ira
PUBLISHED BACH THURSDAY ?;r
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VC " B
I
"Building Communicative Bridges
PEMBROKE. N-C _ ROBESON COUNTY -1
VOLUME 14 NUMBER 82 Ut FEU COPY ^f^TOTllgpAY. AUGUST 7. 1888 J
GSX HAZARDOUS WASTE
PROPOSAL STILL WITH US
by Rob?on County CUrgy
and Laity Concerned
The G8X Hazardous
Waste Treatment Facility
proposed for Scotland Coun
ty-may still gain approval if
we do not act and express
our opposition. Although
representatives from the
State Agencies have heard
our concerns during public
meetings and hearings in
March and April, the appli
cation process is still in the
works. The company has
responded to the State s
second notice of (applica
tion) deficiency, and the
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Management Board reports
that the application is com
plete: This means only that
all of the State-required
information has been sup
plied. Contrary to state
ments made by company
officials, this does not mean
that the application is satis
factory or that construction
will begin soon. In no shape
or form is the review process
complete. There is now a 45
day comment period. At the
end of this time a tentative
decision on the application
will be made. After the
tentative decision, there will
be a public hearing held in
order to provide more infor
mation.
What is significant in light
of this is that GSX. despite
k^foap^pgdateness, is still
submitted U> the state
Center* for Disease Control
in Atlanta cites many prob
lems with the proposed
treatment center's dischar
area
6V*
According to the report
GSX haa not provided accu
rate documentation nor has
it proposed providing all the
necessary mechanisms to
protect public health. Hie
report cites that "The pri
mary... threat from the pro
posed facility is that the toxic
chemicals will be emitted
into the air or passed
through both the GSX Waste
water Treatment Facility and
enter a downstream water
supply. These sxe valid
public concerns. The appli
cant has not provided ade
quate documentation to sub
stantiate the ability of the
proposed Was
tewater Treatment Facility
tp treat toxic waste."
Planning to operate above
one of the state's most active
acquifere, GSX proposes
accepting waste from at least
eight states, processed from
60,000 to 500,000
gallons of hazardous chemi
cals each day and dump
half a million gallons of its
discharge into the Lumber
River.
Indicated is that GSX
cannot even estimate the
treatment system's level of
efficiency. An Agency for
Toxic Substances officials
states, "...Until a particular
waste is actually treated by a
system, it is difficult, if not
impossible, to predict the
rates of removal for particu
lar chemicals by that sys
tem." GSX has not demon
strated actual plant experi
ence, nor provided any data
from treatability studies
associated with the wastes
that it proposes treating.
Officials remain sensitive to
the fact that biological treat
ment systems-- as GSX
proposes--may not work
effectively on certain chemi
cal.. ta so** case,. , the
system may be entirely
!*? tr. > ? i ? ' i
impracucai.
At capacity, GSX would
accept more than 50 times
the annual amount of
toxic waste that all of North
Carolina industries send to
off-site treatment centers.
The company proposes
pumping more than 50 diffe
rent toxic substances into
the river at maximum con
taminant levels. Most of the
toxics the company may
dqmp are not currently
regulated by state and fede
ral agencies. Despite com
pany claims that each treat
ment waste water batch
will be tested before dis
charge, the report goes
further in citing problems
with the company's defini
tion of batch and the testing
procedure. In effect
"...Waste water from the
hazardous waste treatment
facility would be replaced
prior to being tested for the
presence of chemicals which
can be harmful to public
health," says one official.
Cancer risk and potential
impacts on the water supply
are given particular
attention in the report If the
total allowable increased
cancer risk for all chemicals
in the affluent is the basis for
discharge, setting actual
acceptable levels for each
individual chemical or a
"batch," as defined by GSX
will be impractical if not
impossible...
If the river contains toxics
from other sources prior to
the GSX^LMAC outfall, the
additional load presented by
this outfall may cause the
total concentrations to ex
ceed acceptable risk levels or
standards."
How, Robeson and Scot
land County residents ask,
can the state consider licen
sing a company with such
? blatantly destructive de
signs? Recognizing the com
pany's poor track record in
handling and gtsgpaing ?
highly toxic waste, how we
** or state decision- makers
have confidence that GSX
will operate safely and in
accordance with hazardous
waste laws and regulations.
GSX is plainly and wholly
unacceptable. Just as the
U.S. Ecology Radioactive
Incinerator was inappropri
ate for our area and North
Carolina's needs, GSX is
inappropriate, unsound, and
unwanted. Citizens of this
area do not have to bear this
unnecessary large and dan
gerous burden. We have
fought GSX and stalled its
licensing for over two years.
We should not stop until
GSX- like U.S. Ecology- hu
He application denied and
withdraw! from thia area.
In order to ensure this, we
must remain on top of the
situation. Keep your yellow
ribbons flying. Respark dis
cussions on GSX and its
dangers with your local and
county elected officials.
Write them or call them.
Initiate this discussion and
opposition with year church
committees, ehrie groups,
and other social and/or
professional associations.
Call and/or write your state
representatives and sena
tors. Write and call your
decision-makers in Raleigh.
These are the people with
great contact with the pro
blems and who have a direct
influence on the licensing.
Your calls or letters addres
sing any of our many con
cerns can be sent to any of
the following officials:
Send Mafl To:
Governor James G. Martin
116 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27611
Phillip J. Kirk Jr., Secretary
Department of Human Re
source*
325 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh. NC 27611
William L Meyer
(in charge of the GJ3X
- ~v? 1 > *?.
Solid A Hazardous Waste
Branch. Bath Building; *6
N. Wilmington St
Raleigh. NC 27611
Remember, we do make a
difference. These are our
communities. We have
established roots and we do
not have to compromise our
lives, our health, and our
safety for the benefit of big
business and top-down de
cisions. Soon, there will be a
planning meeting on GSX.
Please watch for notices for
this meeting. For more
information call Robeson
County Clergy and Laity
Concerned at 739-7854 or
739-7861.
Wayne Jackson Of WECT
To Receive Pete Award
WAYNE JACKSON...
WECT-TV "Carolina m the
Morning" kott to receive
Pet* hi*y Award.
BY GENE WARREN
? Warning ton- Wayne Jack
ton, who haa been a televi
sion newscaster with WECT
TV in Wilmington tor 82
yesips, has been chosen to
receive the College News
Association ot the CaraBnas'
Bste Ivey Award Thursday,
August 7, at the CNAC
Summer Conference at Myr
tie Beech, &C.
The annual award, given
in Ibnor of Pete Key,
long-time news bureau di
rector ot UNC-Chapel Hffl.
salutes la individual in ths
news media who has made
ailiaiae Jli ? i ml ^|? 4e
outiriB^nf eoommioofM to
hiffctr nhfrtfli in th#
Carolina*.
Hie award will be presen
ted at the CNAC banquet at
7 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the
Quality Royale Bluewater
Retort at Myrtle Beach, 8.C.
Making the presentation will
by Gene Wanen, public
information director of Pem
broke State University who
is a member of the CNAC
Board of Directors.
A native of Hinsdale, 111.,
a suburb of Chicago, Jack
son graduated from the
Radio Institute of Chicago.
He was with WCEC and its
WFMA affiliate in Rocky
Mount from 1961-54 before
going to Wilmington to Join
WMFD-TV, a forerunner of
WECT-TV. He has thus
been with television from its
infancy in North Carolina.
Always a sports enthusi
ast, Jackson has intefviewd
such athletic greats as Joe
Louis, Jackie Robinson, Mic
key Mantle and Rofsr Ma
ris. In higher education, hd
baa intends wed top educa
tors throughout the south
eastern North Carolina re
gion.
A service veteran, be
served in the U.S. Army
from 1944-46.
Jackson is married to the
former In# Lorn Ho is the
iflUW OI ? ulUgnWr, JlCXlff,
of Columbia. CA. and two
sons, Mlhs and Steve, of
Wilmington. He has tsso
grandsons, Brent and Chris.
OPEN ELECTION FOR
INDIAN COMMISSION
PLANNED
Lumbee Regional Devel
opment Association, Inc. wfll
conduct an Open Section on
August 26, 1986 to nominate
a member to serve on the
N.C. Commission of Indian
Affaire Board of Directors
for a three-year term. Ms.
Delia Maynor, a resident of
Hoke County, currently ser
ves in that capacity.
Voters must reside in the
following townships and
counties: Burnt Swamp, Raft
Swamp, East Howellsvflle. '
West HoweOsville, Wishart,
Red Springs, Shannon,
Lumber Bridge, Parkton,
Rennert, St Pauls, Saddle
tree, Scotland County, Hoke
County.
Criteria 1or voting: mus
be Indian, must be 18 yean
or older, must reside in
above districts.
'Die election sites are
being identified and will be
announced at a later date.
Anyone interested in run
ning as a candidate should
declare their candidacy no
later than August 18,1986 at
' the Executive Director's
Office with Lumbee Regional
Development Association,
Inc.
Chamber of Commerce
Night at SATW
lot Doara of al rector*,
cast and crew of Strife* it the
Wind cordially Invito oaeh of
yon to Rcbraoa County'?
Cham bar of Commore#
Mfht on An (not 8, 1106.
Strife at tho Wind to a
?how that buatnooomon can
rapport 1 toUo too atocy of
poopto, tho way thoy thought
and attod and cominglod
wtth ono anothor daring tho
CMWarora.TlMtlMBMof
tho ahow an a (air toflocdon
ci thoM troublod timoo.
Wo lock forward to aoofaf
fou and jour chmbtr lop*
wwtol on ttda nigtt
Ftoao eooUet our oflfeo in a
tow day* for confirmation la
mating marvatlona. If you
don. ptoooo o*B too dBe* at
521 24*0, Bl- 2460 or 821
Sill. ..
???<?? lithwdtoi
AadtomDnmUpmrSATW
? ? ???
?
THE CAST I
\ .
OF
"STRIKE AT THE WIND"
Cornell Lockleor
os Doss Strong
Robert Bryant
os Shoemaker John
Michelle Martin
os Dolly King
Gene Lockleor, Jr.
as Steve Lowrie
Hie Eleventh Season of
"Strike at the Wind" is
being presented each Hiurs
day through Saturday night
at 8:80 p.m. at the Lakeside
Amphitheatre, three miles
west of Pembroke. Hie
drama will continue through
September 6, 1986.
Carnell Lock)ear returns
for his eleventh season as
the popular Boss Strong.
Locklear also serves as Gen
era! Manager of the outdoor
drama.
Also returning for his
eleventh season is Robert
Bryant as Shoemaker John.
Bryant is a crowd pleaaer.
Michelle* Martin returns
for her second season as
Dolly King.
And Gene Locklear, Jr. is
performing his first season
as Steve Lowrie, brother of
Henry Berry Lowrie and
member of the Lowrie Gang.
For mom information on
the ffeffog mniina,'ca[r 5ZY
2480. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday thru Saturday or
521-3112 from 6 p.m. to 11
p.m. on performance nights.
Will Five Go Into One ?
Merger Possibilities In Robeson County
EDITOR1 S NOTE
This it the tenth in a tenet of articles about
tchool merger possibilities in Robeson
County. WiU five go into one I Hittory shouts
"No!" We hope history mill be proven
wrong. The series of articles was vrritten by
Bruce Barton, editor of this newspaper.
WILL ROBESON COUNTY MERGE THEIR
FIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS INTO ONE?
Some challenges facing merger in Robeson
County, as well as elsewhere are:
1.) Agreeing on a plan for the election of
the new board of education; 2.) Reorganizing
and properly utilizing the central office staffs;
3.) equalizing per pupil expenditures,'
especially where one unit has a supplemental
levy; 4.) Equalizing salary supplements; 5.)
Equalizing opportunities upward rather than
downward; dealing with negative feelings
where loss of opportunities occur in the
t equalizing process; 6.) Justifying and secur
ing capital outlay funds if more is needed in
one unit than the other; 7.) Establishing new
attendance lines to utilize facilities and
achieve a racial balance; 8.) Involving citizens
and staff who may feel further removed from
the policy-making body and administration;
9.) Dealing with the city versus county
attitudes; 10.) Inability of the county
commissioners to guarantee funds beyond
their terms of office; and, moat importantly in
Robeson County, reconciling the "Racial
Differences."
A* recently u November 1964, a state
school survey committee recommended dis
solving the five school systems in Robeson
County and merging into a single system.
"The recommendation also included retain
ing only six of the county's ten high schools:
Lumberton, West Kobe eon, South Robeson,
Fairmont, Red Springs and 8L Pauls."
A study commission was formed with
representatives from all five systems, with
County Commissioner Jack Morgan as
Chairman.
A February 4, 1966 editorial in 7*e
PbpiMsUBs 71sMf noted succinctly.
"The Robeson County Schools Study
Commission has bent to political expediency
in its proposal for n public refsraodum on
macgerof tho fire school administrative unite
in the county.
"The study commission would have done
hotter to ioeve toe quiattoe of how to
though a referendum may be the only
political approach that will fly, by its
recommendation the study commission has
made such an approach inevitable.
"By also proposing that the referendum
ask voters to commit to a significantly higher
level of local financing for schools, the study
committee is shunting too many decisions to
the political fates which are properly ones for
the committee and for the elected officials.
"Experience has shown that the referen
dum route is the most divisive and
least-successful means of achieving school
merger.
"There does seem to be a new wind of
change blowing in Robeson on school
matters, a new sense of the need for more
cooperation and unity, perhaps a new
willingness among the various political,
racial, and geographical groupings to seize
the uncommon opportunity to more toward
sensible administrative structure and more
community support for schools throughout
the county.
"But to expect this incipient trend to bear
fruit in widespread support for a school
merger referendum, one loaded also with a
tough question of finances, could be asking
more than it can bear.
"Hie School Study Commission has done
good work in gathering the facts about the
state of public education in Robeson, in
seeking the expertise and guidance of the
state-level consultants whose work has been
instrumental in other merger situations, and
in fashioning a model of what public
education ought to be in the county b> order
that all children are served soundly and
fairly.
"In proposing that the next step should be
a public referendum, however, H has laid
aside its own responsibility too soon and
tossed -this immensely important issue into
what could be a fiery Amines of poiMeal 1
confusion.
"School merger is without doubt an Issue I
involving every dtisen. Bat that does sot
mean such decisions an best made in n
public refersudam. The Bobsson County
Board of Cnnmilssinniis should tabs their
own counsel about how to tabs the legal step
of merger, lbs major eouaidantisu should be
the fata* welbei&f at the ehOdren ia every
port el the eouety. and what Is isgutrsd to
assume future nf jnmasbniy better pubbt
trhivtHng M
Knuuuag.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
COUNTY
\ ?
BRIEFS...
?
TOBACCO MARKETS
OPEN LOCALLY
Both Lumberton tod Fair
mont'i tobacco markets op
ened Monday to a muted
chorus of "no suipriaes."
Members of the fabled Bor
der Belt, both markets sold
tobacco at prices ranging
from a high of $1.80 to a low
of $.86 per pound. The
biggest difference this year
is that farmers will be paying
an assessment fee of 2.6
cents compared to last year's
25 cents. According to BQl
Williford, sales supervisor
for the Lumberton market,
farmers are expected to fare
about like they did last year.
PEMBROKE CONSIDERS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO
CPA L FOR ELECTRICITY
On July 28, a 60 year
agreement with Carolina B>
wer and Light came to an
end in the City of Pembroke.
Pembroke is now consider
ing alternatives for electric
service, and Monday night
heard from Ronnie Hunt,
general manager of Lumber
River Hectric Membership
Corporation (LREMC). the
rural electric cooperative
headquartered in Red
Springs.
In prosentagamnxmsal.
Hunt kafdlhaftRE3MtTeould
provide electricity to the
town in a way that would be
more beneficial to the town
at comparable costs. Hunt
said that "LREMC can and
will serve the town and sell
electric power on a whole
sale basis...The town would
use its own power and
contract all its services from
LREMC. Lumbee River
could build, provide services
and be responsible for main
tenance and upkeep."
Hunt used the town of Red
Springs as an example, and
noted that they make some
$200,000 profit s year, thualy ?
lowering the tax rate and
providing auxiliary services.
Ihe town, awaiting a
..proposal from CP&L* took
Hunt's proposal under ad
visement
COMMISSIONERS DENY
FUNDING REQUEST FROM
STRIKE ATTHE WIND/
Without much fanfart, the
county commissioners de
nied a request for funds from
'Strike at the Wind!' Mon
day night Hie $25,000 re
quest was made by Dr.
Adolph Dial, chairman of the
board of Robeson Historical
Drama, Inc., the sponsoring .
agency of the popular out
door drama.
In spite of the presence of
a number of cast members
and supporters, the commis
sioners denied the request
on a 4-2 vote. Voting no were
H.T. Taylor, Cart Britt Bill
Herndon and Henry Doug
las. Taylor, Britt and Hern
don are white, and Douglas
is the lone Mack commissio
ner. Voting in favor of the
proposal were the two Indian
commissioners. Jack Mor
gan and Wyvis Onsndino.
FVicticc fof
MO tetior Hift) QM VWW7
bal wB b?tftn <w MoHfaqr,
SffV^^s