Washington County Democratic Party opposes BWXT expansion

The Washington County Democratic Party took a stand this week against proposed expansion of BWX Technologies in Jonesborough. The WCDP adopted a resolution Monday night against BWX Technologies rezoning request calling for the protection of waterways, public health and responsible land use. WCDP calls upon the Washington County Regional Planning Commission and the County Commission to deny the rezoning request and in exchange to prioritize a proactive growth strategy that involves transparent and accountable community engagement. "We are proud to stand with our neighbors in formalizing our opposition to this rezoning," Sylvain Bruni, chair of the Washington County Democratic Party wrote in a press release. The resolution demands "clean air, water and land" emphasizing "environmental responsibility and sustainability" as the core community values of WCDP. "We believe in common-sense land use that respects our county's rural character and prioritizes the health of our families over high-impact industrial risks. Our environment, our schools and our water supply are too precious to gamble with," Bruni wrote in a press release. "It is time for local development that puts people and public safety first." BWXT is requesting rezoning of its property at 1367 Old State Route 34 in Jonesborough. BWXT plans to manufacture high-purity depleted uranium metal, a project that involves processing 300 metric tons of uranium annually located near Little Limestone Creek as well as within a documented 40-acre vulnerable floodplain. WCDP uses the former Aerojet site as an example of environmental contamination to the surrounding Appalachian ecosystem noting that this case has fostered a distrust regarding the long-term safety of radioactive material processing in residential and agricultural zones. The resolution recognizes the residents — more than 5,000 — who have signaled their resistance to BWXT's rezoning through petitions and public testimony stating that it is inconsistent with Washington County's 2008 Land Use Plan. The estimated minimum of a 50-mile radius is for potential contamination zones made by BWXT encompasses all of Washington County and the Tri-Cities area. The resolution records WCDP's position on behalf of the community's health and safety.