SLOSS INDUSTRIES & FIVE MILE CREEK

By: David Whiteside and Roger Conville, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

The Legislative Council recently rejected new water-quality rules designed to clean up FIVE MILE CREEK in northern Birmingham, after a lobbyist from Sloss said the company could not afford to clean up its act.

Bobby Tom Crowe, representing Sloss Industries, presented a letter to the Legislative Council; the document, signed by four lawmakers was part of the lobbying effort to block Five Mile Creek's re-classification. Senator Jack Biddle (R-Gardendale) said, "I didn't even read the letter". Senator Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) said he did it as a favor to Bobby Tom Crowe.

Five Mile Creek has three major discharges: Sloss Industries, ABC Coke, and a Jefferson County wastewater treatment plant, only Sloss Industries opposed the clean water-quality laws. Sloss Industries has had more than 60 violations for exessive levels of cyanide, zinc, phenols and other chemicals. Sloss Industries is owned by Walter Industries of Tampa, Florida.

It is a shame that lobbyists representing outside, private interests can so easily derail heroic efforts to resucitate numerous communities and one of the state's dirtiest creeks.

To tell our "public" servants what you think please contact them at:

Jack Biddle (R-Gardendale): (205) 954-6551 or (334) 242-7846

Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills): (334) 242-7892 E-mail: jabo.waggoner@healthsouth.com

To find out more information or get involved and help save File Mile Creek, please email Roger Conville @ warriorriverkeeper@hotmail.com, or David Whiteside @ cahabariver@aol.com.