On Thursday, March 4, the Peachtree City Council will be discussing one of the largest hidden time bombs in Peachtree City history.

Hardly anyone is aware that Peachtree City is the Toxic Waste Capitol of Fayette County and the situation could get worse on Thursday.

Photocircuits, Inc. ranks in the top 20 percent of all facilities in the U.S. in terms of (1) total production-related waste and (2) total off-site transfer of toxic waste (Environmental Defense Fund, Scorecard 1996).

There have been several accidental toxic releases in the state of Georgia recently. In fact, we have tanker trucks full of toxic waste roaming our streets as a result of Photocircuits, Inc.'s production.

As you will remember we just recently had a tanker trunk wreck at the intersection of Ga. highways. 54 and 74 at the morning rush hour. Had the truck been one carrying hazardous waste, a large scale evacuation would have been required.

Our Emergency Services personnel must play the hand they are dealt, and unfortunately their hand does not look good. Should one of the tankers trucks wreck or there be an explosion or uncontrollable spill, a large scale evacuation of a city with a population of 33,000 is almost impossible (especially when a large number of EMS personnel would be needed at or near the site of the disaster.

If you want a recipe for disaster just think about large quantities of toluene, sulfuric acid, lead, chlorine, formaldehyde, copper compounds and others mixed with your air and water and also being transported through the city streets.

All this information can be verified through the U.S. EPA and the Environmental Defense Fund's Internet websites. You cannot afford not to research this for yourself and attend the City Council meeting on Thursday.

Photocircuits is now going before the Planning Commission and the City Council to request variances which would allow them to produce even more hazardous waste. Peachtree City is a planned community and it will be very interesting to find out just who has been doing all the "planning."

Unfortunately, the situation also affects our neighboring cities who are helpless because they cannot vote on issues in Peachtree City. It will also be very interesting to see how Photocircuits, Inc. affects our water and sewer situation this will be coming out soon.

If you would like any information on the "unknown" hazardous waste threat to our neighborhoods send e-mail to Steve_ptc@usa.net.