AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A brand new order signed by a decide paves the way in which for a steel recycling plant in Augusta.

The corporate Aurubis says it can deliver over 100 jobs to the neighborhood, however the Savannah Riverkeeper says it can add extra poisonous chemical substances into the air.

Aurubis is saying extra jobs and cash, however the Savannah Riverkeeper is asking if these issues price it.

The Savannah Riverkeeper web site cites extra causes like harmful chemical substances, federal violations, and the way our air high quality is already unhealthy.

Now Aurubis has utilized for a allow from the Environmental Safety Division, and the Savannah Riverkeeper says that’s the place there are a ton of pink flags.

“That allow very clearly is asking for the power to emit a really massive variety of poisonous and chemical-causing brokers,” mentioned Tonya Bonitatibus, govt director, Savannah Riverkeeper.

A complete of greater than 30 chemical substances. Arsenic, ammonia, copper, and lead are all being emitted into our air to some extent.

“We don’t discuss concerning the air high quality in Augusta. We don’t reside in a spot with nice air high quality,” she mentioned.

This isn’t the primary time we’ve reported on considerations with Augusta’s air high quality. A couple of month in the past, the American Lung Affiliation ranked Augusta the twenty fifth worst metropolis to reside in for year-round particle air pollution.

The lawsuit filed towards the Kendall Affected person Restoration Plant, which produces ethylene oxide, alleges their emissions brought about over 20 folks’s most cancers circumstances.

Out I-TEAM has combed by most cancers scorching spots throughout the CSRA in locations with doubtlessly excessive environmental air pollution like close to plant Vogtle and KPR.

Of their allow software, it reveals even among the poisonous chemical substances are over the edge that may be allowed for, in order that they’d must do some reworking to deliver them down.

The riverkeeper says Augusta is formed like a bowl, so pollutant particles simply sit right here.

“That’s all of the extra cause that you just don’t wish to find a majority of these amenities right here. We don’t have the airflow,” mentioned Bonitatibus.

We reached out to Aurubis about their plans for the atmosphere and different advantages of their plant however haven’t heard again but.

We talked with the EPD, and so they say they’ve obtained round 80 feedback on the appliance from involved residents, and so they’re nonetheless within the means of drafting the allow, so it’s too early to reply questions.

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