QUINCY, W.Va – Residents of eastern Kanawha County should be getting more information soon about the planned Clean-Seas plastic conversion facility in Quincy that has drawn local ire in recent months.
Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango met with Dan Gates, CEO of Clean-Seas’ parent company, earlier this week to try to pass along his constituents’ concerns.
“There are serious concerns surrounding the air quality and the emissions surrounding Clean-Seas, and, quite frankly, the company was making no effort to communicate with the residents,” he said Thursday on 580 Live with Dave Allen.
Several public meetings regarding Clean-Seas drew large crowds since the project’s announcement, and Salango wants to give answers to concerned residents. He voiced his opposition to the facility previously and said his meeting with Gates did not change that opinion.
“We are essentially without power to do anything about it. We could have zoned years ago and said ‘You can’t do this,’ but we would have to be clairvoyant to be able to do that,” he said.
While Salango still does not support Clean-Seas coming to Quincy, he believes the meeting this week was productive. Gates declined a request to meet publicly with residents, so Salango is preparing a summary of his meeting to be distributed.
“They seemingly agree with a lot of the issues that residents have concerns. For instance, the residents wanted continuous fence line monitoring. Clean-Seas is going to do that, and the county commission even offered to pitch in to help to make sure that occurs,” he said.
Salango is hopeful that at some point, officials from Clean-Seas will agree to meet with residents. Until then, he plans to keep going back to the company’s leadership if needed.
“I think the residents will get the information, and if they have follow-up questions, then I’ll schedule another Zoom with the CEO,” he said.
A petition opposing the Clean-Seas facility has garnered more than 1,100 signatures.