Thu February 04, 2021 - Southeast Edition #3
Cindy Riley â CEG Correspondent
Brasfield & Gorrie crews perform demolition work on the project.
(Brasfield & Gorrie photo)
An $83.4 million project featuring an iconic cable-stay arch bridge is nearing completion in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is overseeing the construction, which calls for additional lanes on Interstate 20/59, along with a single point urban interchange (SPUI) on McFarland Boulevard (U.S.-82) directly below the interstate. This work is part of the add lanes and bridge replacement project from near Exit 73 to near Exit 77 that‘s intended to improve safety, mobility and commerce, said ALDOT west central region spokesman John McWilliams.
Gadsden City Council member Jason Wilson on Tuesday introduced a resolution opposing both a proposed rendering plant and municipal tax abatements for it, but four members of the council voted to table the resolution indefinitely, setting off heated conversation and allegations about the contentious issue.
When Wilson spoke of the measure at the pre-council meeting, he said he probably would not ask for consideration at the subsequent council meeting, because he didn t think he could get the unanimous consent required to consider it.
Council President Cynthia Toles indicated that if he didn t ask for consideration, someone else could, and when the ordinance was read, she was that someone.
The deadline for opponents of the Pilgrim s Pride rendering plant to submit comments to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management about the proposed plant is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The Gadsden City Council is slated to meet hours earlier, and some of those leading the opposition to the plant hope the council may take action regarding the plant then.
Here are five things you should know about the controversy.
No one was supposed to know about proposed plant at this point
Word that Pilgrim s Pride had applied for air permits to build a rendering plant on Steele Station Road hit social media around mid-November, after a local property owner discovered information about the permit and sounded the alarm. Choice Fabricator Inc. owner David Chadwick engaged attorney Christie Knowles and the battle began, with public meetings, the formation of a Facebook group and crowds gathering at some Gadsden City Council meetings.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) and American Leakless Company LLC (“ALC”) entered into a November 9
th Consent Order (“CO”) addressing alleged violations of the Alabama regulations related to Hazardous Waste. See Consent Order No. 21-XXX-CHW.
The CO provides that ALC operates an automotive gasket manufacturing facility (“Facility”) located in Athens, Alabama.
The Facility is stated to constitute a large quantity generator as a result of its operations.
A representative of ADEM’s Industrial Hazardous Waste Branch is stated to have conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection (“CEI”) of the Facility on July 2, 2020. The CO states that the CEI and a review of ALC’s compliance indicated the following alleged violations:
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) issued a Proposed Administrative Order (“AO”) to Clear Properties Albertville, LLC (“Clear Properties”) for an alleged violation related to certain ADEM Admin. Code provisions related to asbestos-containing material.
The AO provides that Clear Properties is the real property owner of, and is responsible for the demolition of, the Commercial Property (“Site”) in Albertville, Alabama.
ADEM is stated to have learned through an inspection on June 9th that the Site had been demolished. Such activity is alleged to be in violation of ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-3-11-.02(12). ADEM is stated to have issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Clear Properties on June 12th based on such inspection.