COLERAIN TWP — “The company and residents agree that odor has increased since a disruption began on the north end of the landfill in 2009. The company says there was a “reaction” 100 feet below the surface. It’s not a fire, Rumpke says, and they don’t know what caused it.
‘It’s not a fire as most people think of a fire,’ says Melissa English of Ohio Citizens Action, a group that has fought Rumpke’s attempts to expand the landfill. ‘It’s a thermal reaction consuming material and leaving instability in the waste pile.’
…English calls it ‘an attempt to mask the odor because they can’t solve the problem. Will it work? I don’t know.
‘The community is upset because they’re not addressing the problem and that’s the best idea they can throw at it,’ English says.
Without a way to stop the reaction from causing the smell, Rumpke says adding more odor neutralizer is the best they can do.”
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has scheduled a public hearing at 6:30pm on April 2 to accept public comments on Rumpke’s request to increase by 300% the deodorizer it uses to mask odors from the landfill. Rich McVay, Rumpke neighbor and president of Property Owners Want Equal Rights, urges his neighbors to turn out for the hearing. He connects the ongoing underground fire at the site with a 400% increase in odor complaints, which has led to the plan to increase deodorizer use. In a recent notice he remarked, “ During the summer of 2012, a new form of this same deodorizer was introduced at the landfill. Since this introduction a number of people have reported they have experienced skin rash or breathing issues which may be the result of this deodorizer.” The hearing will be held at the Colerain Township Community Center, 4200 Springdale Rd.
– Melissa K. English, Development Director, Ohio Citizen Action
Rumpke uses emitters like this one to release an odor-reducing chemical at its Colerain Township landfill.
CINCINNATI — “Rumpke wants to change its deodorant, but it needs a permit to make the switch.
Amanda Pratt, spokeswoman for the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill, says the new odor suppression spray requires that the company apply for a new permit because the spray will increase the amount of emissions into the air at the Colerain Township landfill.
…The OEPA said in the permit documentation that Rumpke is a high-profile facility, and the permit should be issued in draft form first, due to probable public concern. A decision on issuing a final permit-to-install will be made after comments are received and a public hearing if one is conducted.Colerain Township resident Rich McVay, the new president of Property Owners Want Equal Rights, known as POWER, a citizens advocacy group, says a public hearing could clear the air. He is considering making a request to the OEPA for a public hearing.”
COLUMBUS — “2011 was a good year for Columbus Castings.
…But what’s good for business is not necessarily good for the environment. The amount of toxic pollutants that the South Side foundry produced increased nearly tenfold from 2010 to 2011.
Annual pollution reports filed with state and federal officials show the plant released nearly 2.8 million pounds of pollutants in 2011.
The shift was big enough that Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials sent the company a letter in November asking if a mistake had been made.
…The company sent 2.3 million pounds of sand contaminated with manganese to landfills. Exposure to too much manganese can cause brain damage in people.”
26 lawsuits here cite chemical that plant discharged into river
COLUMBUS — “High levels of C8 have been found in water supplies near the plant along the Ohio River, and residents of the area have been fighting with DuPont about the contamination for more than a decade.
A science panel set up as the result of a class-action lawsuit concluded that there is a probable link between the chemical, also called perfluorooctanoic acid, and a number of health issues. They include testicular and kidney cancers, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease, high cholesterol and ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
Those conclusions, made in the past two years, led to lawsuits against DuPont in December in state courts. The cases were moved to federal court this month at DuPont’s request.”
CHARLESTON, WV — “There are two new studies out this week that raise more questions about the dangers of DuPont Co.’s chemical, C8.
First, there’s this paper published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, concluding:
This study suggests an association between PFC exposure and juvenile asthma. Due to widespread exposure to these chemicals, these findings may be of potential public health concern.
Then, there’s this paper, also published yesterday in that same journal:
This study suggests that higher PFOA serum levels may be associated with testicular, kidney, prostate, and ovarian cancers and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Strengths of this study include near-complete case ascertainment for state residents, and well characterized contrasts in predicted PFOA serum levels from 6 contaminated water supplies.”
ATHENS — “A personal injury lawsuit filed in Athens County against a local manufacturing company moved to federal court last month.
The lawsuit, filed by an Athens resident, John Wright, against DuPont, a chemical manufacturing company, was moved to the federal court on Dec. 27.
DuPont owns and operates the Washington Works Plant, a manufacturing facility in Wood County, W. Va. A 2001 lawsuit filed against the plant accused DuPont of releasing C8, a toxic used in making Teflon, into the Ohio River, according to court documents.”
CINCINNATI — “Rumpke Consolidated Cos. Inc. will receive $32 million in government financing for a new recycling plant to replace one severely damaged by fire in April.
The financing is the first such deal ever authorized for a recycling facility by the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority. It approved issuance of up to $32 million in federally tax-exempt facility bonds.”
EPA testing site in Pilsen neighborhood at 957 W. Cullerton, former smelting plant that six years ago was found to be contaminated with lead.
PILSEN, IL — “The group, which has 10 core members, meets once a week at the home of Leila Mendez — one of many residents who attributes her family’s health problems to polluters including smelter H. Kramer and Co. and the coal-fired power plants, Fisk and Crawford.
Since their formation in 2004, the group of volunteers has turned the alderman into an ally, proved that some industry in the neighborhood was poisoning the air and educated the community.
Solis — initially an antagonist of the activists — eventually came on board after they helped force him into a runoff election in 2011 by highlighting his environmental record. The alderman then switched his stance and started working with them.”
CLEVELAND – Fred Ross (1910 – 1992) is best known for teaching community organizing to Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and hundreds of United Farm Workers Union organizers. His life ranged much farther, practicing and teaching organizing to Dust Bowl refugees, former Japanese-American internees, the Jerry Brown for Governor campaign, the United Domestic Workers of America, Chiquita Banana boycotters, and the Nuclear Freeze Campaign, Jobs with Peace, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, and the anti-interventionist Neighbor to Neighbor organization.
In 1989, Neighbor to Neighbor published a short booklet of his axioms. You can choose your own favorites. Here are three of mine:
Reminding is the essence of organizing.
Usually those who can spare a little time for the cause are actually ready to give it all if only someone would ask them.
A good organizer is a social arsonist who goes around setting people on fire.
— Paul Ryder, Assistant Director, Ohio Citizen Action
Rich McVay, Property Owners Want Equal Rights (P.O.W.E.R.)
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — The battle to halt the expansion of the Rumpke Landfill continues and we are seeking your help. First an introduction, my name is Rich McVay and I have been a resident of Colerain Township for over 22 years.
To give you an idea of where I stand on the matter of the landfill expansion, I have attached a talk I shared with the Trustees on September 11, 2012. I firmly believe the decision to stand firm and not expand the Rumpke Dump is the most important decision Trustees Deters, Rinehart and Ritter will ever make.
As you know, the Ohio Supreme Court has denied the assertion by Rumpke that they are a public utility and should not be bound by the Colerain Township Land Use Plan and Zoning Laws and remanded the case back to the Judge Ralph Winkler of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. You may recall that Judge Winkler made the initial ruling that Rumpke was a public utility and free to expand or startup up a dump any-where it owns the land. To date Trustees Deters, Rinehart and Ritter have refused to comment on the status of the case citing “the matter is in litigation.” One must assume, Trustees Deters, Rinehart and Ritter are considering an option of allowing the dump to expand in return for some “favor” to the Township since they have not shared their intent with residents. I am sure you all agree, the expansion of the Rumpke Landfill , a decision that would permit operation well into the mid part of the 21st century, is not in the best interests of Colerain Township Residents. To that end, I am asking you to make a public statement about your interest in denying the Rumpke Landfill expansion!
You may have read in the North West Press that Trustees Deters, Rinehart and Ritter are going to hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Colerain Township Administrative Center on November 27th beginning at 5:30 to provide a status update on Rumpke and a preview of Township Finances. Representatives from the Hamilton County Health District, the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Rumpke will attend and residents can get information and ask questions about the chemical reaction and settling occurring at the north end of the landfill and odor control issues at the landfill.
We need your help now in these areas:
Let us know if you are interested in helping to continue the efforts to block the expansion of the dump by email at ramcvay@one.net so we can discuss next steps. We welcome your ideas and energy.
We need as many people as possible to attend the Town Hall Meeting on November 27 who will share their concerns about why expansion of the dump should not be allowed. Send me an email to let me know if you plan on attending the Town Hall Meeting by November 25, so we can coordinate speakers and other roles.
The Northwest Local School District School Closing Study Team recently recommended the closing of Bevis Elementary School due to declining enrollments (see attachment). The study team cites the primary reason for the closure of Bevis Elementary school is how close the school is to the dump. Northwest Local School District parents and administrators are now on record in declaring proximity to the dump is the reason they have recommended to shutter that school. These concerned parents and administrators obviously believe the dump presents a problem in continuing to operate that elementary school.
Once again, your active and immediate support is needed . We will only get “one bite of this apple” and now is the time to let Trustee Deters, Rinehart and Ritter understand cutting a deal and allowing the landfill to expand is not in the best long term interest of Colerain Township Residents. I look forward to hearing from you.
COLUMBUS — “Emergency crews evacuated Heartland Petroleum after a pressure rupture was reported Monday morning.
According to authorities, crews first received a report of an explosion, but later determined that a piece of equipment had a pressure rupture. Crews were on the scene, located at 4001 E. Fifth Ave., around 5:45 a.m.
Investigators said that an employee was transferring vapors to a storage area when the rupture occurred.
Crews contained the situation by 6:30 a.m. There were no reports of injuries.”
DuPont Co. will have to fund up to $235 million to help provide early detection of diseases linked to exposure to C8 from the company’s nearby Washington Works plant.
CHARLESTON, WV — “A panel investigating the potential dangers of C8 has concluded that exposure is probably linked to high cholesterol in humans, adding to the list of health impacts from the DuPont Co. chemical.
The C8 Science Panel’s latest finding adds to the conclusions of the group, which had previously reported a ‘probable link’ between C8 exposure and five other diseases: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and dangerous high blood pressure among pregnant women.
The findings, expected to be released today during a press conference outside Parkersburg, are the latest results from a six-year study of the DuPont chemical.”
CLEVELAND — “An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation has found the owners of a Painesville Township plant that caught fire Thursday are tied to a 2006 Cleveland explosion and fire.
General Environmental Management operated the plant on Transport Road in The Flats when it caught fire and exploded in April 2006.
Records obtained through the Ohio Secretary of State show the company was once operated by Eric C. Lofquist and Scott A. Forster, who now serve as president and vice president of Magnus International Group — the company that owns Hardy Industrial Technologies in Painesville Township.
The General Environmental Management plant exploded and burst into flames on April 25, 2006, sending a chemical tank 50 feet into the air and shaking houses two miles away.”
PAINESVILLE TWP —”Firefighters in Lake County are continuing to fight a large, dangerous fire at an industrial plant in Painesville Township — more than nine hours after it started.
The fire broke out Thursday at about 10 a.m. at Hardy Industrial Technologies on Hardy Road, located just off Fairport Nursery Road.
…The Lake County Sheriff’s Office told NewsChannel5 that no evacuations have been ordered yet, and there are at least 12 fire departments battling the three-alarm fire.”
Hardy Industrial Technologies is a subsidiary of Magnus International, whose co-owners Eric Lofquist and Scott Forster also owned General Environmental Management in Cleveland’s Flats. General Environmental Management was known for its sickening odors and violations of environmental laws, and had a major explosion in 2006. Ohio Citizen Action worked with neighbors to urge that the company be shut down. The company closed in 2008 rather than come in to compliance with the City of Cleveland’s fire code.
Letters supporting the Fracking Emergency Medical Right to Know Act
7,672 neighbors have sent handwritten letters and made personal phone calls urging state legislators to support the Fracking Emergency Medical Right to Know Act as of May 14, 2013.
