Speculating on speculative grading in Haywood

Posted on by Lynda Dixon

Twenty-two acres of forest waste from a speculative-grading project is ready to be burned.

This project is a 22-acre speculative-grading project that will leave about 10 acres usable, with the remaining acreage in man-made steep slopes. The forest has been basically cleared down to the flour-dry dirt. All organic matter has been pushed into piles the size of houses and is ready to burn.

Given the extreme drought conditions, Canton’s water restrictions (the site is on Canton’s water supply), the lawsuit (just heard in Asheville’s federal court) against the Tennessee Valley Authority about the air quality in our mountains, the actual air quality in our mountains and the lung health of the local residents—alternatives to burning, such as chipping or mulching, should be used.

This is not right. And the securing of proper permits does not make the burning of this volume of material, in these conditions, acceptable.

Who is the developer preparing to increase the air pollution in our mountains? Who is it flaunting the recommendations of our governor’s office, the N.C. Division of Forestry, our local fire departments?

The speculative site development of the Beaverdam Industrial Park is being done by Haywood County and the Haywood County Economic Development Commission.

We (all of us who breathe the air in these mountains) deserve better.

— Lynda Dixon
Canton

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One thought on “Speculating on speculative grading in Haywood”

  1. Becky

    That must have been heartbreaking to those who knew what was there before …22 manmade steep slopes? No ground cover left at all? Nice.

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