Residents of Baldwin and Putnam counties turned out earlier this week for the second public informational session on Georgia Power’s proposed waste facility set for location off of Lake Sinclair. And while the project is still funneling its way through the required channels for approval, it’s reassuring that company representatives have been forthcoming in answering the public’s questions and addressing concerns with regards to the potential for risk to the air and water supply.

The proposed 143-acre waste facility will hold a material called gypsum, a byproduct of a flue gas desulfurization process. The material is more commonly utilized in wallboard for homes and businesses and in fertilizer. Providing the public with information regarding this material’s common everyday uses is a benefit that goes a long way in calming fears and concerns.

Audiences turned out to both public sessions, where local and state company officials spent time detailing why this facility is needed, how it will operate and the oversight measures that will be utilized to ensure health and environmental safety.

The facility, to be located on private company property, is needed to comply with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for sulfur dioxide emissions. If it is not approved, Georgia Power will have to look into other options for storing the material off-site — a costly measure that could impact the local plant financially, and thus the area economy in the long-run if the plant relocates to another region of the state. The potential economic downside by no means negates the company’s environmental responsibilities and officials’ responsibilities to ensure public safety and trust when it comes to our air and drinking water. After all, the facility, though on private property, would be located about 1,400 feet off of Lake Sinclair in a water supply watershed district. This proposal does indeed warrant serious local though and discussion, but it appears as if the stringent regulations, technology and oversight, coupled with Georgia Power officials efforts to inform the public about the matter will certainly go the distance in ensuring that a viable solution will both protect the air and water supply and keep a strong community partner — a company that goes to significant lengths to promote environmental awareness through its support of the Renew Our Rivers Cleanup as part of the Rivers Alive effort and other projects — here in our area.

Sinclair Water Authority officials have noted that the water treatment process can be modified to address the potential for mercury and arsenic in the water supply.

While this is still only the beginning of the approval process — the Putnam County Commission’s approval is the first step, and Georgia Power must have the facility operational by late 2013 to maintain the timeline of its statewide environmental strategy — the two informational sessions have been informative, and detailed in a manner to address the issues and potential dangers for all concerned entities.