Wayne County Landowner Seeks Help To Battle Illegal Dumping

A landowner in Wayne County called me after learning that I had been successful in obtaining assistance for property owners who are victims of illegal dumping. Although I focus my efforts on Huntington and Cabell County, I agreed to visit the area along Brumfield Ridge Road, which is located along Route 75 in Wayne County.

I took scores of digital photos all along this unpaved state road and was appalled at what I saw. I will be sending the photos to the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection and request that they proceed with installing video equipment for obtaining evidence that will lead to the prosecution of the perpetrators of these acts of environmental terrorism. The signs were placed as a deterrent to dumping. The signs have not worked, obviously! Notice the amount of the fine posted on the sign - up to $50,000. I say, "Let the fines begin!" It will take thousands of dollars to clean up the environmental disaster on this Wayne County Road. First, we must stop the current and future dumping. Then, the cleanup must occur. I bring this to your attention, because this road in Wayne County is just one example of the proliferation of illegal dumps in the rural areas of Cabell and Wayne counties. In addition, Huntington has many illegal dumps within the city's limits. Our responsibility to future generations is that we get this blight under control! Enforcement must be stepped up now!