News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2014
Area residents once again resist intrusive IHD Industrial landfill proposal
Bismarck, ND— Once again, IHD Solids Management seeks to construct an industrial landfill in an agricultural zone in Pleasant Valley Township, Williams County. This is the second time IHD has submitted a proposal to Williams County for this landfill. It was denied last April. Slight changes in the application allowed it to come up again.
IHD sites accept a variety of waste from Bakken operations and other sources. While federal regulations exempt many oil and gas wastes from classification as hazardous when looking at the chemical make-up of the wastes it is clear they are in fact very hazardous.
IHD is proposing two separate, adjoining facilities; a Municipal Solid Waste and Small Volume Industrial Waste landfill similar in size, respectively at 58 and 53 acres to encompass a total footprint of 111 acres. According to a Williams County staff report the two will accept 200 tons a day of municipal waste and 600 tons of special waste. The special waste would mostly come from oil and gas operations.
Abutting the proposed site is the residence of Dakota Resource Council (DRC) Member Pete Wolla. Wolla commented that his water well recharge is downhill from the landfill and if anything happens, it will impact his water quality.
“I don’t believe IHD will be able to control runoff if they have a big rain event. They say they have control, but look at what happened in North Carolina with the recent Duke Energy coal ash spill. I have my skepticism that things that can go wrong will go wrong,” Wolla said.
Pleasant Valley Township officials and a Planning and Zoning staff both favor denying the permit due to vast opposition. This recommendation is consistent with that of the previous application. DRC members hope the Planning and Zoning committee will heed the wishes of the Township and the recommendation of their staff.
An adjacent property owner and Dakota Resource Council member, Lorin Weisz has consistently resisted this proposal and is looking for a long-term solution to keeping IHD from invading his township. “This is all been through the system once before, they’ve changed nothing. You put lipstick on a pig it’s still a pig.” As an area farmer the incessant proposals from IHD become cumbersome, and not only for Weisz but also for everyone involved.
Residents who wish to learn more about DRC should contact Kathryn Hilton at 701-224-8587.
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Founded in 1978, Dakota Resource Council is a statewide organization bringing together farmers, ranchers, small business owners, workers and other North Dakotans to address issues that affect their lives and livelihoods.