|
|
 Campaigns > Local Action > Ohio
Ohio
Girard
Girard United Against Ruinous Dumps (GUARD) has successfully stopped plans to build a construction and demolition landfill in the heart of their town. The landfill would be located about a quarter mile from a housing development and just 190 feet from the Mahoning River. Twice city officials have sent the application back to Youngstown-based Total Waste Logistics seeking answers to numerous questions. GUARD has been in touch with leaders from other C&D landfills in the state including a site in Warren where a $3 million Superfund cleanup began last April. GUARD and other groups are supporting proposed new state rules that would limit what could be dumped in these landfills and how close they could be built from streams and wetlands (100 ft) and homes, drinking water wells, parks, state forests, natural areas, and historic landmarks (500 ft).
Cleveland
Community members and Ohio Citizen Action are pressing Mittal Steel to reduce their dangerous emissions by investing in modern pollution prevention technology, which another Ohio steel plant has already installed. Mittal has been covering up its pollution, according to a new report released by Ohio Citizen Action. The report claims Mittal has not been measuring pollution from its blast furnaces -- the primary sources of its emissions that include coarse particles, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and VOCs. Instead, Mittal uses average “emissions factors” taken from other steel plants, all of which have better control equipment than Mittal’s.
Marietta
Neighbors for Clean Air and Ohio Citizen Action recently released a report on Eramet Marietta, a metal refining plant in southeast Ohio. The report, which is based on their own investigations as well as information from the EPA and Eramet, states that manganese and chromium products from the plant’s operation were found in every sampling location tested. Locals are now having blood tests done to determine manganese exposure. Though research is somewhat lacking, manganese exposure is linked to brain damage in children and a Parkinson’s-like disease in adults. Eramet claims the groups’ report is flawed and contains false accusations.
Addyston
After nearly two years of fighting to reduce air emissions from the Lanxess Corp. plastics plant, Ohio Citizen Action and local neighbors questioned the timing of the U.S. EPA’s announcement in June charging Lanxess with violating the Clean Air Act. The plant was cited for excessive air emissions of the carcinogen 1,3-butadiene, failure to comply with standards to prevent pipe leaks, and four other violations. The group remains concerned about the air emissions from the plant and EPA’s apparent cozy relationship with Lanxess. A health study released earlier this year by the state reported that the cancer rate in this village of 1,000 is 76 percent higher than expected.
|
 |
|
