unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/06/89)
KETTLEMAN RESIDENTS CHARGE RACISM AT INCINERATOR MEETING
Via GreenLink:
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September 29, 1989
KETTLEMAN CITY, Ca (GP)--Residents of the farmworker community
of Kettleman City packed a county-sponsored public meeting
Wednesday night and denounced the permit process for a proposed
incinerator as racist and biased. Chem Waste Management is
proposing to build and operate a giant toxic waste incinerator at
their Kettleman Hills landfill facility in this Hispanic
community.
Nearly 150 angry residents filled the meeting room where county
officials scheduled a meeting to allegedly receive public input
on a Draft Environmental Impact Report on the incinerator. The
Draft EIR claims that local residents would actually benefit from
the burning of toxic waste in their community.
Residents, with support from Greenpeace, demanded that the
environmental impact documents be translated into Spanish, and
that the county provide neutral interpreters to translate all
proceedings into Spanish. Kettleman City is 95% Spanish speaking,
and many residents work in the fields as farmworkers. Residents
are also furious that no public hearings are held in Kettleman,
just public "meetings" with no legal effect. The hearings are
held over 30 miles away in Hanford, the county seat, often in
mid-day.
Greenpeace representative Bradley Angel called for the county
officials who have exhibited bias in favor of Chem Waste to be
removed from any responsibility in evaluating the permit
application. Marta Salinas, a resident of McFarland, denounced
the government's toxic policy as racist, to the applause of the
crowd. McFarland is another farmworker community plagued by a
large cancer cluster, the result of pesticide contamination.
Residents complained that the county really was not interested in
receiving public comment, as there was no amplification for the
large crowd, and only 16 headsets for translation. As the meeting
heated up, the Chem Waste hired translator announced she would no
longer translate, and got up and left the room. She stated that
she could not adequately provide translation for so many people,
and she supported residents claims that the proceedings were
biased and unfair.
Residents and Greenpeace are requesting a government
investigation into racial bias exhibited by the regulatory
agencies in this permit process, and have vowed to continue
fighting the incinerator proposal.
Contact: Bradley Angel, Greenpeace: (415) 474-6767
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