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After 20 years of begging the government to investigate the old waste areas
at Envirosafe - about 1.5 miles from Maumee Bay/Lake Erie and abutting Otter
Creek - a tributary, OEPA is ordering Envirosafe to do something about the
leaks.
There have been two major expansions in those 20 years - the most recent a
vertical expansion just last year. Envirosafe is one of but maybe a dozen
commercial hazardous waste landfills in the US. Ohio and USEPA told
the public that the impervious clays would hold the waste to a permeability
of 1 foot per hundred years.
The State of Ohio and the US government granted major expansions amounting
to millions more tons of hazardous waste from all over the US being put in these
unstable soils - before THERE WAS ANY INVESTIGATION OF THE OLD WASTE AREAS AND
ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THE OLD LEAKING AREAS. Ohio EPA
issued a permit for a vertical expansion to Envirosafe just last year - when
there was evidence of the leaking, but the new permit for more capacity made no
provisions in the permitting process for the leaking areas of the landfill.
Envirsafe's is affiliated with Envirosource, but its owners are unknown and
documents to old shareholders show bankruptcy filings(Envirosafe was part of
several large corporations traded on the NYSE, the AMEX, NASDAQ and then over
the counter and then it was penny stock, filed for bankruptcy and is no longer
publicly traded. Furthermore the Ohio Attorney General's office has ok'd
the company for the required background checks - but no one seems to know who
owns the company.
Ohio EPA has now determined the site is leaking and that Envirosafe should
place leachate collection systems, removal of waste from some areas, methane gas
systems, containment in the old waste areas. Ohio EPA is ordering these
actions now before all of the corrective action studies are done - though many
years late and no funding required yet to pay for these requirements - it
is about time that this operating leaking landfill is required to plug/collect
at least some of the leaks.
The OEPA is holding a
public hearing on Wednesday, May 3rd at the East Toledo Family Center on Varland
Ave.(corner of East Broadway) at 6:30p.m. This is a critical
important meeting. The public comment period ends May 15 - a thirty day
extension is being requested
Here is the OEPA public Notice:(I was on vacation when the press release
came out and am getting the information) Attendance and comments are
important. I will be preparing a letter for individuals and another for
organizations to sign on to.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Sandy
OhioEPAPUBLIC INTEREST CENTER |
| For Release: Media Contact: Citizen Contact: |
April 17, 2006 Dina Pierce, (614) 644-2160 Darla Peelle, (614) 644-2160 |
| For Release: Media Contact: Citizen Contact: |
April 17, 2006 Dina Pierce, (614) 644-2160 Darla Peelle, (614) 644-2160 |
Ohio EPA Proposes Corrective Measures
for Old Landfill
Cells at Envirosafe
Landfill leachate collection and removal and landfill cap enhancements are among corrective measures Ohio EPA is proposing in a draft permit modification for old landfill cells at Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc., in Oregon.
The public may comment on the draft permit during a public information session and hearing on May 3, 2006. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the East Toledo Family Center, 1020 Varland Ave., Toledo. During the information session, representatives from Ohio EPA will present information and answer questions about the permit modification. During the hearing, which will immediately follow the information session, the public can submit oral and written comments for the record regarding the draft permit.
Envirosafe is conducting an extensive study of soil, sediment, ground water and surface water at and around the site, located at 876 Otter Creek Road, Oregon. Typically, a company proposes corrective measures after its study is complete. Ohio EPA then reviews and selects the most appropriate option.
However, Ohio EPA has reviewed documents submitted by the company to date and is proposing specific actions that can be taken now, before the study is complete. Collectively, the proposed corrective measures constitute a containment strategy for the old landfill cells. Ohio EPA finds that this strategy will provide for long-term protection by containing releases and preventing further migration from the landfill source areas. Ohio EPA will select specific corrective measures after considering public comments.
The Agency's proposals include landfill gas mitigation for six waste cells, including two oil ponds and old landfill cells known as Cell F, Millard Road Landfill, North Sanitary Landfill and Central Sanitary Landfill; leachate collection and removal for the Millard Road, North and Central sanitary landfills; landfill cap enhancements for Cell F and the two oil ponds and stabilization or removal of oily waste from the oil ponds.
Envirosafe will continue its investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the facility. When the study is complete, additional corrective measures will be taken, if necessary.
Envirosafe treats and disposes of hazardous waste at the facility. The company's active hazardous waste landfill cell, known as Cell M, is separate from the old waste management cells included in the investigation. The old waste cells are closed.
Ohio EPA will accept written comments on the draft permit through May 15, 2006. Written comments may be sent to Ohio EPA, Division of Hazardous Waste Management, Attn: Regulatory and Information Services, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, by fax to (614) 728-1245, or by e-mail to dhwmcomments@epa.state.oh.us . A copy of the permit and other information is available online at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dhwm/esoi.html.
Copies of the draft permit also are available at the Oregon Public Library document depository, 3340 Dustin Road, Oregon and at Ohio EPA's Northwest District Office, 347 North Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green. An appointment to review the document at the district office can be made by calling (419) 352-8461.
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Ohio EPA Proposes Corrective Measures
for Old Landfill
Cells at Envirosafe
Landfill leachate collection and removal and landfill cap enhancements are among corrective measures Ohio EPA is proposing in a draft permit modification for old landfill cells at Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc., in Oregon.
The public may comment on the draft permit during a public information session and hearing on May 3, 2006. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the East Toledo Family Center, 1020 Varland Ave., Toledo. During the information session, representatives from Ohio EPA will present information and answer questions about the permit modification. During the hearing, which will immediately follow the information session, the public can submit oral and written comments for the record regarding the draft permit.
Envirosafe is conducting an extensive study of soil, sediment, ground water and surface water at and around the site, located at 876 Otter Creek Road, Oregon. Typically, a company proposes corrective measures after its study is complete. Ohio EPA then reviews and selects the most appropriate option.
However, Ohio EPA has reviewed documents submitted by the company to date and is proposing specific actions that can be taken now, before the study is complete. Collectively, the proposed corrective measures constitute a containment strategy for the old landfill cells. Ohio EPA finds that this strategy will provide for long-term protection by containing releases and preventing further migration from the landfill source areas. Ohio EPA will select specific corrective measures after considering public comments.
The Agency's proposals include landfill gas mitigation for six waste cells, including two oil ponds and old landfill cells known as Cell F, Millard Road Landfill, North Sanitary Landfill and Central Sanitary Landfill; leachate collection and removal for the Millard Road, North and Central sanitary landfills; landfill cap enhancements for Cell F and the two oil ponds and stabilization or removal of oily waste from the oil ponds.
Envirosafe will continue its investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the facility. When the study is complete, additional corrective measures will be taken, if necessary.
Envirosafe treats and disposes of hazardous waste at the facility. The company's active hazardous waste landfill cell, known as Cell M, is separate from the old waste management cells included in the investigation. The old waste cells are closed.
Ohio EPA will accept written comments on the draft permit through May 15, 2006. Written comments may be sent to Ohio EPA, Division of Hazardous Waste Management, Attn: Regulatory and Information Services, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, by fax to (614) 728-1245, or by e-mail to dhwmcomments@epa.state.oh.us . A copy of the permit and other information is available online at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dhwm/esoi.html.
Copies of the draft permit also are available at the Oregon Public Library document depository, 3340 Dustin Road, Oregon and at Ohio EPA's Northwest District Office, 347 North Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green. An appointment to review the document at the district office can be made by calling (419) 352-8461.