Murray County commissioner says biowaste facility on hold

The proposed anaerobic digestion facility by Vanguard Renewables in Murray County. (From: Vanguard Renewables)

UPDATE: Thursday night, hundreds of Murray County residents attended an emotional public hearing regarding a proposed biowaste facility.

Murray County Commissioner Noah Bishop says that he is exercising his power to not reaffirm the proposed anaerobic digestor by Vanguard Renewables to Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division.

The plant would recycle food waste into energy and fertilizer.

He says that the county was misled by Vanguard late last year and early this year about the nature of the project near the end of the nearly five hour meeting.

Bishop said, “Since then new information about the proposed facility has become known, including through material submitted by Vanguard renewals to EPD.  The project does not meet agricultural zoning as an industrial project. Therefore, Murray’s initial consistency letter is void.”

He says due to this zoning issue, along with the presence of federally protected American bald eagles, which we saw flying over the property Friday, he recommended that the EPD deny the project, which prompted the agency to send the following statement to Vanguard.

Bishop reading the letter said, “EPD is unable to process your application at this time.”

Vanguard denies that this is the case, sending us the following statement:

“Last night’s hearing was part of EPD’s standard permitting process, and at this time EPD has not issued a decision on the proposed facility’s solid waste permit. We plan to submit the transcript from the meeting and will continue to meet all requirements for our application. We look forward to EPD’s determination and remain engaged in the process. “

Vanguard representatives said on Thursday evening during their presentation that residents wouldn’t be able to see the anaerobic digest from Barry-Bennett Road.

However that did not help to assure the concerns of residents like Caroline Tate, who only lives two miles from the proposed facility and has already confirmed the presence of the forever chemical PFAS in her well, as have numerous North Georgia residents. 

Tate said, “My main concern is being in the air that I breathe and in my well… If that seeps into the ground? That’s gonna go into a soil and the air. If it doesn’t produce a garden, it’s gonna be terrible.”

Dr. Keith Voist was brought in by Vanguard to say that the plant would not increase to the area’s PFAS issues.

Dr. Voist said, “Folks there’s no such thing as zero (PFAS exposure)… I’d find it every one of you in this room.”

However, Commissioner Bishop says that the public sentiment is too far gone for Vanguard to recover telling them, “I wanted Vanguard to see how many people wanted to come out.”

Tate, along with other residents, are appreciative of Bishop’s efforts.

Tate said, “If we all stand together with him as well as us, that thing won’t get here.”

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MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- Murray County’s sole commissioner says a proposed biowaste plant is on hold by a Georgia state agency.

Commissioner Noah Bishop made that speech towards the end of the nearly five hour public hearing on Vanguard Renewables’ proposal Thursday evening.

He says that the county was led astray by the company on its intentions, and believes the plant does not meet zoning regulations.

One of the last pieces of the puzzle Vanguard needs is a reaffirmation from the commissioner to Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, which Bishop says he is not giving.

Bishop says after sending the EPD notice he was not in favor of the project, they sent a letter to Vanguard saying they are not moving forward with the project at this time.

He said, “If I had known the size, scope, and all the facts of this facility in February. The initial consistency letter would’ve never been signed by me or by my office. That was a failure on my part and I can assure you that never happen again.”

We have reached out to Vanguard Renewables for a comment on this development in this story.