A loosely organized

group of 15 residents is now starting to voice opposition toward a proposed

power plant in their neighborhood.

Residents near

the proposed Williams power plant, on Peters Road off Ga. Highway 138

near Fairburn, fear the plant's four massive turbine engines will emit

stressful levels of jet engine type, high-pitched noise.

"This

is not a 'peaker' plant one that runs only during peak seasons,"

said Dr. Randy Colver, spokesman for the group. "This will run 24/seven.

That means that residents will have to put up with stressful noise levels

all the time especially annoying in the evenings.

"What

Williams wants to do is rezone the area to industrial," said Colver.

"Historically, industrial areas have exponentially higher levels

of allowable noise. Since Georgia has no regulations for noise pollution,

Williams could conceivably allow high-annoyance levels without management."

Noise pollution

has been linked to health hazards such as stress, illness, sleeplessness,

aggression and violence, he said.

He added the

group is also concerned about proposed environmental impacts of the plant.

Colver said

he had talked with Williams officials about the plant and said a community

meeting may be in the offing with Williams officials.