Questions to the County Commissioners about the Proposed Riegel Ridge Landfill

??? Why did the county accept a deal for less money and fewer guarantees and benefits than other NC counties hosting regional landfills? Other counties earn from $1 to $3 more per ton, have property value protection, water system subsidies, and grants to local schools and institutions, all made by the developer/operator. What are the developers of the proposed Riegel Ridge Regional Landfill offering the county?

??? The county's new strategic plan calls for aggressive recruitment of retirees and others to Columbus County to further economic development. Since Lake Waccamaw is one of the most important drawing cards in the county for attracting people (according to the count's web site), how does the board square development of a 100-acre, 300-foot tall landfill (which would drive potential residents away) with the county's strategic plan?

??? Why does Columbus County need a landfill when there is more capacity at the Sampson county landfill than the projected life of the proposed Riegel Ridge Landfill?

??? Why a regional landfill? If the idea is to be responsible for Columbus County's garbage, why not open a county-only or two to three county landfill?

??? Since Columbus County is paid by the ton for garbage dumped, doesn't this remove the incentive to "reduce, re-use, and recycle," which time-proven responsible methods for reducing the waste stream? The more garbage generated, the more money. Doesn't this go against the plan the county pledged to with DENR to reduce its garbage? 

??? Where will leachate from the landfill be taken? How will it be processed? What will be done with the treated leachate?

??? The proposed landfill will be over 100 acres in size and from twenty-six to thirty stories in height above grade. Will the landfill be visible from Hwy 211? From Lake Waccamaw?

??? How will the county compensate landowners for lost property value caused when properties plummet in value from proximity to a landfill?

??? How will the county deal with the lost revenue from reduced tax base caused by the reduction in property value?

??? Since it is not written in the host/franchise agreement, will any limits be placed on the maximum amount of garbage that can be dumped per day in the proposed Riegel Ridge landfill? What would prevent the developer/operator from trucking massive quantities of garbage in and filling the landfill in a matter of just a few years instead of the projected 20-25 year lifetime?

??? What guarantees are there that garbage will not be transferred from outside the designated service area and placed in the landfill?

??? Will the county commissioners pledge to forgo any personal gain from hauling or service contracts or other business arrangements with the developer/operator of the projected landfill? Are any arrangements that would personally benefit any county commissioners or their families or associates either in place or planned?

??? Who are the county's so-called "experts" who claim that the landfill would be safe with no environmental impact? Are they not the same developers who previously were the county's paid consultants and now own the site, and who stand to gain millions of dollars in revenue per year? Isn't that relationship a conflict of interest?

??? What is the projected traffic load increase on local highways as a result of the hauling of over 1500 tons of garbage daily? How will the road/infrastructure costs be paid? 

??? At the time the landfill plans were made, there were over a dozen sites (according to the county's expert's paid study) more suitable for a large landfill than the Green Swamp? Why wasn't the landfill sited in one of these locations? 

??? At the time landfill plans were made, there was no general understanding that the landfill site lay in the special flood hazard zone, as defined by FEMA. Now that it appears that the proposed site is in a flood zone, shouldn't that disqualify the site from becoming a regional landfill because of the danger of flood contamination of groundwater and surface waters?

Fact: It is illegal to site a landfill in a flood zone unless five conditions are met:
1. The use serves a critical need in the community
2. No feasible location exists for the use outside the area of special flood hazard.
3. The lowest floor of any structure is elevated above the floodplain and walls made waterproof against all loads.
4. The use complies with all other applicable laws and regulations
5. NC Department of Crime Control and Public safety is notified of the intention to pass a variance at least 30 days prior to granting the variance.

??? Will the county attempt to site the landfill in the Green Swamp flood plain in spite of the conditions above? How can the county prove a critical need, when garbage space is available at other local regional landfills? How can the county prove that no feasible location exists when the county's own expert study identifies other, clearly more feasible sites?

??? Would the county move to support permitting the site even if the site is clearly unsuitable and there is evidence that the landfill would present health and safety hazards to county residents?

??? What will be the impact of the seagull population attracted by the landfill on Lake Waccamaw's delicate ecosystem and tourism-based economy?

??? The developer claims a 700-year life for the landfill's liner. Yet EPA's site shows no accepted test methodology for predicting landfill liner service life. Geo-membrane liners have been around for decades with numerous documented failures. What guarantees are there that the liner will not fail, allowing garbage and leachate to contaminate surface and ground water?

??? What is the relationship of Waste Management to Riegel Ridge LLC in the development of the proposed landfill? The operation of the proposed landfill?

??? How can Riegel Ridge LLC be responsible for the huge potential financial liabilities that would be incurred from a landfill disaster when they are chartered as a Limited Liability Corporation?

??? How can Columbus County be assured that no hazardous materials will be deposited at the landfill? That the terms of the host franchise agreement are met? Is it sufficient that the operator police his own operation? Will the county place staff at the landfill as other counties have done?

??? Since this site cannot be expanded beyond its current borders, what do the commissioners plan to do after this landfill is closed in 20 or so years?

??? How much will "free tipping" reduce each Columbus County household's garbage bill?