In the upcoming meeting this agenda item is mentioned:
4. We proposed to question whether the proposed "batch cement plant"
proposed for
Bakers Ridge Road is a health hazard to the local nursing home,
residents and the
proposed University High School.
I want to point out that there has already been a road built at the
proposed site on the plateau above the nursing home and pretty close the
WVU's new NAFTC 'National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium"
building. The company that has built the road is called Alcon and is
located in Bruceton Mills. A sign has been placed in front of the road
explaining how interested public should contact the DEP for more
information about the environmental impact of the construction site.
At first I just assumed this was the beginnings of house construction in
this area related to the future planned University High School, but the
DEP sign and this recent agenda item come as great shock. The prospect
of building a batch cement plant in this area is outrageous especially
since it appears this company specializes in Portland cement. Will they
be employing environmentally sound practices? Will people in the region
be exposed to heavy metals and particulates?
There are hiking/biking trails open to the public by the University
right by the proposed batch cement site. This is ironic, I was worried
about greenspace being lost to housing in this region, but now it
appears more likely that people will not want to have homes (or schools)
in this industrialized area. It would be many times better if this
region was turned into a public park rather than a housing development
or industrial park. Then there could be sane development around the
public park with well planned roads, bikeways, and connector trails
making it a very popular spot for all to enjoy, and it would become an
area to remind everyone why WV is one of the best places in the world to
live .. not the worst place.
Jonathan
