Dump
the dump, says Abita residents

Concerns over a possible Eco Park “dump” site in their area drew more than 70 residents of the northeastern St. Tammany Parish area to a community meeting at the Abita Springs Town Hall Monday night.

Concerns about the dump ranged from what materials would be included to the effects such a dump would have on property values. Other environmental concerns, including air quality from burning trash at the site and water quality from underground seepage into wells and underground water sources were also a huge concern.

The district attending the meeting is represented by Parish Councilwoman Rebecca Crawford-Howell who represents district 6. Her reaction to the Eco Park was clearly “not in my area.” She said she had not received any information about the planned park or where it would be located.

When she told residents, “I am against this . . . I know people in Mississippi that would love to have the Eco Park,” residents responded with an outcry of, “Let’s give it to them.”

Crawford said that first the location needs to be determined. “They may not be targeting our district.”

Residents of the area said that vast areas are being fenced, cleared and that “something is going on back there.” The area in question is north of Louisiana Highway 36, west of Louisiana Highway 434, and information on planned locations has reportedly been very vague.

On Tuesday, Parish spokesperson Suzanne Parsons Stymiest said that while the initial study is complete, requests for proposals, or RFPs have not been completed as of yet. She said that until the RFPs are complete, no site could be chosen, because it would be premature.

In the same general area, Parsons Stymiest said there are four active logging permits that could account for the activity residents are seeing in the area. She said the best thing residents can do at this point is to stay in touch with their councilperson for information.

All environmental impact studies and permits from DEQ and other agencies would come after a site is chosen.

“You have a right to be upset,” said Crawford. “I don’t want this in my district.” She added that in order to defeat the project, eight council members would need to vote against the location.

State Rep. Scott Simon, who represents the area, said that while this is not a state issue but a parish one, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Environment Quality must approve it. “Environment quality includes the impact on each individual, how it effects you. You must stay diligent and keep at it to protest it.”

Simon clarified misconceptions that this will replace the landfill in Slidell. The landfill in Slidell was created to handle post-Katrina debris, not household waste. Household garbage and waste has been shipped to either Mississippi or Jefferson Parish for disposal. “This costs money,” said Simon.

He added that population growth in the next 10 years above U. S. Interstate 12, out of the flood plain, will be about 85 percent, due to the excellent school system, the location out of the flood plain and other factors.

An examination of the online document about the Park revealed the site would take up 500 acres. On page 4-10 of the document (or 34 of 100), it states, “The site can be developed to manage four solid waste categories: concrete and demolition, municipal solid waste, recyclables and excluded wastes such as yard wastes, white goods, batteries, tires, electronics and household hazardous waste. The choice of which materials will be accepted is up to the parish based on compatibility, citizen needs and market conditions.”

The document also stipulates location restriction criteria, including a study of the “composition of lands surrounding the area that may affect the location and functionality of the proposed development.” This includes the master plan of the site, which must address issues such as drainage, airport locations if within five miles, road networks, facility layout, population centers, 100-year flood plain location, and other pertinent information.

Included must be aerial photographs showing land use within a mile of the proposed site and descriptions of land use within three miles to include: residential, healthcare facilities and schools, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing, other commercial, recreational and undeveloped land.

Other locations that must be defined include population density within a three-mile radius, private water wells, gas or oil wells, water systems, industrial water wells and irrigation wells within a mile. The parish document also indicates the facility can be built and utilized in phases to allow for available funding and parish priorities.

According to the documents, the “Solid waste management facility... establishes an emphasis on recycling and waste minimization utilizing governmental controls, public participation and private sector involvement. Integrating as many solid waste processes, recycling and conversion technologies as possible will develop a robust, flexible and cost-effective approach to resource recovery,” page 7-1.

Although a site has not been confirmed, residents are wary of the effects the facility will have on their lives, including their quality of life. As one resident said, “This really stinks. My father used to work at one and would come home smelling of garbage.”

“It takes people getting involved to stop this,” Simon said. He reiterated that phone calls, requests are all logged and work. For example, in the Hillcrest area, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development built higher, wider bridges because of the phone calls, photos and e-mails they received.

Simon said, “Getting involved does work.”

About half the residents present belong to he Hillcrest Homeowners Association with two other homeowners groups also represented. Jim Stansbury, president of the Hillcrest group, said, “We need to work together to notify each other of what is going on so we can fight this. We don’t need to argue about it, let’s do something positive and work together.”

The residents present agreed, and many signed up for their respective homeowner groups so they can get and disseminate information.