200 Signatures, Press, and a Heartfelt Message

Just recently, the Ellon Times featured the Blackdog petition on the front page, and we received our 200th signature!

This is a big milestone. Over 60 residencies, nestled among 19 landfills, objected to having a substation built 400 feet away from their homes, but Vattenfall is continuing with their plan.

As more people find out about the petition, the signatures are slowly flowing in. 

Some of you reading this may agree about the cause and still refrain from signing.

Maybe signing petitions is not for you, or maybe you don't like placing your name next to controversial issues, but before you leave this page, we here at Protect Blackdog would like to tell you something.

We are not asking for money.

We are not asking for long term commitments.

We are not asking for you to find and contact local officials (but that would be greatly appreciated!).

...

We will take care of all those details.

All we are asking is for you to place your name next to ours, next to the names of the more than 60 residencies that are fighting to protect their small town.

In short, we need your help.

http://www.change.org/petitions/formartine-area-committee-stop-vattenfall-from-building-a-substation-near-residential-housing

In the Press!

Although the petition has only been active for a few days, Blackdog petition leaders have already received press inquiries! The "Evening Express" and "Press and Journal" immediately covered the story. 

The Protect Blackdog movement is gaining force, and as additional people hear about the petition, signatures will continue to materialise.

Will you add your name to the list? Read the Blackdog story here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/formartine-area-committee-stop-vattenfall-from-building-a-substation-near-residential-housing

Evening Express

Press and Journal

Strabathie Landfill

How Bad Could It Be?

At this juncture, most have probably started hearing about what is going on in Blackdog. Vattenfall, an energy company, has chosen to build a large substation over the now closed Strabathie landfill, and Vattenfall has been all too quick to say that uncovering the property to construct is nothing less than safe.

But Blackdog village strongly disagrees.

Strabathie has been reportedly operational since the 1930s, but it was licensed as a landfill in 1978. That means, that there is a 50 year window when anyone could dump anything they wished into the unlined earth. Without detailed records, this also means that no one can possibly know for certain what found its way into that landfill.

What could have been dumped there?

This is what the local residents, many of whom have lived in Blackdog their whole lives, remember:

1) Thirty lorry loads of asbestos used for insulation was dumped in the 1950s. 
2) “Rodine,” a brand of rat poison banned from use, was disposed of by the Council. 
3) Red oxide paints (believed to contain lead). 
4) Old cars and batteries 
5) Tyres from RAF Dyce 
6) Old building materials 
7) Human waste 
8) Deceased farm animals

Vattenfall is trying to convince the Formartine Area Committee that any possible contamination could be addressed, but there is reason to be concerned.

Look at the picture below. See that white spot? This picture was taken by a local resident as the construction workers were digging. Maybe the threat of asbestos is greater than Vattenfall thought, but they will never admit it.

As long as the workers are wearing proper equipment, there's no problem, right?

But, as a resident who spoke to them explained, the workers were not told that they were digging above an old landfill, let along a landfill that could contain dangerous substances.

The following is a sign from another landfill near the residents, the Toxic Beachside Tip. But this will have to wait for another day...

Welcome to the Protect Blackdog Blog!

Blackdog is a small village in Scotland made up of 82 houses. It is so small, that most will probably not even know that it exists, let alone where it is located.

And this has made it easy for the small, scenic beach-side village to become a local dumping ground for numerous decades. The residents of Blackdog are surrounded by 19 landfills, many of which were operational before regulations were put into effect. 

The little village almost became the home to a large garbage incinerator.

The Blackdog Beachside Tip landfill is the second most contaminated parcel of land in all of Scotland. Once again, Blackdog was blessed -- or shall we say cursed -- by its close proximity.

A recent occurrence, however, has the entire village angry and worried, because it has, once again, been chosen for yet another project.

Vattenfall, an energy company, has chosen Blackdog as the site for its electrical substation. It will connect the controversial EOWDC wind farm to the mainland through the village.

Unfortunately for the residents, the substation will be built approximately 60 feet from several houses, and it will be constructed over the Strabathie landfill, which was unlicensed until 1978.

Why are the people worried?

First, Blackdog has few amenities. An area of the beach is polluted by the Beachside Tip, and the location of this substation is one of the few peaceful places left. 

Who would want to live near a substation?

Second, digging up a landfill in order to build the substation is a bad idea. The landfill was unregulated for nearly 50 years, since it has been reportedly operational since the 1930s. That means that anything could be deep below the surface. 

Residents remember some of the following being dumped there: lorry loads of asbestos in the 1950s; "Rodine", a brand of rat poison that was discarded by the Council after it was banned; red oxide paints; cars and batteries; and tyres from RAF Dyce -- just to name a few possibilities.

This blog was created to document was is happening in Blackdog. The village may be small, but it has a big voice.