Even as a standing-room-only crowd turned out at the Oneida Municipal Building tonight in overwhelming opposition to the proposed Roberta Phase II Landfill, Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation spokesman Tommy Himes said TDEC has “tentatively decided” to grant the permit application.

Tonight’s public hearing was conducted by TDEC in response to written requests by area residents. The landfill, which would be located on a 24-acre parcel adjacent to the existing Volunteer Regional Landfill at Bear Creek, was applied for by Oneida businessman Johnny King.

Dozens of residents turned out for the hearing, with several taking the opportunity to voice their displeasure at the prospects of a new landfill, which as proposed would accept solid waste from 12 counties across the region and would be a candidate for TVA fly ash disposal. Officials with Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, the McCreary County (Ky.) Water District and Town of Oneida voiced their opposition to the proposed landfill.

However, Himes pointed out that unless technical information can be provided to show why the landfill shouldn’t be granted, TDEC is required by state statute to issue the permit.