Ohio EPA reconsiders rules on landfill odor problems
The Akron Beacon Journal
COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering proposed rules on odors from landfills, including a smelly dump in southern Stark County.
The EPA has extended the public comment period on the rule changes to 5 p.m. Feb. 8. The agency then will refile the changes, which were proposed by the Taft administration.
State Sen. John Boccieri, D-Youngstown, said he was pleased by the reconsideration. He feared that the EPA was trying to wash its hands of dealing with odor nuisances like those at the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Pike Township.
"The Taft administration Ohio EPA failed to propose rules to protect the public from odor nuisances,'' he said.
In a letter to the EPA, Boccieri had requested that the agency delay changing odor rules until Gov. Ted Strickland and his administration could deal with the issue.
The public comment period on the EPA's initial proposal expired Monday.
The proposed change would remove the EPA from oversight of public nuisances caused by odors unless the odors also cause health problems or property damage.
Such a change could end the state agency's involvement in landfill odors at Countywide, which is next to Interstate 77. There are no confirmed health threats or property damage from the landfill odors.
The EPA and the landfill company, Republic Waste Services of Ohio, have been working for months to eliminate the odors, but they persist.
The company has covered a portion of the landfill with a synthetic liner and has expanded its gas collection-burning system. The company has spent more than $3.5 million to curtail the odors, which began last spring.
The EPA says the landfill, which handles much of Summit County's garbage, is a public nuisance because of the odors.
The odors are believed to have been caused by mixing water and wastes from aluminum foundries.
