Question for City Candidates: What’s up with Koppers?
Candidates, feel free to leave your responses in the comments section after you have logged in, and then I will not have to approve it!
I understand that the Koppers site on NW 23rd Ave. has been designated as toxic since the Reagan Administration. Why has this still not been dealt with after a quarter century while we are fairly certain that it is a danger to our drinking water? In light of the fact that this county and city government has been pretty much dominated by Democrat majorities whose members have long records as champions of the environment, how has this buck gotten passed for so long? And what will you do about it?
I would press hard for a much more comprehensive solution to Koppers. How can we turn the Koppers site from a community liability to a community asset?
I agree completely that the site has remained unresolved for far too long. I believe the city has pressed for years, and been very frustrated by the lack of progress. Unfortunately, this is a pattern for many so-called “Super Fund” sites around the country, not just Gainesville.
The initial EPA “clean-up” appears to be little more than “cover over and pump a little”–which the city and county commissioners have rightly seen as inadequate.
I would press hard for a much more comprehensive solution. I would prefer a clean-up to residential standards, and possibly seeking a relocation of the entire facility. The advantage there is that a new Koppers location would have to meet today’s environmental standards, unlike the present one. And remember, this facility was rural when it was opened — not in the heart of residential neighborhoods. It simply does not belong there today, particularly given the risks to neighborhoods and groundwater.
Either way, this will require a very organized citizenry (from the adjacent neighbors right up to a city-wide effort, given the potential harm to our entire community). I welcome the creative thinking and organizing potential of Alachua Voter Guide readers. How can we turn the Koppers site from a community liability to a community asset?
1It is tragic that the city, by failing to address this problem years ago, has now left us with a serious problem on our hands. Protection of Gainesville’s water supply and the health of the area surrounding the site must remain the paramount concern as we look at ways to resolve this issue.
In the short term, we must find a way to prevent any toxic chemicals from reaching the aquifer. The simplest sounding way to deal with this would be to properly line the areas containing toxic materials so as to prevent seepage. Also, we could setup some sort of partition that would be laid into the ground to prevent further soil contamination, especially in the surrounding neighborhoods. The question of how to properly, efficiently and quickly accomplish these tasks would be a key responsibility of the new Mayor, the new District 4 commissioner and the entirety of the city commission in general.
After immediate concerns are addressed, we could examine longer term solutions, such as possibly transferring the site to an unpopulated area or treating the toxic waste to reduce its levels of toxicity and its impact on the local ecology. The problem with the first solution is that, in the future, if Gainesville (or any population center near the new site) exapnds, similar issues might occur. Even if a new site were held to stricter ‘residential standards’, there is still the question of what sort of ecological impact such a new site might have regardless of what standards are used.
Gainesville is very fortunate to have a strong environmental community and a major research university locally. The input of local environmental activists and ecological experts (i.e. environmental scientists and engineers) would not only be welcomed, but quite possibly be absolutely necessary, in order to find a proper solution to this problem.
2We don’t need more rhetoric about this ecological disaster. It’s been 26 years and every elected official has promptly forgotten about it and taken up the lance against Wal-mart, Spring Hills, upgrading GRU’s coal plant, and every other cause that would get out the vote. If the local leadership ever needs a crisis, they always have this one on the shelf.
This got my attention only after Richard Selwach made it a plank in his mayoral campaign platform and, by coincidence, some local neighborhood group was holding a bake sale near my house and I bought a brownie and picked up a flyer.
It goes to show you two things: 1. The average citizen can actually matter more than the people we elect. 2. It is not surprising that we have such a low turnout for elections when those we elect ignore our real problems.
Will this change in 2010?
3Hi, Richard Selwach, Mayoral Candidate 2010.
4Concerning the Cabot-Koppers EPA superfund site… It is well known that it is my intent to create an Environmental Policy for the City of Gainesville. I plan to create home rule so that City Code Enforcement can file a complaint and fine the Koppers plant $1000/day until they come into compliance. If the Koppers plant does not come into compliance, we can then use eminent domain to seize the property and clean it up ourselves. I am for clean air and clean water. If anyone wants to read the draft environmental policy, you can review it on my website at http://www.SelwachforMayor.com
Richard Selwach here… I was in such a rush that I said you can review the proposed draft City of Gainesville Environmental policy on my website…
5The website is : SelwachforMayor.com
I typed RichardSelwachforMayor.com this is incorrect.
To view the policy go to : SelwachforMayor.com
Sorry for the mistake
The policy is not up yet, but I will keep an eye out for it.
6