My name is Gemma, a local resident – for over three years – of the West 7th Saint Paul community. Now, this community stands threatened by the purchasing of land and potential construction of a waste truck fueling facility right next to my apartment building, the historic Schmidt Brewery, which is home to hundreds of local artists and concerned residents.

This proposition will not just disrupt the peace, but also the safety of our close-knit, hardworking community. The cons? Noise pollution, contamination of nearby drinking water, and obstruction to the walkability for pedestrians. Not to mention the unpleasant odor that will permeate our streets and nearby river trails.

"When St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and other city officials presented FCC Environmental Services as the city’s new partner in trash collection last summer, they excitedly announced that the company was to build a new compressed natural gas station within the city limits.

The $25 million facility would fuel the company’s fleet of some 30 trash hauling trucks custom-designed for the capital city’s century-old streets and narrow alleys.

It’s an important part of the city’s planned overhaul of organized trash collection next year, and of FCC Environmental’s efforts to expand in the Midwest. The site that the company purchased in August — a tow lot at 560 Randolph Ave. — sits within an industrial corner just west of Shepard Road and the Mississippi River, about three blocks east of West Seventh Street.

Residents in the area are in the early stages of waging a protest campaign, noting that neighborhood development plans dating back to at least 2005 describe the 5-acre parcel of land as a prime site for future riverfront housing near public transit, and a fleet of trash trucks could halt or hinder economic progress for blocks all around.

It is a crucial fact that waste management facilities can generate noises up to 85 decibels which is equivalent to city traffic noise inside your house and put you at risk of permanent hearing damage. Also, water contamination from such sites is a well-documented hazard, with the US already grappling with thousands of contaminated water sites (Sources: Environmental Health Perspectives, Science Direct). By putting a fueling facility next to residences, the threat of damaging our drinking water sources is gravely looming over us. 

Moreover, our neighborhood prides itself on walkability and accessible nature trails next to the Mississippi. Not to mention, the city of Saint Paul is currently reviewing a public transport project to reinstate the historic street cars that would operate on West 7th Street between MSP airport all the way up to Union Depot in downtown. These community efforts will be seriously tampered with if this facility were to be built, thereby impacting our rich, shared community life.

'After some digging, Duhr learned that FCC Environmental paid $4.65 million for the land in an off-market sale that closed in August.'

Our community of West 7th deserves better than to be a compromise for corporate convenience, especially to a company that thinks it can buy its way into a neighborhood behind closed doors. This petition is about leveraging our collective voice to affirm that access to safe drinking water, peaceful living areas, walkable roads, and nature trails are not privileges but rights. We say "NO" to this facility. 

For the sake of our homes, health, and tranquility, please lend your support and sign this petition. Let's ensure safety, tranquility, and communal harmony are preserved in West 7th, Saint Paul.