Resident Mike Graves writes to reply to info shared at a current occasion by the group Do not Dump on San Benito.
This neighborhood opinion was contributed by resident Mike Graves. The opinions expressed don’t essentially characterize BenitoLink or different affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invitations all neighborhood members to share their concepts and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink consumer within the high proper nook of our residence web page and agreeing to observe our Terms of Use, you’ll be able to write counter opinions or share your insights on present points.
Details matter, whereas I’ll enable Don’t Dump on San Benito group’s use of our democratic system of soliciting fellow residents to listen to their view of the John Smith Street Landfill growth, I might strongly counsel that this view ought to be based mostly on information, and because the outdated United States Senator as soon as stated, “you might be entitled to you opinion however not your personal information.”
One would hope the BenitoLink reporter would do his personal reality checking of the story earlier than going to print. Noting the opinions of the group’s founders and attendees is suitable—veering off agenda and throwing in conclusions not based mostly on reality is dangerous to all sides in what has turn into a really pointless debate in our neighborhood.
To be clear, the EIR (Environmental Influence Report) ready for the County for the proposed landfill growth venture does state that the doc evaluated potential impacts of as much as 2,300 tons per day. Nevertheless, nowhere within the doc does it state that if such a venture have been permitted that 2,300 tons per day would instantly be headed to John Smith Street Landfill from elements unknown and the EIR states this reality.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will determine how a lot tonnage above the present allow of 1000 tons per day shall be allowed—not the EIR doc!
The article moreover erroneously states that the Useful resource Restoration Park was defeated by residents at Heatherwood Estates. A fast test of county information and this newspaper’s archives would reveal that that is fully false! The Useful resource Restoration Park was permitted by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and has the zoning to proceed ought to a viable venture undergo the planning course of and be permitted. The EIR states this reality as effectively.
It’s said that there’s a scare tactic getting used that if the growth isn’t permitted it’s going to value residents extra to eliminate their waste on the curb and on the landfill. Out-of-county waste, since 1992, has been used as a fee stabilization mechanism. So, this isn’t a scare tactic—it’s the fact.
However probably the most egregious a part of this text have been the bullet factors listed within the article as issues:
- Points surrounding site visitors and its impacts: All being addressed, and the county shall be compensated for such by the landfill operator, Waste Connections.
- Groundwater contamination: Details might be discovered by reviewing the semiannual Central Coast Regional Water Assets Management Board experiences— the information are that any contaminants have been eliminated or managed and none are leaving the Landfill web site.
- The unlined portion of the present landfill: Laws weren’t but in place within the 1960’s however as said above, third get together (the Central Coast Regional Water Assets Management Board) paperwork show that any contaminants have been eradicated or managed.
- And eventually, the lack of the pure panorama, habitat and wildlife are far lower than that which occurred when Santana Ranch was constructed (or different developments for that matter). Individuals make waste, and communities want a protected and environmentally sound location to place it—merely a reality.
The entire above supposed issues are really “scare ways.”
And it’s not the county or the landfill operator utilizing them;
It’s the “Don’t Dump on San Benito” group. Get informed-know the information.
Don’t fall for the scare ways.
