Community Corner

Acid Runoff Possible from Blast of Mountain

A Cartersville woman says that factor has not been considered by Georgia Department of Transportation.

To the editor,

A lot has been written about the proposed US 411 Connector route that will require a massive cut through Dobbins Mountain (which is immediately next to my home). However, one item not discussed in the media or even studied by GDOT is how the acidic drainage of minerals – from the cut at Dobbins Mountain – will impact nearby streams and tributaries.

The subsurface of the mountain may contain significant quantities of sulfide-bearing rock; when exposed pose a strong potential to produce acid runoff from weathering. Exposing sulfide-bearing rock at the Dobbins Mountain cut (which equals an 800-foot-wide, 125-foot-deep gash) to rain and stormwater flow will likely harm downstream water quality for many years. The runoff could also impact the threatened and federally protected Cherokee darter and place other sensitive species in peril. Yet, GDOT has not even tested Dobbins Mountain for sulfide-bearing rocks or for the potential of the proposed excavation to introduce acid runoff into Cherokee darter habitat.

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Remember when GDOT claimed they dotted every “‘i” and crossed every “t” during their comprehensive environmental work for the road? Once again, they failed to deliver.

At what point are GDOT and our elected officials going to quit playing the blame game and start getting serious about another route? It finally appears that GDOT – by announcing the study of alternate routes – is headed down the “right road.” Hopefully, this step in the right direction will lead to a much cheaper, shorter and more sensible solution that results in better connection to I-75.

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Sincerely,

Toni Kirk


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