MCKINNEY WANTS TO STOP FURTHER CONSTRUCTION OF WALDROP
HILLS SUBDIVISION TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

July 2, 1999

WASHINGTON D.C. -- On Monday, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) requested DeKalb CEO Liane Levetan to place a stop-work order on the Waldrop Hills subdivision development so as to assess environmental damage at the site.  The developer of the site has cleared vegetation and disturbed land within 25 feet, and for a length of more than 100 feet, of the South River, a violation of Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975.  

"The South River is the main watershed of our County.  It is essential to DeKalb County and its residents that it is protected from pollution and sedimentation - and from developments such as Waldrop Hills.  This encroachment on the river not only undermines the quality of the river and our local environment, but it also puts in doubt the enforcement capability of the county," McKinney stated.

The DeKalb Soil and Water Conservation District has recommended to DeKalb County that work on the site be stopped until "proper retribution for this encroachment" can be assessed. 

McKinney has pressed upon CEO Levetan on this site in the past.  The site, which was approved before DeKalb's new tree ordinance, has been clear-cut on its 86 acres, rendering it prone to erosion and making it a culprit in the pollution of the South River.