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Friday, May 6, 2011

Alabama Legislature approves 2-year moratorium on new landfills

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The Alabama Legislature has voted to place a two-year moratorium on new landfills in Alabama.
The legislation by Republican Rep. Alan Baker of Brewton was partially aimed at stopping a landfill project on 5,100 acres in rural Conecuh County that has been approved by the county commission.
A citizens group called Citizens for a Clean Southwest Alabama has been fighting the proposed landfill since 2007.
The Senate voted 22-4 Thursday evening to give the bill final approval. It now goes to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature.
Supporters of the project have said it would bring jobs and generate $1.8 million annually in payroll in the rural southwest Alabama county.
Opponents have said it would hurt the environment and have a negative impact on property values.
The Conecuh County Commission approved application for the landfill on April 18. The 3-2 vote came despite heavy opposition from people in the county, particularly those near Repton, near the proposed landfill site.
The vote came despite a large turnout in opposition to the project.
Developer Donald W. "Jimmy" Stone said the Conecuh Woods LLC project would be built on a 5,100-acre tract and would include 1,600 acres for disposal cells, with the remaining acreage "permanently preserved" as natural areas and a portion reserved for a "clean energy industrial park."
Commissioners in Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties have all expressed opposition to the project.
In late February, Gov. Robert Bentley signed executive order 8 on Wednesday, placing a moratorium on new landfill permits in the state until stricter environmental guidelines for larger facilities can be adopted, according to the document.

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