How safe is one Shelby Co. community’s drinking water?

Vincent, Ala.—-This latest news is all part of the controversy over a Florida based company’s desire to build a new limestone quarry in Vincent.  Last week EBSCO said, white rock quarries shouldn’t build in Vincent because it could cause sinkholes.  Thursday, White Rock claims EBSCO has been a poor neighbor because, it claims EBSCO dumped 15 tons of toxic waste into a septic tank, potentially polluting the drinking water.

For months now some neighbors and Shelby County’s largest employer, EBSCO have been in opposition to a new limestone quarry proposed in Vincent, neighbors like Noble Naugle.

Opposed to quarry, Noble Naugle said, “I’m highly concerned about how the land was purchased, it was done in the dark of night.”

Today it was White Rock’s turn to fire back against the company that doesn’t want them here.

White Rock Quarries Attorney Steve Bradley said, “We’ve discovered for at least 15 years, EBSCO has illegally discharged at least 15 tons cumulative about one ton per year of hazardous waste through it’s septic system.“

White Rock said it used EBSCO’S own documents filed with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management or ADEM to make those claims.  According to White Rock, underneath the ground in Vincent is cancer causing agents.  White Rock said those chemicals could pose a risk to drinking water although none of it’s tests confirm that.

Environmental Attorney Ron Fowler said, “We’ve done some sampling, we haven’t found it yet, if it is there, it would obviously come to the quarry perhaps and it can be isolated we would isolate it but that’s why ebsco doesn’t want the quarry there.“

Officials believe this evidence is the real reason EBSCO is against the new quarry.  Some neighbors aren’t buying it.

Naugle said, “VIP, Vulcan Information Packaging, is a subsidiary of EBSCO Industries.  You will never find a greener company, more community oriented company, than EBSCO.“

Late Thursday afternoon, EBSCO responded to White Rock’s claims. The company said, “EBSCO is disappointed in the tact White Rock has chosen to take… EBSCO always strives to be a good corporate citizen, provide a safe working environment for our employees and to operate within the law.“

The ADEM confirms EBSCO had a septic system operating prior to 1989.  It hasn’t operated in 20 years.  ADEM received a septic closure plan in 2001, and it contained no issues and was properly closed.