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German company Aurubis Richmond has filed a request with the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection (GA-EPD) for a permit that would allow the Aurubis to open a copper smelting plant in South Augusta.
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ACTION ALERT
EMAIL YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES NOW AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT SUPPORT KNOW POLLUTER AURUBIS AS YOUR NEIGHBOR
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“Our air cannot stand any more contamination. It's absurd to continue to bring highly polluting industries into our community, somehow thinking the people of Augusta want to continue to suffer bad air in exchange for a few jobs”
-Tonya bonitatibus / savannah riverkeeper and executive director
30+ DANGEROUS CHEMICALSPeople in Augusta can’t afford a known air polluter, with a documented list of pollutant releases like Aurubis to move into our community and worsen our air quality. Aurubis is asking Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division for permission to release toxins into Augusta’s air, including more than 30 dangerous chemicals. Heavy metals and high amounts of particulate matter. The list includes things from arsenic to o-xylene that, if permitted, would be released “in and around the facility.” The company wants to open an operation on Valencia Way in South Augusta. That part of our community already deals with relic heavy metal toxicity, high particulate matter pollution, and numerous still contaminated abandoned sites.
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The community in South Augusta where Aurubis has asked to release these chemicals is over 80% African-American. According to the EPA’s National Air Toxic Assessment, the Augusta area has a 95 to 99 percent cancer risk rate. That ranks Augusta as high as cities like Atlanta and New York.
“Our kids don’t need it, the South Augusta community doesn’t need it, and Augusta’s future doesn’t need known polluters like Aurubis as our neighbors. Our community deserves better.”
-TONYA BONITATIBUS / RIVERKEEPER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
aurubis is a known polluter with federal violations
Savannah Riverkeeper’s Research and Advocacy Unit found a list of federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) violations filed against Aurubis. Those RCRA violations filed against Aurubis’ Buffalo, New York facility indicate that Aurubis’ handling of the toxic chemicals it uses and produces was unsafe, presenting a danger to the local community and Aurubis’ employees.
The company is considered a “significant.” violator by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
augusta's air is among the worst in the nation
Augusta can’t afford any more pollution! Dirty air is life-threatening to people in our community. Our air quality is WORSE than last year in a city now ranked 28th in the nation for year-round particulate pollution. If you’re curious, we were 36th on the American Lung Association’s list last year.
That ranks Augusta as high as cities like Atlanta and New York.
That ranks Augusta as high as cities like Atlanta and New York.
WE MUST STOP GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION FROM APPROVING AURUBIS' AIR PERMIT REQUEST. EMAIL GEORGIA EPD TODAY AND TELL IT SAVANNAH RIVERKEEPER DOES NOT SUPPORT AURUBIS' REQUEST AND NEITHER DO YOU!
REFERENCE AIR PERMIT NUMBER 28364
