Resident raises local health and property concerns about proposed incinerator during public comment
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Summary
During public comment at the Economic Development Committee meeting, a resident voiced questions about the potential economic, environmental and health impacts of a proposed incinerator, citing risks to property values, organic farms and an elementary school's outdoor education grant.
During the public-comment portion of the Sullivan County Economic Development Committee meeting, resident Eric Feinblatt raised questions and concerns about a proposed incinerator project and urged committee members and local stakeholders to discuss potential impacts.
Feinblatt asked whether project advocates had made "back-of-the-envelope calculations about the economic impact" and whether they had consulted the visitors association. He identified several local concerns he said should be considered: impacts on home values in neighborhoods such as Beaver Lake Estates and Rose Valley Road; potential loss of organic certification for nearby organic farms because of soil contamination; and risks to outdoor education planned at Cook Elementary School, which he said had recently won a $75,000 grant for outdoor classrooms.
Feinblatt observed that parents and residents "will be very unhappy" if children cannot use outdoor classrooms because of contamination from "fly ash" near the proposed location. He urged those supporting the incinerator to speak with Michael from the Visitors Association and to prepare responses to these sorts of questions.
The comments were offered as public comment; no formal committee response or action was recorded in the transcript. The committee chair then moved to adjourn the meeting.