Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 23, 2007

Gila River: Toxic Racism Protest


279-5001; (415) 722-5270 (cell phone)

Gila River Indian Community Tribal Members & Environmental Justice Supporters to Hold Rally to Demand Closure of Romic Toxic Waste Plant

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007, 12 NOON
We will meet near Romic, 6760 W. Allison Road, Chandler, AZ
Lone Butte Industrial Park, Gila River Indian Community
(look for people, signs and banners near Industrial Park entrance station)

Gila River Indian Community, AZ - Gila River Indian Community tribal members will demand the closure of the Romic Environmental Technologies Corporation hazardous waste plant in a protest Saturday, March 24, 2007 beginning at 12 noon. The protest will be held close to the Romic facility, 6760 W. Allison Road, Chandler, Arizona (look for people, signs and banners near the Industrial Park entrance station). Greenaction, Chandler residents and other environmental justice supporters will join tribal members in this rally for health and environmental justice.

Romic operates a Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice

For more information:
Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment (520) 315-2169 and (480) 238-8768
Greenaction (602)commercial hazardous waste “treatment” facility at Lone Butte Industrial Park on the Gila River Indian Community, next to Chandler, and “treats” hundreds of toxic chemicals & toxic metals. Tribal members are furious that US EPA allows Romic to operate despite a long history of violations and excessive pollution, including the week-long incident in December when dozens of people were sickened by noxious odors emanating from Romic. Tribal members will blast the EPA for allowing Romic to operate for years on a so-called “interim” permit and without full environmental review, and despite a long track record of serious violations.

Tribal members are also asking the tribal council to reject a new permit for Romic.

The hazardous waste plant has operated since 1975 and has a long history of violations including failing to properly operate, inspect, monitor and maintain records for the air emission control device and hazardous waste storage tanks, storing ignitable wastes less than 50 feet from the property line, storing incompatible wastes next to each other, failing to store hazardous wastes in containers in good condition, storing open containers of hazardous waste, and storing hazardous waste barrels stored in flooded areas. Romic’s violations at Gila River are similar to violations at their other facility located in a low-income community of color in East Palo Alto, California.

Saturday’s rally is sponsored by the Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment and Gila River Environmental Youth, and co-sponsored by Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, O’odham Rights Cultural and Environmental Justice Coalition, Children for a Safe Environment, O’odham Youth Collective, and Youth United for Community Action (YUCA).
Photo: Romic violations

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