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ORGANIZATION ISSUES MONEY/POLITICS NEWS INDEX |
U.S. EPA letter |
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June 29, 1999 Jane Forrest, Environmental Projects Director Dear Ms. Forrest: Thank you for your letter of June 10, 1999 regarding the status of negotiations between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for sites in Ohio's Voluntary Action Program (VAP). Your letter brings forward many concerns related to the VAP's treatment of Environmental Justice Issues, problems with the groundwater Urban Setting Designation, community right to know provisions, as well as other potential faults with the VAP. At this time, we are not able to fully address your concerns, but I would like to provide you a brief update until the Agency can more fully respond. Ohio EPA has indeed indicated a desire to undertake MOA discussions with U. S. EPA under the VAP's current structure and/or with some administrative changes. At this time, no specific language has been exchanged, although a general framework has been discussed. U. S. EPA Region 5 staff will be meeting internally over the next several weeks to determine whether a VAP MOA between the agency is possible. At that time, you, and each of the other signatories will be informed of our decision in writing. That correspondence will also more fully address the concerns you have brought forward in your June 10, 1999 letter. You should receive our followup letter no later than July 23, 1999. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Joseph Dufficy of my staff at (312) 886-1960. Sincerely, Francis X. LyonsRegional Administrator |