GVCCC lists 2008 accomplishments

A new Dispose-a-Med program sponsored and launched by the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council is one of 11 accomplishments announced at December’s executive board meeting.

Recently, three boxes for the disposal of expired medicines have been placed at local fire stations, and area residents are taking advantage of the free service.

At the end of the first week, about 100 pounds of expired meds had been deposited and picked up from the locked boxes.

Other noteworthy accomplishments for 2008 included convening two solar forums, sponsoring and launching the MedianGreen beautification project, sponsoring two Household Hazardous Waste Collections and conducting training opportunities for homeowner associations.

GVCCC also participated in the Upper Santa Cruz Provider and Users Group to assure water availability and worked with Pima Association of Governments and Regional Transit Authority to bring affordable, accessible transit to the Green Valley area.

Environmental issue

Tom Ward, special assistant to District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll, spoke about Carroll’s plan to introduce a statute to revoke a permit for the California Portland Cement Co., parent company of Arizona Portland Cement, which wants to develop two limestone quarries at each end of Davidson Canyon.

The canyon is near Vail and includes a perennial spring.

In addition to negatively impacting an important riparian area and wildlife corridor, the road connecting Davidson Canyon to Sonoita Highway would need to be improved to handle up to 48 trucks a day carrying up to 25 tons per load.

Ward explained that groundwater lies five feet underground in two wells and 50 to 110 feet in two other wells within a mile of the site, making contamination from mining activities likely.

Water flows from the Davidson Canyon Wash into the Santa Cruz Aquifer through Cienega Creek.

Reading Carroll’s statements, Ward said, “With potential aquifer contamination from mining, an Aquifer Protection Plan should be required to determine the public health detriments from any quarry operation.”

Citing the county as the first line of defense, Ward said, “This would affect our aquifer and everyone in Green Valley.”

Finkelstein’s farewell

Having served as GVCCC’s executive director for the past 10 years, Joyce Finkelstein attended her last executive board meeting.

She announced that the next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be Feb. 28.

In a brief closing she said, “It has been an honor for 10 years. Thank you.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.