By Sarah Snyder
July 07, 2009
ANDREWS - Waste Control Specialists is pulling a New Mexico attorney into a courtroom in Andrews claiming he lied about the company. The lawsuit targets the President of a group that says the company's disposal site in Andrews County will pollute the ground water in West Texas.
"We just can't stand to have someone outright lying to the public and have no facts, no proof," Tom Jones, VP of Community Relations at Waste Control Specialists, said. "It was just time to put a stop to it."
WCS is taking attorney Adam Greenwood into an Andrews courtroom. He's behind the group "Save the Ogallala Aquifer" and WCS says he's spreading nasty rumors. The aquifer stretches across eight states and the organization claims that WCS' operation in Andrews County will pollute the aquifer and the drinking water for millions.
"We've been trying to get some publicity out there, get the word out so that Texans can decide if this is something they really want to do or not," Adam Greenwood with "Save the Ogallala Aquifer" said. "As far as I'm concerned, this lawsuit is a part of that process. It's helping us to spread the word. We're welcoming the scrutiny. It's the people at the dump that should be concerned."
Greenwood tells NewsWest 9, WCS never made an attempt to contact him and the announcement of the lawsuit came as a bit of a surprise. He says these charges against the radioactive waste procedures are public record and backed by the TCEQ.
"They have no ground to stand on," Greenwood said. "You can't be prosecuted in this country for speaking the truth and raising questions. A lot of questions, a lot of problems that they've managed to hide away in a corner are now going to have to be dragged out and discussed in public, and I don't think they're going to like that."
WCS defends the Andrews site is in no way connected to the Ogallala and will not pollute the ground water. They believe the group "Save the Ogallala" is focused on damaging their company, not protecting the environment.
"When he started telling people in places like Lubbock that there was a possiblity we were going to contaminate their drinking water supply," Jones said. "That is ludacris, it's false, and we reached the point where we have to fight back."
WCS is seeking an unknown amount in damages and they want to know who is funding Greenwood. Greenwood says this lawsuit and the publicity will ultimately benefit their cause, not WCS. The suit was filed in the 109th District Court at the Andrews courthouse.
NewsWest 9 will continue to follow all the latest developments.
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