PETITION FOR GEORGIA CITIZENS ONLY

GEORGIA LEGISLATORS: Coal ash contains dangerous, cancer-causing constituents as well as radioactive materials. Coal ash pollution of wetlands, rivers, creeks, and groundwater will impose unacceptable hazards to public health. Existing regulations allow disposal of coal ash in lined municipal landfills that have the potential to leak and cause pollution of surrounding areas.

There is a proposal to build a rail transfer facility adjacent to the Broadhurst landfill near Jesup, Georgia that will enable disposal of as much as 10,000 tons a day of coal ash. Nearby rivers, wetlands, and groundwater sources are vulnerable to toxic pollution from the Broadhurst landfill and the transfer facility,

We, the undersigned citizens of Georgia request the following protections against coal ash contamination, including:

1. Limitations on the distance coal ash can be moved from its point of origin to the approved disposal location

2. Requirements for pre-treating coal ash with inert stabilizers to reduce risk of incidental pollution when it is moved and deposited

3. Restrictions on acceptable locations where coal-ash disposal in lined landfills may occur, including science-based prohibitions on locating them no closer than a quarter mile from wetlands, wells and groundwater-recharge areas, creeks, and rivers

4. More rigorous procedures for preparing, maintaining, monitoring, evaluating, and documenting coal-ash disposal sites

5. Strict rules that require coal-ash producers, handlers, and disposal operators to accept proportionate responsibility to fully compensate for damage done by coal-ash pollution