Memphis Regional Megasite water waste issue resolved
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HAYWOOD CO., Tenn.—The Memphis Regional Megasite has been a hot topic in Haywood County for years, and after the last couple of days, both sides of the fight are getting what they want: No waste dumping into the Hatchie River and more jobs for the region. Tennessee Economic Development Commissioner Randy Boyd made a special trip to Brownsville Friday to announce the solution to the debate over where Memphis Regional Megasite would drain their water waste. “While we thought our solution before was environmentally sound, we’re now eliminating any need to use the Hatchie River,” Commissioner Boyd said. “We’ve created a new water treatment solution that will not only be more responsive to business but providing them more flexibility for the same time it was going to avert any water going to the Hatchie River.” State Senator Ed Jackson said the new treatment plan in an effort to turn the megasite “green” and all water used on site will be recycled. “It’s gonna be a large attachment tank that can be added on to so that when different industries come in so there is no water, no waste water that ail be dumped into any stream, it will all be contained on site,” he said. State Representative Jimmy Eldridge said he has been pro-megasite since day one and he says both sides of the debate are satisfied with this solution. “I think it satisfies everybody, I think everybody should come together on this decision and be happy with it. The end result is jobs we need jobs for West Tennessee,” saids Eldridge. Nick Crafton, a chemical engineer, has been fighting against the megasite draining water into the Hatchie River since 2008, and he said many people are relieved with this decision. “I think it’s a relief to everybody that it is not going into our very precious one of a kind in the world significant to North America our Hatchie River,” Crafton said. “They’re not planning to build a pathway, not for the intentional pollution but for the accidental pollution.” Officials said one of their top priorities now is finishing prepping the megasite for more than one industry. “We realized that 4,100 acres is way too big for any one company if you added up Volkswagen, Nissan, the Boeing facility in South Carolina and the new Hankook tire factory in Clarksville. All of them could fit on half the megasite,” Commissioner Boyd said. The Commissioner said they are hoping for five to eight industries to use the megasite to help create a more diversified economy. Officials said the megasite will be ready for industries to move in within 18 months, however they believe the new water treatment facility may take more time. They are unsure of an exact cost, but are sure the new plan will not cost as much as the original plan to drain water into the Hatchie River.
