Residents hoped for much but received little Tuesday in the way of new information on the response by state and federal agencies on the growing controversy over illnesses in Fayette and Fulton counties, illnesses alleged to have accompanied the chemical odors emanating from the Philip Services Corp. waste treatment plant on Ga. Highway 92 near Fairburn.

The second public meeting of the South Fulton/Fayette Community Task Force, held Aug. 15 at Sandy Creek High School, was attended by more than 200 residents and agency representatives. Plainly missing at the meeting was any new information on government accountability relating to action by Georgia Environmental Protection Division or federal Environmental Protection Agency surfaced at the meeting. Yet clearly present was the commitment by affected Fayette and Fulton citizens to persist in their efforts to have questions about their illnesses answered, to see an end to the lack of government accountability and to have the PSC plant shut down. Articulating the continuing message from affected residents was task force Chairman Connie Biemiller.

“I am gravely concerned about the physical, mental and social well being of our community. The pain and suffering of our community cannot be prolonged another day, and each day that our government officials allow this plant to operate is another day of physical and mental deterioration that they are consciously allowing to take place among their fellow citizens. I ask, how much longer?” Biemiller said to the applause of many in the audience who say they have been abandoned by the very government their taxes help fund. “I stand before you tired of hearing political rhetoric and I am tired of hearing about the bureaucratic process. We, the citizens, demand and expect the government that leads us to do the right thing. We know that once the political will of our elected officials aligns itself with the will of its citizens this plant will shut down instantaneously. Until the day comes that someone has the political fortitude to do the right thing, we the citizens of south Fulton and Fayette counties have formed a community task force that has charged itself to do everything in its power to shut this plant down and at the same time care for and nurture our neighbors so that they may make a full physical and mental health recovery. It is imperative that you leave here with a call to action, knowing that you can and will make a difference and that this plant owned by Philip Services Corporation will be shut down.”

Though not part of the presentation portion of the meeting, the one new feature to the growing controversy was the unveiling of a Public Health consultation study by Georgia Division of Public Health. The Public Health Consultation will provide residents with a thorough review of all available information and data regarding the source of the odor, an evaluation of the potential health effects from exposure and health concerns and symptoms of residents along with conclusions and recommendations, if warranted, to protect public health, said Division Public Information Officer Michele Hennessey.

The meeting was attended by Fulton County Dept. of Health and Wellness, Fayette County Emergency Management, Georgia Division of Public Health, Georgia Poison Center, federal Environmental Protection Agency, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Rep. Virgil Fludd, representatives for state Sen. David Scott, numerous elected officials from Tyrone and Fairburn and U.S. 3rd Congressional District challenger Mike McGraw.

There should no longer be any doubt that the growing number of south Fulton and north Fayette residents, allied with increasing numbers of medical and scientific experts joining the task force, will continue to press their agenda for action to permanently the PSC plant and demand answers for the illnesses they say began entering their lives around Memorial Day. Residents after the meeting said that while precious little new information came their way, they categorically refuse to be deterred from their mission.