Recently, Appalachian Power Company has been in the works of planning a new area in Narrows (Giles County) to deposit coal ash. They have found a suitable site and when dumping ends, they plan to sell the land and donate their profits to county schools to benefit vocational learning. The only problem is that their coal ash “dump site” is located adjacent to the New River. This close proximity has created much protests from local community groups who are concerned about the coal ash (which contains arsenic) polluting the New River.

Though the threat of arsenic is an occurrence that community officials should be concerned about, residents need to understand that Appalachian Power has taken all the necessary measures to prevent this from occurring. The land and ash dimensions meet all state regulations (and then some) and a $90,000 irrigation system has been installed as a means of preventing run-off. Not to mention, after the final coal ash has been deposited, the land will be used to construct a building which will generate more jobs for the area. So…this sight will be benefiting county schools, creating jobs, and saving the county of Giles money. What’s the problem again?

–Lucinda McDermott Piro