Outtakes—The Big Stink, by: Rick Outzen The Escambia County Commission held public hearings nine years ago on ordinances that would regulate borrow pits, mining sites that take soil and sand off property to be used in major construction projects. The developers, road contractors and residents were allowed to speak on the merits and potential problems with the pits. The ordinance, Sec 42-321 through Sec. 42-326, set forth the requirements for borrow pits and reclamation of mined-out lands in Escambia County. Pits would be permitted, reclamation plans approved and surety bonds issued by the owners to ensure compliance. After the hearings, the commission approved the laws, and County Administrator George Touart and his staff were to enforce them. The only problem was the laws were never enforced. The developers and road contractors ignored them. Touart, county staff and the commissioners overlooked their transgressions. However, residents in Wedgwood, Rolling Hills, Knollwood and Century didn’t. In 2011, two pits were cited for not having permits. The commissioners were told there were six active pits without permits and over 90 more inactive ones in the county. The board gave the pit owners temporary permits and a year to get in compliance. If the industry or the board had problems with the regulations that would have been the time to speak out and ask for the laws to be repealed or modified. No one spoke out. Why? My suspicion is the pit owners knew the laws would never be enforced. They could continue to operate illegally while the laws discouraged new competitors. If a county staff tried to enforce the burrow pit laws, then a county commissioner would be given a phone call to rein them in. Road contractors and developers finance political campaigns. Their phone calls are always returned. Six pit owners got temporary permits three years ago. Not one of them submitted a reclamation plan or put up a surety bond. They ignored the expiration dates and didn’t apply for a regular permit. Commissioner Lumon May, who was elected in November 2012, didn’t understand the “fix” was in when began fighting for the Wedgewood community. He read the laws on the books and asked county staff to enforce them. Commissioner May didn’t know that the laws were only for show when he asked for a moratorium on new pit permits. Now the pit owners are speaking out. Nine years after the laws were passed, they claim they aren’t necessary. They want to keep their competitive advantage. A grand jury needs to investigate this situation. Pit owners shouldn’t be allowed to pick what laws they will obey. This stinks more than any landfill.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:59:05 +0000
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