LETTER: UGA coach opposed to incinerator

The incinerator would burn hundreds and maybe even thousands of tons of solid waste material to include items like shredded tires, light bulbs, sewage sludge, etc., etc. and even possibly biomedical waste.

GreenFirst, who has been cited for at the least two instances of excessive releases of toxic substances in the past, will be in charge of the facility. This facility is a threat to all the residences of Northeast Georgia but particularly those in Elbert County and those on the other side of the river in Madison County.

The traffic flow will obviously be increased probably ten-fold due to the trucks being routed up Hwy. 72 through Carlton and over the Broad River.

I am vehemently opposed to the other project, the landfill. I see other complications there as well; the allotment of water that needs to be used for running such a facility; the threat to the land along the Broad River which is considered to be a Green Belt. Living quite close to this area certainly threatens the manner in which we would like to live. This is a threat to not only our property values but our health as well.

Collectively, the incinerator and landfill will be a significant threat to me and my family. Just the fact that it will be in the vicinity will be a deterrent for anyone else that would like to move into that area. When my wife and I looked at this area as a place to live and retire this incinerator and landfill was not on the horizon.

More importantly to me, I don’t think there has been enough time for communication between the parties to make sure all the facts surrounding this project are out in front for everyone concerned. In the meantime, the facilities will be a threat to the way of life we have come to enjoy in historic Elbert County. I can’t be more ardent with my disgust with both of these projects.

Sincerely,

Jack Bauerle
University of Georgia Swimming
2008 Olympic Coach, Women’s Swimming, Beijing, China



RETRACTION:
The following retraction to this letter was published Jan. 28, 2010, on Page 5A in The Madison County Journal:

Dear Editor:
As a followup to my letter to the editor dated Jan. 5 and published in the Madison County Journal and MadisonJournalTODAY.com, and with respect to my statement that “GreenFirst, who has been cited for at least two instances of excessive releases of toxic substances in the past, will be in charge of the facility,” it has come to my attention that GreenFirst has not received such citation, it has not committed such violations, nor will it be “in charge” of the facility when it becomes operational. I wish to expressly acknowledge the error of this statement, apologize to GreenFirst, and therefore retract it.
It is my request to the editor that this retraction letter be published in your next issue.
Sincerely,
Jack Bauerle
University of Georgia Swimming Coach