Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Developers Seek Pollution Permits

Our water supply is at risk! The Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Foundation, Inc., is asking the Department of the Army for authorization to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of local creeks and ponds surrounding the Megasite. With few exceptions, every stream within the Megasite footprint eventually drains into Deep River by way of Sandy Creek. In order to get from Sandy Creek to Deep River, all that water – and any pollutants it carries – must flow into and through Ramseur Lake, where every drop of water we use in Ramseur, and parts of Franklinville and Coleridge, comes from.

Greensboro -Randolph Megasite map

While I recognize that we need good manufacturing jobs here, I am far from convinced that the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite will benefit our community as promised. From where I sit it appears more likely that Greensboro will reap the lion’s share of economic benefits while the people of eastern Randolph County, from Julian to Ramseur and beyond, will gain only polluted water and soil. Think about the problems our neighbors in eastern North Carolina are dealing with because of GenX contamination in their water. Do we really want to risk our water supply for a project that will mostly benefit Greensboro and Guilford County?

Ramseur Lake and Deep River are two of our community’s greatest natural resources. With the loosening of Clean Water Act regulations by the Trump administration and the erosion of state water quality protections by the North Carolina General Assembly in recent years, I have little to no faith that anyone representing us in Raleigh or Washington D.C. will prioritize protecting our shared water resource over the financial interests of the wealthy investors involved in the Megasite.

Another Megasite is being developed just over the county line near Siler City, and while its development could bring the same environmental issues, our water supply would not be put at risk, and we’d still reap all the benefits promised by the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite; probably more.

The Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, will receive written comments pertinent to the proposed work until 5pm, January 17, 2019. Comments should be submitted to Andrew Williams, Raleigh Regulatory Field Office, 3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105, Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587, at (919) 554-4884 extension 26. Any person may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings must state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing.

I believe a public hearing, including an explanation of how our water will be protected, what assurances we have that regulations will be enforced, and how polluters will be held accountable should be demanded.

Please make your voice heard.