Letter: Formally oppose 3M proposal

Talk about it

We are writing today to ask a very simple question of the elected officials of Cottage Grove: When will the city council publicly state their position and take action regarding the 3M request to change their permit for hazardous waste incineration?

We are very concerned the health of our citizens is not being considered. We have a right to know your position.

In addition, this topic is extremely important and warrants public education of our citizens by the leaders of our city — the city council members. We are surprised this topic has not more recently appeared in the monthly Cottage Grove Reports publication that is sent to all residents with their utility statement. September 2009 was the one and only time this was referenced. It’s time to educate and communicate to the residents of Cottage Grove. When we ask people about this topic, they say to us, “I didn’t even know this was an issue.”

It is our hope that the city council will stand with the citizens that elected them to be our voice and say no to the 3M permit modification. The alternative is that we may need to obtain a new welcome sign that would include language or visual images that would truly indicate citizens who live in Cottage Grove (and surrounding communities) are here at their own risk and we may want to invest in alternative breathing masks to live with the hazardous waste (lead, cadmium, and heavy metals) that 3M burns from all over the country. The new slogan could go something like this … “Cottage Grove — the city that accepts the burning of lead and other hazardous waste for its citizens to breathe — live here at your own risk!”

Respectfully submitted as concerned residents for the well being and health of the children and other residents of Cottage Grove and surrounding communities,

Lisa & Paul Schoonover

Pine Coulee/Cottonwood

neighborhood

Tags: letter, opinion