From Resolution to be adopted by groups who support the New Hill community to oppose the building of a wastewater treatment plant in their community
Resolution to be adopted by groups who support the New Hill community to oppose the building of a wastewater treatment plant in their community
Resolution to Remove Site 14 as the Preferred Site of the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facility (WWRWMF)
WHEREAS, the citizens of the New Hill community have formed an association to oppose the siting of the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facility (WWRWMF) in the center of their community for the treatment of waste from Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Morrisville and RTP South; and
WHEREAS, the New Hill community was not adequately included in decision-making surrounding the siting of this sewage treatment plant. Decisions about the plant were made by parties outside of their community and without meaningful consultation with members of the community who would be directly impacted; and
WHEREAS, the population in New Hill most directly impacted by the WWRWMF siting is disproportionately African-American, low income and elderly, meaning the burdens of a sewage treatment plant will be borne by an overwhelmingly black, impoverished, and elderly community for the benefit of overwhelmingly white communities, creating a severe case of environmental racism; and
WHEREAS, the proposed site is located in the middle of the New Hill Historic District and near two historic churches, factors that were not considered in the siting process according to a member of the Cary Town Council; and
WHEREAS, a final decision in regards to where millions of gallons of sewage would be discharged has not been made, nor have the environmental impacts of such a discharge been adequately considered. This failure to lay out specific plans stymies the public’s ability to comment on the proposal in a fully educated fashion, and also precludes the public from fully weighing the impacts of this proposal.
WHEREAS, no decision in regards to the management of sewage sludge residue from the sewage treatment plant has been made. In particular, no final decisions have been made on how sewage sludge will be treated and where it will be applied to the land. This failure to lay out specific plans stymies the public’s ability to comment on the proposal in a fully educated fashion, and also precludes the public from fully weighing the impacts of this proposal.
WHEREAS, the US Army Corp of Engineers have identified three qualified alternate sites with characteristics that are equal to or better than Site 14. Two of the three qualified sites are located on Progress Energy property which was previously condemned and taken from New Hill residents for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant. Progress Energy has confirmed that their property, none of which have environmental justice or human impact concerns, could be used for the siting of the WWRWMF; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the undersigned community members and groups express their desire for the Western Wake Partners to remove Site 14 from consideration for the WWRWMF.