There are several concerns about Eager Beaver’s plan to expand its yard trash recycling business. Several recent county code enforcement violations have been cited against the company. The community’s reaction to the proposal is partly based on its environmental impact. However, the effect of the facility on the community has been discussed in the past.
Environmental impact of proposed yard trash recycling facility
The Environmental Impact Statement for a yard trash recycling facility is integral to permitting. In addition to submitting a report to the commission, the applicant must discuss the proposed facility with the county judge and other elected officials in the local area. If the applicant does not establish a local review committee, costs may not be assessed against the applicant under Subsection (f). In addition, a yard trash recycling facility may not change the existing waste management practices in the community.
Community reaction to facility
The Eager Beaver recycling facility is an environmentally harmful project in Wedgewood, Florida. While it is not as toxic as other pits in the area, residents are concerned that it could add pollution to the neighborhood and create additional traffic problems. They also fear that the facility would add more diesel trucks to the area, making it even more toxic. As a result, community members are mobilizing to oppose the facility and ensure it is not built.
The Eager Beaver recycling facility’s operations have been controversial since its inception. In recent months, several violations of local code enforcement have occurred. One of those violations is dumping more than 400 tires on the property. Another violation involves illegal land clearing and demolition debris. The company has been cited for these violations but has since removed the tires.
Residents in Beaver County are concerned about emissions from the facility, but many people don’t have the funds to move out. A resident of Beaver, who asked to remain anonymous, said that she and her neighbors are worried about the impact of the plant. Residents are unable to leave their homes because they have jobs or families.
Environmental impact of the current facility
Beavers create wetlands, which are essential for carbon sequestration. This natural carbon storage helps the earth’s climate by lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is a leading cause of climate change. Wetland ecosystems store between 20 and 30 percent of the carbon in the soil. As a result, beaver-created wetlands help store up to $75 million worth of greenhouse gases every year. In addition to these valuable benefits, beavers help reduce the spread of wildfires.
The Eager Beaver recycling facility is an example of one of the company’s challenges. In 2009, the company opened in the Panhandle, Florida, and soon after it opened, it began recycling organic waste. Today, the company’s recycling operations are geared toward helping the environment and the surrounding community.
One of the biggest challenges faced by beavers is the melting of permafrost. As these ecosystems thaw, the thawing will release a large amount of carbon and methane locked up. These ponds can also reduce the availability of spawning grounds and inhibit fish egg incubation. Fortunately, researchers have seen some benefits for native fish populations.
Aside from their environmental benefits, beavers also have a variety of positive impacts on ecosystems. In Maryland, the presence of beavers helps reduce pollution on coastal plains. In Colorado, the active beaver complexes store the equivalent of 37,000 acres of the American forest. Furthermore, the dams are not damming; instead, they preserve tiny invertebrates and other organisms.
While the environmental impact of the new facility is uncertain, residents generally support the cracker because it creates jobs for people in the region. Others are wary because of the potential negative impact of this new facility on their local environment. Shell Pennsylvania Chemicals has announced the opening of a plant in Beaver County. The facility is set to begin operations this summer.
Residents of Beaver County are concerned about the emissions from the plant. However, many do not have the financial resources to relocate. They have family and other responsibilities in Beaver and can’t afford to leave town to avoid pollution. One Beaver resident asked to remain anonymous. He said he had no way of knowing what the emissions were like from the plant.
In December, BCMAC held a virtual community meeting in which nearly 300 people participated. During the two-hour event, Clifford Lau, adjunct professor of chemistry at Duquesne University, explained the plant’s operations. Adam Kron, senior attorney with EarthJustice, described the final permits Shell must complete before the facility can begin operations. The Clean Air Council’s David Dixon spearheaded the distribution of air pollution monitors throughout Beaver County.
