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Greenaction Joins Community March November 2nd in South Phoenix Greenaction joined a multiracial groups of South Phoenix residents on November 2, 1999 in a community march from a local school to the IWU toxic waste facility. Black, Latino and white residents joined together in unity in a mile long march past homes and toxic waste facilities. The protest ended with a rally at the gates of IWU, where residents chanted "Stop dumping On South Phoenix, Environmental Justice Now!" Written comments against the proposed expansion can be mailed to: ADEQ For more information, contact:
Check Out Pictures of the Protest in the Greenaction Gallery!  |
Big Environmental Justice Uproar in South Phoenix, Arizona! Greenaction joins Community in Demanding Shut Down of Toxic Facility in Community of Color Waste-plant expansion draws fire from residents By
Pat Kossan Nearly 200 people crowded a meeting to discuss a proposed expansion of a south Phoenix hazardous-waste site while state officials appeared to be backing away from their support of the plan. Most of those at the emotional meeting at South Mountain High School were against the proposed expansion, and at least one neighbor accused the state of "environmental racism." Resident Carol Gibbons set the tone for the meeting when she warned state officials that the community is tired of the amount of dirty industry in its mostly poor, minority neighborhoods. "This is not the south Phoenix of 20 or 30 years ago, and it never will be again," Gibbons said. "We're not going to stop. We're not going to give up. We're united." In the face of mounting complaints from Phoenix and Maricopa County officials and state legislators, state Department of Environmental Quality officials appear to be taking a more neutral position toward the site expansion. The DEQ manager of the Hazardous Waste Permits Unit, Dennis Clayton, last month defended the proposal and said that it would protect the public and help concentrate hazardous waste in one easily regulated industrial area. Before Wednesday's meeting, Mark Charles, a DEQ deputy director, said Clayton "perhaps went too far." "We haven't taken a position," Charles said in an interview. At the meeting, he assured the crowd that state officials "need your help to decide" the fate of the expansion request. At the request of several City Council members, Charles also said he would expand the public comment period, due to end Nov. 15, by an additional 60 days. Innovative Waste Utilization is asking state approval to increase its storage capacity of hazardous waste at its 4-acre site at 15th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. It also wants to begin treating the waste at the site, such as blending it into fuels and shredding contaminated containers, and shipping that treated waste by truck and rail tanker. Officials from the California-owned business confirmed that they were talking with city officials in an effort to find a solution. Innovative Waste also released a written statement at the Wednesday night meeting saying that the corporation "is very interested in being a good citizen" but that it is not "in a position to address the issue of environmental injustice in south Phoenix." Only the city can address these zoning issues, the statement said. Phoenix City Council members last month unanimously voted to oppose the proposal and expect the state to lead the way to a solution, Councilman Doug Lingner said. Lingner and Councilman Cody Williams said it's time to draw a line against more dirty industry in a community poised for redevelopment. |