Cumberland Clear Expands Advocacy Beyond Scott County
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Cumberland Clear Expands Advocacy
Beyond Scott County
By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]
Cumberland Clear, the local organization that sprang to life in response to the controversial Roberta II landfill project, is taking its environmental campaign across state lines, warning Kentucky residents of the growing threat posed by Scott County-based waste management projects. Representatives for the grassroots organization have recently appeared on McCreary County’s ‘Truth or Politics’ program and on the King of Kings Radio Network in Pulaski County, spotlighting concerns about the proposed landfill and a rail-to-truck transfer station.
Both waste management endeavors are positioned near residential neighborhoods, schools, and waterways that flow north into Kentucky. “This morning, Cumberland Clear is heading to the airwaves,” the organization announced last week. “A massive, new Tennessee landfill could send pollution straight into Kentucky waters. Bear Creek flows north into McCreary and Pulaski County, into Lake Cumberland, and into the Cumberland River. When Tennessee gets the waste, Kentucky gets the downstream impact.”
Cumberland Clear argues that the landfill and transfer projects would burden Kentucky communities with pollution risks they had no say in approving. Their expanded mission comes as the National Park Service also questioned the project for the first time publicly.
“Clean water doesn’t stop at the border,” Cumberland Clear said.
While winter weather recently postponed a planned McCreary County public forum, the organization’s outreach continues to reach across the border into Kentucky, educating neighboring communities in both states on the projected impact of Roberta II.
To help in that mission, the organization raised $8,985 in November to support on-going actions against the proposal, including maintaining Nashville-based environmental lawyer, Elizabeth Murphy.
“Together we are building something powerful,” the group said.
