Monofill presents threats, hazards

To the editor:

We are against the Central Monofill (CMS) permit for a private dump at Mile 38.3, Glenn Highway. It presents threats and hazards to the local surrounding area’s drinking water, lakes, fish, environment, natural habitat, wild life and air quality. It poses devastating results in the event of an earthquake or fire. It will be an eye sore, reduce property values in the region, and detriment to the National Scenic Byway. The site sits on top of the massive aquifer that feeds our lakes and provides drinking water and connects to the surrounding lakes. The Kepler/Bradley Lakes Recreation, Palmer Hay Flats, and surrounding area will be under threat of irreversible contamination to fragile habitat harming fish, waterfowl, birds of prey and wildlife. This permit would allow tanks and potentially leaky equipment to be parked next to the ponds open to the aquifer. The aquifer is only 2 feet below the surface. Even if they line the dumping cells, they will have to pump them out and who will regulate this procedure to protect any spillage into the ponds or grounds. Where will they dump this toxic fluid? Asbestos, health concerns? Cancer from asbestos is life-threatening. Who will monitor the owners to make sure they dump the asbestos safely? Those who live close by are asked to take a drastic health risk and trust our lives and in the professional credibility of the CMS owners and staff who have already been sited for not complying with contracts and codes. How can they be trusted? It will be cost prohibitive to pay borough staff to monitor their dumping practices, so they will be dumping without adequate accountability and monitoring. Accidents happen and the local residents and habitat will suffer irreversible health issues as a result. The site is in a wind tunnel with winds up to 80 mph and blow trash that has not been covered adequately, along with pollutants causing health hazards. The dumpsite cannot be developed into a subdivision for lakefront homes because the soil in this earthquake zone is too unstable for building. The sand will liquefy in an earthquake like in the 1964 earthquake. How can we risk putting this type of dump there? Planning Commission will vote at public hearing is at 6 p.m., Dec. 15 in the Borough Building — come speak.

Kevin and Geri McCann

Palmer