To the editor:

O’Reilly Auto Parts, a company with more than 4,800 stores throughout the United States, plans to open a store in Portsmouth. The store is proposed for East Main Road near the corner of Sprague Street, adjacent to and north of the Dollar General store.

According to a March 27, 2017 notice that was sent to abutters, the developer has applied for a variance/exemption to the zoning laws. This special-use permit is “to allow a new 7,250-square-foot retail business development. The proposed development is a modification to a previously approved plan (March 19, 2015) with a 6,000-square-foot retail building.” (The original plan was for a drive-through bank and a restaurant.)

If an O’Reilly Auto Parts store comes to this location, will they be responsible neighbors and good stewards of the land and respectful of the environment? Let’s look at their recent track record to get some insight to this matter. A recent press release from Woodland, Calif., dated Dec. 1, 2016, states that O’Reilly Auto Parts was ordered to pay $9.86 million as part of a settlement in a civil environmental prosecution in California.

Quoting from this press release: “Stores are required to properly manage used oil and automotive oil filters, and to retain their hazardous waste in segregated, labeled containers so as to minimize the risk of exposure to employees and customers and to ensure that incompatible wastes do not combine to cause dangerous chemical reactions …

“The lawsuit claimed that more than 525 O’Reilly stores throughout the state unlawfully handled, transported, and disposed of used oil, used oil filters, and various hazardous wastes and materials over a five-year period. Those hazardous wastes and materials included automotive fluids, alkaline batteries, electronic waste, aerosol cans, and other toxic, ignitable, and corrosive wastes …

“The inspections revealed that O’Reilly had been routinely and systematically sending used oil, used oil filters, and hazardous wastes to local landfills throughout California that were not permitted to receive those wastes. The investigation also revealed that O’Reilly was routinely and unlawfully transporting hazardous wastes from its stores to its California distribution centers without required licenses.”

This recent case shows that O’Reilly has demonstrated a disregard for personal welfare and the environment, as well as a disrespect for the law. This area is primarily residential with a grade school a few hundred feet away to the east. Judging from the recent conduct of O’Reilly Auto Parts, should they be granted a variance?

Those of you who have an interest, concern or opinion on this matter, please plan to attend the May 18 zoning meeting to be held at Portsmouth Town Hall at 7 p.m.

Peggy L. Mercer

3217 East Main Road

Portsmouth