GREEN DELAWARE ALERTS
Alert #73 Help Pass HB 671 to Ban Raw Sewage Dumping Object to media blackouts Port Penn, DE June 27, 2000. Green Delaware's effectiveness depends on people acting on the information we send out. IF YOU ACT, here and now, on the information below, we have a good change of a big victory: stopping the dumping of raw sewage in Delaware. House Bill 671 would prohibit raw sewage dumping in Delaware after Jan 1, 2008. This seems a long time off to most people, but some officials from the City of Wilmington, who dump sewage from 38 "combined sewer overflows," and the Del. Dept. of Natural Resources, who protect the dumping, argue it's not enough time. (Wilmington has asked for 19 years to clean up only 12 of the 38 Combined Sewer Overflows. Many responsible DNREC officials do want the sewage dumping cleaned up. Wilmington City Council President James Baker, candidate for mayor, told Green Delaware "I can support the passage of [SB 671].") New Castle County is also involved, but County Executive Tom Gordon has not responded to calls from Green Delaware. The County want to spend tens of millions of dollars to install sewers in rural areas, to promote sprawl, but is silent about raw sewage dumping directly into Canby Park West, a county park. ACTION: contact Gordon: phone 302.395.5102, FAX 302.395.5268, tgordon@co.new-castle.de.us Ask him to support HB 671, and to contribute to the cleanup. Many are rightly concerned about the possible costs of the cleanup. Both the City and the State have been running budget surpluses of tens of millions of dollars in recent years. Green Delaware believes that Delaware's Congressional delegation (Roth, Biden, Castle) should work with the City, the State, and New Castle County to assemble a funding package for this effort. The entire cost should not fall on the City of Wilmington. We have little doubt that this bill will pass eventually. To most people, and most legislators, it's a "no brainer." The questions is whether it will pass before the end of the 140th Delaware General Assembly on June 30th. The Senate Democrats are still stonewalling on supporting HB 671. Media coverage: We have received good exposure on WILM (John Watson Show) and WDEL (John Rago Show, and some coverage on WJBR. The Delaware State News has published an article from Green Delaware. Please thank them. We've experienced the usual blackouts from the Gannett "Stooge" Journal and WHYY (Channel 12 and 91FM "unpublic broadcasting") ACTION: Please contact the members of the Delaware General Assembly at the emails
If you live in Delaware, contact "your" Senator and Representative. Look for more details in upcoming Green Delaware News. (C) Alan Muller
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