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Sussex should listen to constituents

October 8, 2019

Each week that passes, I learn more about the dangers of the proposed 7-Eleven under a conditional-use permit on the corner of Angola Road and Route 24.  The potential for accidents is overwhelming which has the probability of contaminating our sole source of water – the underground wells and aquifer.

Of course, the applicants for this conditional-use permit provided testimony at the council hearing Sept. 17 that fuel spills are quite uncommon at gas stations.  Evidence of fuel spills, fires and catastrophic events occurring at gas stations is readily available online for your viewing and very concerning to residents in this area. The applicant stated at the hearing there would be all sorts of safety features such as automatic shut-off systems, fuel containment basins, tank monitoring systems, etc., but what they failed to tell county council is that you cannot mitigate the possibility of accidents caused by negligence, improperly working safety equipment, improper training of employees or patrons who have no regard for safety issues.  It will take only one major accident/spill to contaminate our wells which we rely upon for safe drinking water.

They also stated at the hearing that the stormwater ponds to be located at the rear of the property would collect contaminated stormwater runoff from the facility.  What they failed to tell us is that the stormwater ponds will not prevent fuel contaminants from entering the groundwater and into the wellhead protection zone.  In fact, the ponds increase water into the subsurface groundwater – that is what they are designed to do.  So any fuel spill can create a surface water or groundwater pollution of dangerous chemicals and petroleum hydrocarbons into our water source.

It all boils down to this: we need clean water to live. We do not need a 20-pump gasoline and diesel station and convenience store when there are so many others available to us in the immediate area.  Do you think that members of county council would want this danger in their back yard?  I think not.  

Our representatives need to listen to their constituents on this matter.  County council representatives have both a fiduciary responsibility as our representatives as well as a moral obligation to do whatever is necessary to provide us with a safe environment and, most importantly, to safeguard our drinking water.  

County council – do the right thing and vote no on CU2176.  Our future depends upon it.

Donna McCallum
Angola by the Bay

 

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