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7-Eleven proposal will threaten environment

December 6, 2019

In April, Sen. Bryan Townsend stated that more than 90 percent of Delaware’s waterways fall short of the EPA water quality standards because of pollution. He described this as a “glaring, critical water infrastructure crisis” detrimental to all Delawareans. 

Several Sussex County towns were found to have tainted water supplies last year. This pollution stems from runoff of toxins, including gasoline, from impervious surfaces, salt used during snow and ice storms, fertilizers and animal waste.

Approval of (CU2176) the 7-Eleven fueling station adjacent to the Angola Road wellhead and the overdevelopment that is occurring will increase pollution levels. We Delawareans expect the elected officials to make the best decisions to protect all residents from unnecessary risks. Unfortunately this is not always the case. There are many cases of mismanagement which have had devastating results for residents and impact communities for decades.

The cost of cleaning up polluted groundwater and waterways is well over $100 million, which Delaware doesn’t have.  At the CU2176 hearing Sept. 17, following concerns expressed about harm to the environment, a member of the developer’s team stated, “There’s plenty of water.” With an attitude like that, it’s not surprising that more than 90 percent of the groundwater and waterways are polluted.

Members of Sussex County Council state they are concerned about the environment but approve clear-cutting of mature forests and gas stations on source water wellheads. 

Cutting mature forests affect us all in a negative way. The forests’ root network stabilizes soil against wind and water erosion reducing flooding and absorbing pollutants that would be carried to our streams.  Trees supply oxygen, increase groundwater recharge, reduce heat and noise and clean pollutants from the air, to list just some of their benefits. 

The mature forests absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store more carbon every year because they are bigger.

It will take 20 to 30 years before the small trees, planted at developments, if they survive, are able to store much carbon.
Changing the description of this area to “Coastal Overlay” doesn’t change the fact that this is a “environmentally sensitive development area.”  Do no harm!  Fight against CU2176, 7-Eleven and fueling stations. 

Bonnie Crawford
Angola resident, Lewes

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