Local advocates urge Washington County to oppose Moss 3 landfill

Dr. Amy Branson, speaking for the grassroots group We Say No to Moss 3, urged Washington County supervisors to oppose a proposed private landfill at the Old Moss 3 site in Cleveland and cautioned the board against negotiating a host agreement without independent studies.

"The project would be devastating to our area," Dr. Branson said in public comment, citing worries about off‑gassing, smells and long‑term environmental harm. She said the proposed facility could be as large as 1,200 acres and might accept up to 6,000 tons of waste per day, and she urged supervisors to review independent geologic and hydrologic studies before committing to any agreement.

Branson said the community had paid $50,000 for a five‑page review by POTISA and distributed documents that include comments from the West Virginia engineering enforcement division. She encouraged supervisors to watch an informational meeting held March 8 in Russell County, which she said included more than 30 public commenters opposed to the project.

The speaker framed the landfill as a regional issue because she expects truck and rail traffic to bring out‑of‑state waste into the proposed site and noted that waste would travel through Washington County to reach Cleveland by Interstate 81. She asked Washington County officials to coordinate with neighboring localities and to consider sending a resolution or letter opposing the project.

Board members did not take action on the landfill at the March 12 meeting; the comments were recorded during the public‑comment segment of the agenda and will inform further staff work and potential resolutions in coming weeks.