Oconee County, GA Politics

SUIT FILED IN TRAIL CREEK DISASTER             A class action lawsuit was filed in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Friday, August 20, 2010 on behalf of property owners along Trail Creek in Athens , Georgia against J&J Chemical Company. The suit alleges nuisance and trespass, among other causes of action related to the spill of poisonous chemicals into the creek, killing its wildlife, dying it blue, and causing noxious odors or fumes and foamy build up along the creek’s route to the North Oconee River .             Eric Krasle, a local attorney, as well as John C. Bell, Jr. of Augusta’s Bell and Brigham firm and Jim Dunlap, an Atlanta attorney, represent the current Plaintiffs and will be adding additional ones.             According to Krasle, who also owns land along the Oconee River downstream and r...

After waiting nearly an hour to ask a question during an unsolicited call to constituents Monday evening, I asked Congressman Paul Broun if he would help Oconee and Clarke counties by getting the US Environmental Protection Agency involved in the clean up or monitoring of the spill at the J&J Chemical Company into Trail Creek and subsequently into the North Oconee River. He declined, stating that the Federal agency defers to the State Agency and was therefore already involved.