Long live Sleepy Creek

Dear Editor:

When I think of a river, I am absolutely appalled that a company can even apply for a “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Permit.” Why don’t they just call it “A Pollute and Destroy a Beautiful, God-created River Permit?” And this permit is available from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.” How ridiculous is that?

Is having a permit to dump 157,300 gallons per day of wastewater in Sleepy Creek considered protecting the environment? Only Mountain Springs Public Utility, LLC benefits. Remember what the LL part means — Limited Liability.

Like Kim Robinson of Great Cacapon said in her letter last month, “hundreds of thousands of dollars and significant amount of volunteered time have already been spent, cleaning up the stream.” Why even consider a permit for a company that needs to upload 157,300 gallons per day of sewer system discharge into that stream?

The only thing going into the beautiful little creek should be a fishing pole, people swimming and nature’s animals drinking, not sewer discharge.

Our entire country is slowly being ruined and many people don’t even know it. Due to this kind of contamination and “nationwide fracking,” many of the most pristine rivers of America, including the Susquehanna are on the Endangered River List.

Don’t let our rivers and creeks become a story about the way they used to be, because one day, that could be a real sad, sad tale. Hopefully this sewer discharge permit will be rejected, for the sake of the people and animals, who love and enjoy Sleepy Creek.

Russell Ratliff
Berkeley Springs