By Adam Johnston

Alliance Coordinator, Alabama Rivers Alliance

 

Dear editor,

The Selma Times-Journal, recently did a fine of job in the story, “Uniontown Landfill Being Investigated by the EPA,” reporting on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s investigation of discriminatory impact on Uniontown’s citizens caused by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s (ADEM) decision to permit Arrowhead landfill to receive waste from 33 states.

The complainants, I am one of them, say the landfill was expanded without proper protections for public health and environment. Prior to its expansion, the landfill received over four million cubic yards of toxic coal ash that came from the 2008 Kingston, Tenn., coals ash spill.

As one of those complainants, I can tell you the impacts and experiences are as horrifying as described in the article. Frustrated residents living near this area suffer from a wide range of medical problems linked to coal ash dust and coal ash wastewater run-off. Concerned families no longer grow vegetable gardens and the smells around the landfill can make one’s stomach turn. Their quality of life has declined, as have property values.

The EPA’s state counterpart in Alabama, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), bears significant responsibility for allowing this to happen. ADEM’s duties include enforcing all environmental laws and ensuring that no group — irrespective of race, color, religion or national origin–suffers adverse impacts from pollution. Unfortunately, low-income and minority communities suffer a greater burden from pollution.

Title VI of the glorious Civil Rights Act states that any public entity receiving federal funding — such as ADEM — must abide by federal law, which bars discrimination. ADEM receives some of its funding from the federal government; therefore, it must follow the Civil Rights Act.

Are ADEM officials violating our civil rights when they fail to properly review and then strengthen permits that result in little-to-no protections? Are they discriminating against our poor and minority communities when they fail to adequately enforce environmental laws?

Well, hopefully the EPA will find out the answer to these questions.