Governor signs landfill moratorium bill
Published 11:08 pm Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday signed into law a bill that would set a two-year moratorium on new large landfills — including the Conecuh Woods landfill near Repton.
State Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, sponsored the moratorium legislation, which was similar to an executive order signed by the governor earlier this year.
Baker’s bill took the governor’s moratorium a step further by spelling out that the ban includes landfills which do not yet have the approval of ADEM — which includes the Conecuh Woods landfill.
“I heard there might be some question about the issuing of the executive order and that there might be some challenge to it,” Baker said.
Baker said the moratorium will put the brakes on the Conecuh Woods landfill as well as other projects in the state, including proposals in Blount and Russell counties.
Conecuh Woods developers and supporters have argued that the landfill would bring needed revenue and jobs to Conecuh County. Opposition groups have said the revenue is not worth the potential harmful effects on the environment and property values.
Surrounding local governments — including the Brewton City Council and Escambia County Commission — passed resolutions opposing the landfill before the Conecuh County vote.