A bill currently before the state House of Representatives could set a dangerous precedent for the future of environmental and economic policy in North Carolina. The bill, S629, would transfer an inholding in the DuPont State Forest near Brevard from the bankrupt DuPont Corp. to the state, then transfer it to Swiss manufacturer Ilford, which would be responsible for cleanup. State officials have found arsenic in the soil and flame-retardant chemicals in the groundwater. The cleanup cost could exceed $7 million, most of which taxpayers will eventually have to pay.
The only thing justifying this disastrous proposal is the potential creation of 50 to 60 jobs in a depressed part of the state. The bill, however, is very complicated and wide-reaching and is only now beginning to receive proper scrutiny.
The governor, attorney general, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and environmental groups all have serious concerns about the long-term consequences of this action. It has the potential to reverse the fundamental "polluter pays" principle, which has guided environmental policy for decades, and to create an improper form of economic incentive.
Please contact your legislators in Raleigh to express your concern about this dangerous bill.
Malcolm M. Kenton
Greensboro
Comments (11)
If the governor is so concerned, he can veto the bill. He has the power of line-item veto.
Posted by truth | July 7, 2005 8:15 AM
A harmful "precedent" for the future would be Hillary.
Posted by steve | July 7, 2005 8:52 AM
Mr. Kenton, let me let you in on a little secret if I may.
The people in Raleigh do NOT GIVE A DAMN about the people they are there to represent. They are only their for their own egos and the perks.
Writing them would be a waste of time.
Sorry to sound so negative, but I am only stating facts. I saw it first hand for many years.
Posted by Lilly | July 7, 2005 11:39 AM
DuPont is bankrupt?
Posted by truth | July 7, 2005 11:52 AM
Malcolm,
Aren't you that kid that used to be on the Cable Access channel with his dad?
Posted by ms jackson | July 7, 2005 12:33 PM
*holla'n @ ms jackson* Where you been?
Posted by Lilly | July 7, 2005 2:14 PM
you don't wanna know. sure seems like a buncha new people around here. i don't even recognize half these people. that might be a good thing! good to see you still around, though.
Posted by ms jackson | July 7, 2005 4:06 PM
welcome back ms jackson. I've missed you. Post post post.. you are a happy addition to this site. :)
Posted by Lilly | July 8, 2005 10:01 AM
Mr. Kenton,
Thank you for the information on this bill. Better nip this in the bud rather than wait for a veto from the gov. I'll look into it and contact my legislators (despite Lilly's remarks. Sorry 'bout that Lilly :)
Posted by Alan Hedrick | July 9, 2005 1:08 AM
To respond to your comments, I agree with Mr. Hendrick: there are a lot of ways the governor could be persuaded not to veto the bill if it were passed, but there are endless ways to kill a bill in the legislative process.
Lilly: My first-hand experience has been quite different. I am a personal freind of my representative who cares very much what I have to say. I have also received courteous personal responses from legislators who do not represent my district. Most legislators I have met on visits to Raleigh have given me fair hearings and seem interested in my views.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, I am indeed "that kid." My dad left town, so the show is no longer on. Greensboro Community Television, the public access channel, could always use god public affairs programming, so I encourage anyone with the desire to do a show. It's absolutely free and only requires a couple of free equipment training sessions to get started.
Posted by Malcolm Kenton | July 10, 2005 9:35 AM
I think that is just great.. I don't know why I remembered that. I guess you're all grown up by now. I used to really enjoy watching your show. Just something about seeing a father and son doing something together just warmed my heart.
Posted by ms jackson | July 11, 2005 12:20 PM