WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and SportsDisposal of fly-ash concerns Giles Co citizens

Disposal of fly-ash concerns Giles Co citizens

Giles County, Va. (WVVA) - The controversy surrounding the Cumberland Park Project in Giles County has citizens petitioning Congressman Rick Boucher for help.

For almost two and half years the concerned citizens of Giles County have been opposing the Cumberland Park Project. They are upset with the sight, because they feel that regulations regarding the disposal of fly ash are being neglected and there is the potential of it leaching into the ground water.

"That is probably our biggest concern, that these toxins will get in the water and it will hurt aquatic life and certainly hurt the drinking water down stream," says Executive Director of NCNR George Santucci.

The site is located near the New River and it has caused citizens and the Sierra Club to step in.

"Supporting the folks that are with the concerned citizens of Giles County and other area locals that are concerned with what is going on at this sight," state Kate Pollard with the Sierra Club.

The group says that the non-profit organization Giles Partnership for Excellence and AEP are neglecting the regulations and procedures for dumping the ash. If fly ash is not disposed of properly and it was to get into the New River, many dangers could occur.

The toxins and metals in the ash are harmful if swallowed and can cause many illnesses like cancer, developmental problems and possible other neurological damages.

Attorney John Robertson says, "We're trying to protect the water quality and water resources here in Giles County and Virginia overall to prevent properties from being developed in the same fashion"

The group's main goal is to get Congressman Rick Boucher to step in and make sure the citizens' rights are not being violated, and that the permits are being looked into and taken care of correctly.

They would also like fly ash dump sites to become federally regulated instead of state regulated. The group says they are going to continue the fight to help keep these potential disasters from occurring.

WVVA contacted AEP about this issue and the company released the following statement:

"We follow state regulations and are for the federal regulation of fly ash. However, we do not agree with fly ash being considered toxic material."

WVVA also contacted the Giles Partnership for Excellence. Executive Director J. Howard Spencer says, "We are meeting all requirements from the department of environmental quality and meeting and exceeding all groundwater monitoring."