Hennessey Rises: Residents Rally Against Proposed Waste Site Threatening Their Hometown

Imagine living in a quiet, tight-knit community, a place where the air feels clean, and the water from your well is pure. Now, imagine that peace being threatened by the prospect of a massive landfill, just a stone's throw from your front door. That's precisely the unsettling reality facing the folks in Hennessey, Oklahoma, right now. They're up in arms, and frankly, they have every right to be, over a proposed construction and demolition (C&D) waste site that many fear will irrevocably alter their town.

The proposal, put forward by Greenstar Recycling, LLC, centers around a site located northwest of town, specifically in the 12000 block of North 2700 Road. This isn't just some remote, out-of-the-way spot; we're talking about a location alarmingly close to residential areas. Some homes are literally within a quarter-mile, and many more within a mile. When you consider the sheer volume of waste a C&D landfill handles—everything from concrete and wood to metals and drywall—the implications of such proximity are genuinely daunting.

Naturally, the concerns from residents are multifaceted and deeply felt. First and foremost, there's the looming specter of environmental contamination. Hennessey sits atop an aquifer, a vital source of groundwater for countless private wells. The thought of potential leachate, that nasty liquid that seeps from landfills, polluting their drinking water supply is, well, it's terrifying. But it's not just the water; residents worry intensely about increased dust, persistent noise from heavy machinery, and those unmistakable, often overwhelming, odors that waft from waste sites. And let's not forget the sheer increase in truck traffic tearing through their once-tranquil roads.

Beyond the immediate environmental worries, there's a profound concern for public health. Living near a landfill, even a C&D one, has been linked to various health issues, and parents, quite understandably, are asking: what about our children? Then there's the very real financial hit—the potential for property values to plummet, devastating the life savings of many who have built their homes and lives here. It's a fundamental threat to their quality of life, their economic stability, and their sense of security.

But the people of Hennessey are not just sitting idly by. They've banded together, forming a formidable group aptly named the "Concerned Citizens of Hennessey" (CCH). These are folks who are passionate, informed, and incredibly determined. They've been holding regular meetings, packing the Community Building, gathering signatures for petitions, and, importantly, seeking legal counsel to understand every avenue available to them. They're reaching out to their state representatives, like Rep. Mike Dobrinski and Sen. Darcy Jech, making sure their voices are heard loud and clear at the state level.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the state agency responsible for the permitting process. They held a public meeting, providing an overview of the regulations and what goes into reviewing such an application. While the DEQ's role is to ensure compliance, the residents often feel like the system, while necessary, doesn't always fully grasp the local impact. The process involves an application, a review, a public comment period—typically 30 days—and then, eventually, a decision. For the CCH, that comment period is crucial, a chance to formally register their profound opposition.

This isn't just a local news story; it's a testament to community resilience. The residents of Hennessey are making it clear: they love their town, they value their health, and they will fight tooth and nail to protect their home from becoming a dumping ground. It's an ongoing battle, one where their unity and unwavering spirit will undoubtedly be their strongest weapons as they continue to push back against this proposed waste site.