CHARLESTON, W.Va. –– Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said he cannot support a proposed business in eastern Kanawha County until the owner comes forward, in person, to ease the concerns of local residents.
“Until they do that I’m opposed,” Salango said in an appearance on 580 Live on 580-WCHS.
He’s talking about the plans by California based Clean Seas to build a plastics recycling facility at the former 84 Lumber sight in Quincy. The company is looking to make the location its first operation in the United States. Their process is designed to keep plastics out of landfills by using an incineration process. Ever since the project was announced opposition has been growing. Residents who live nearby have grave fears about emissions and other potential health hazards associated with the site.
“The gist of their concern is there’s really no air monitoring in that area. Even though you have some other chemical plants, there’s no air monitoring so they want it. They really don’t want the plant to happen at all because it sits right across the street from Riverside High School,” Salango continued.
A petition opposed to the plant has garnered over a thousand signatures and opposition organizations continue to appear before any group where they can make their case.
The West Virginia DEP recently issued the company’s air quality permit, despite overwhelmingly negative comments from the public.
“If there’s not an air quality issue I think the majority of concerns would probably be eased. But they have other concerns, if the company has financial issues are they going to start shortcutting safety? Are we going to have some kind of chemical incident there? I think those are legitimate concerns, but I still think the primary concern is air quality,” Salango said.
But Clean Seas hasn’t addressed any of the questions or concerns directly. Despite a myriad of meetings and informational gatherings, Salango said developers of the project have been largely absent.
“I worry that a company that speaks only through press releases and doesn’t come out and educate the public, I think you’re planning for failure. I think people are really concerned and there has been zero response form Clean Seas,” he said. “I would encourage them to come out and explain some of these issues, or at least alleviate some of the concerns about residents over the air quality,” he added.