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Ohio
After nearly two years of fighting to reduce air emissions from the Lanxess Corp. plastics plant in Addyston, 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.
Communities United for Action (CUFA) organized an environmental justice bus tour of Cincinnati’s “Toxic Donut,” with support from CHEJ and the Ohio Conference NAACP, for delegates attending the 99th Annual NAACP Convention held in Cincinnati in July. CUFA leaders narrated the tour that included a PowerPoint presentation. Over fifty delegates, many from the Ohio delegation of the NAACP, joined the tour and finished with much excitement and a stronger sense of urgency to address environmental justice (EJ) concerns. CHEJ and the Ohio Conference NAACP partnership also provided an environmental justice public policy briefing for delegates as part of the convention events. The delegates learned about the environmental justice forums held last year throughout the state, a meeting with state legislators, and the need for an EJ Bill in Ohio. One state legislator has sent an EJ report generated through the community forums to the Legislative Service Commission and if no glaring legal concerns arise, an EJ Bill will be introduced. (Fall 2008)
An emerging network of Ohio groups put together a petition asking the Ohio EPA to deny a permit modification sought by First Energy to add more mercury to Lake Erie at its Lake Shore facility in Cleveland. Currently, the concentration of the plant’s mercury discharge into the lake averages 2.9 parts per trillion (ppt), higher than the 1.3 ppt average required in its existing permit. First Energy wants the Ohio EPA to approve a variance that would eliminate any limit on their mercury discharge into Lake Erie. According to local organizers, the neighborhood surrounding the plant is in serious jeopardy; residents within a 3-mile radius of the plant are above the 90th percentile nationwide in terms of risk for cancer, neurological hazards, and respiratory hazards. Activists have requested additional time to get more public input regarding the impact on this environmental justice community. (Winter 2008)
Community members in Cleveland 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.
Community Justice League (CJL) and Organize Ohio want to stop the demolition of Roosevelt High School in Dayton because of possible contamination spreading to the neighboring homes. CHEJ was asked to provide organizing support. CJL and Organize Ohio petitioned the federal, regional and OH EPA to stop the demolition arguing that because the community is African-American and low-income, the demolition group had not done its due diligence of informing the residents about possible dangers. Among the contaminants of concern are asbestos, chloroform, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene. CJL has requested a delay in demolition until adequate safety procedures can be put in place to protect the residents. (Spring 2008)
Citizens AGHAST in Geneva Township are working to get citizens to vote no on a ballot initiative that would allow Waste Management to expand its landfill. The ballot initiative calls for re-zoning 229 acres that will give Waste Management more than 400 acres to expand its landfill. The new property line will be as close as 16 feet from residential homes. CHEJ is providing organizing support to the group. (Winter 2008)
A landfill expansion in Georgetown will come within 1,600 feet of both an elementary and a high school, endangering the health of students who attend these schools. Local residents have formed Citizens Against Pollution with a local physician leading the organizing efforts to stop the expansion. CHEJ has been asked to help strengthen the local group’s organizing efforts. So far, letters and petitions have been sent to the Ohio EPA, and the group is now focusing its attention on the Governor and state legislative leaders. (Winter 2008)
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).
Neighbors for Clean Air (NCA) and Ohio Citizen Action are celebrating a big victory – Eramet announced a $150 million upgrade to its equipment, which will clean up the air and keep the facility competitive, preserving jobs in a very uncertain time. The two groups have been pushing Eramet, a French owned company, for over two years to reduce emissions at its manganese refinery in Marietta. Community members have attended many meetings, displayed yard signs, marched in a parade, carried out research, provided odor or pollution reports and written letters. NCA plans to monitor Eramet’s progress to make sure the new equipment is installed. They also hope to leverage their success to encourage other local industries to address the area’s many pollution concerns. (Winter 2008)
In 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.
Members of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance (NNA) are organizing to stop a proposed 6 million chicken egg farm from locating in York Township. The group is facing an uphill battle according to state regulators who say that nothing the group can do will stop the proposal. “If the farm meets all the regulations and requirements for permitting, the director doesn’t have a choice – he has to approve it. He would be sued if he didn’t.” The laws were set up this way by the legislature and only they can change them.” Although local officials are frustrated that they have no say in this matter, NNA refuses to accept defeat and is pushing on in opposition to the egg farm. (Spring 2008)
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