The Hurricane Florence event in North Carolina has inundated fossil fuel energy waste dumps resulting in the release of tons of toxic coal ash from coal fired electric plants into water ways in North Carolina. Coal ash is heavily laced with toxic heavy metals poisonous to both wildlife and humans.
We may expect many more such toxic releases of poisons from fossil fuel sites, oil and gas refineries, and petroleum based chemical plants as extreme weather events overwhelm the weak and failing containment systems along water resources across the world. The coastal areas of the United States and especially the Gulf of Mexico regions are particularly at risk of toxic contamination that will render our waterways unusable.
We are sitting on poorly managed and abandoned toxic waste sites, including nuclear sites, that will haunt our children and great great grandchildren with poisons for many years to come – all for the sake of profits.
Isn’t it time for a change?
David T Roberts
Benner Township
