opinion Board Of The Vincent Alabama Confidential 

Letter to Region 4 EPA, November 9, 2010 outlining the problems with Alabama landfills 
**Update--Baldwin County has thrown its opposition the landfill in the ring. But they need to make their reasons clear--is it because of decreased revenues to their landfills or for the better reason that the landfill leakage will threaten their watersheds and communities?

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