Save Village Creek

 

[UPDATE]  As many of you who signed the original petition calling for a public hearing regarding Alabama Cast Iron Pipe Company’s (ACIPCO) state permit to vent their industrial waste water into Village Creek already know, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) recently sent out a written response. If you haven’t already seen it you can read their response for yourself:

While ADEM was quick to point out a mistake in the permit number listed on the petition the fact that they knew the correct permit number clearly demonstrates they also know exactly what the hundreds of concerned citizens who signed the original petition are so concerned about. According to ADEM’s response they are “still considering” holding a public hearing in regards to ACIPCO’s Village Creek dumping permit.

Now is the time to let ADEM know that this issue has not been forgotten.

Please sign the new petition reasserting your desire to see a public hearing held on ACIPCO’s permit to continue contaminating Village Creek and share it with your friends, family and co-workers.

 

Request for Public Hearing on Pollution of Birmingham Drinking Water

I am aware that the Alabama Department of Environment Management (ADEM) is currently reviewing the Alabama Cast Iron and Pipe Company's (ACIPCO) state issued permit allowing that company to vent it's industrial waste water into Village Creek. I am also aware that ADEM has recently received several hundred petitions signed by concerned citizens and residents calling for a public hearing regarding ACIPCO's permit. As a concerned citizen I am submitting this letter to ADEM to reaffirmvmy desire to have a public hearing regarding the continued contamination of this Birmingham water way for the benefit of local industry.

Village Creek not only stretches nearly the entire length of the City of Birmingham past numerous residential areas, but is ultimately a tributary to the Black Warrior River where the city draws it's drinking water. Village Creek is already listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an “Impaired Waterway” because of the high levels of pollution. It is clear that ACIPCO has contributed to this problem, available data clearly showing that the company has consistently exceeded permitted levels of toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead, acrylonitrile and cyanide in their industrial runoff.

I firmly believe that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management owes it to the citizens of Birmingham to engage the community in public hearing before granting ACIPCO any renewal of their current permit.

Sincerely,
{your name}

SIGN PETITION NOW

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 [UPDATE] March 24, 2012- In opposition to American Cast Iron Pipe Company’s (ACIPCO) state permit to continue disposing of their plant’s toxic waste water into Village Creek, Occupy Birmingham has sent over 300 petitions, signed by concerned citizens around the city, calling for a public hearing on that permit to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).

Village Creek Hearing Petitions

Village Creek, which begins at the eastern tip of the Birmingham Airport and cuts through the northern section of Birmingham past neighborhoods like South Pratt, Ensley, Enon Ridge, Thomas and East Thomas, is a tributary to the Black Warrior River where the City of Birmingham gets it’s drinking water.

Occupy Birmingham will be following up with ADEM to be sure they have received the petitions and to monitor their progress towards calling a public hearing on ACIPCO’s continued dumping into Village Creek. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition below and share it with your friends and family. Continued public pressure is the best way to receive redress of this obvious grievance.

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Despite the fact that the EPA’s Superfund program has a presence in the Village Creek and Collegeville area, it has no “teeth” and cannot make a lasting impact with their program when this contamination continues to be permitted by the state of Alabama. Now a company that has been contributing to this already well known contamination problem, American Cast Iron Pipe Company, is requesting yet another permit to continue pollution  in the contaminated area of Collegeville, Village Creek, which leads to the Black Warrior River Basin. The EPA can not and will not keep this permit from being renewed despite their involvement. The True Deadly Deception in this area is that this clear contamination is all being “cleaned up” by the EPA or by Walter Coke; when this is clearly not the case. ACIPCO is discharging high levels of Acrylonitrile and has not been monitoring or recording Cyanide discharges as frequently as needed- despite being cited for discharging Cyanide at excessive levels in recent years into the Village Creek.  There is nothing, NOT EVEN THE EPA (as demonstrated by a recent renewal of Walter Coke’s permit), that will stop this permit from renewing if the community and concerned citizens are not involved.

We are asking the community to stand up to tell ACIPCO and Alabama Department of Environmental Management that these atrocities are unacceptable-irrespective of race or socioeconomic status. No matter how large the industry or power of the government entity, poisoning a community and harming its children will not be tolerated.  Please Sign the Petition and tell ACIPCO and ADEM to stop polluting Village Creek.

 Download & Print the flyers below & help spread the word! 

Save Village Creek

 


As many of you who signed the original petition calling for a public hearing regarding Alabama Cast Iron Pipe Company’s (ACIPCO) state permit to vent their industrial waste water into Village Creek already know, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) recently sent out a written response. If you haven’t already seen it you can read their response for yourself:

ADEM LETTER

While ADEM was quick to point out a mistake in the permit number listed on the petition the fact that they knew the correct permit number clearly demonstrates they also know exactly what the hundreds of concerned citizens who signed the original petition are so concerned about. According to ADEM’s response they are “still considering” holding a public hearing in regards to ACIPCO’s Village Creek dumping permit.

Now is the time to let ADEM know that this issue has not been forgotten.

Please sign the new petition reasserting your desire to see a public hearing held on ACIPCO’s permit to continue contaminating Village Creek and share it with your friends, family and co-workers.