The Clean-Seas plastic conversion facility in Belle has raised concerns now for more than a year from people living in the Kanawha Valley. (WCHS)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) —The Clean-Seas plastic conversion facility in Belle has raised concerns now for more than a year from people living in the Kanawha Valley.
Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said he hopes to get answers for the people of the Belle area.
“They’re really worried about air quality, they’re worried about the company’s finances and whether or not they’ll be able to maintain a safe Site,” Salango said. “Those are the two primary issues that the residents have. I’ve expressed that to Clean-Seas and in fact, I have a Zoom with the CEO next week. I’m glad that he took the time to respond to my letter that I sent to him last week and we’re going to have a Zoom. I hope it’s productive.”
The Commission has been in communication with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
With Clean-Seas’ permit being approved, Salango said he’s confident air monitors will be installed in the area.
“Indicating that if they’re going to issue the permit for Clean-Seas, then we at least need some air monitoring just to make sure that there’s no pollution,” Salango said. “There’s a lot of residents out there. It’s right across from a high school, and we finally have bald eagles back in the area for the first time in 60 years. So I’d hate to see a company come in and mess that up.”
In the time since the facility was announced, there have been several public meetings held in opposition of Clean-Seas, as well as a petition garnering more than 1,100 signatures.
Salango said now is the time for transparency from Clean Seas.
“I’m all for economic development and I want as many jobs as we can have particularly in that area, the Upper Kanawha Valley, which has been decimated by the decline of coal,” Salango said. “But we want to make sure that we’re not harming the residents, we’re not harming the high school and we’re not harming the wildlife in the area.”
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