|
|
[ Top
][ National
News ][ National
Sports ]
Report: Air pollution samples near
incinerator missing
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (AP) --
More than a year's worth of federally required air pollution samples
were lost, mishandled and even fabricated from the community
surrounding a hazardous waste incinerator, environmental officials
say.
There is, however, no indication from readings taken
before or since the period when the samples were lost or tainted
that the air was unsafe around the Von Roll Waste Technologies
Industries incinerator itself, the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency says.
Still, opponents who have fought the plant,
which opened in 1992 near homes and an elementary school across the
Ohio River from Chester, W.Va., say they're not happy.
White
smoke from the incinerator's stack glides across the blue-collar
region where Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia meet.
"They've been telling us for years that this is the most
heavily monitored and scrutinized facility in the country,'' said
Teresa Mills, director of the Buckeye Environmental Network, an
advocacy group. "Where's the proof?''
In 1991, hundreds of
people, including many from West Virginia's Hancock County,
protested against the proposal to build the incinerator, then called
Waste Technologies Industries. The incinerator burns up to 60,000
tons of waste a year.
An EPA investigation found that its
employee Christine D'Amico, who was responsible for the pollution
monitors in Columbiana County, failed to properly maintain the
monitors and regularly collect the results. Supervisors began
sending D'Amico e-mails last summer asking why she hadn't submitted
any samples for the year.
D'Amico replied that she was
behind in processing the samples. She resigned June 13.
The
missing and tainted samples from late 2001 through 2002 were from
general air monitors scattered throughout East Liverpool. The state
is required to report soot and metal readings, including airborne
mercury levels.
Without results from the surrounding county
for comparison, the agency said, the samples from the incinerator
site itself are meaningless.
"There probably was not an air
quality problem in Columbiana County during this period because the
‘before' and ‘after' numbers are so similar,'' EPA spokeswoman
Patricia Madigan said.
Separate monitors show the plant has
been in compliance for the last couple of years although the
monitors measure different pollutants, she said.
The
disclosure comes at a time when the state is considering whether to
renew the plant's environmental permits.
During the 1992
election campaign, vice presidential candidate Al Gore suggested the
incinerator should be shut down. But once elected, the Clinton
administration said there were no legal grounds to block it. The
issue dogged Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign.
Mills said the problem should have been discovered sooner.
"There should have been all kinds of bells and whistles from
the Ohio EPA and the U.S. EPA,'' she said.
AP-ES-06-21-03
2145EDT
| |
 |
| Print2Net |
 Advertising
Get Checked at the Community Health
Fair
Radio Advertising |
| Announcements
Dr. Alfred Pfister
Chad R. Harding
Thank the following
sponsors... |
| Assisted Living
Where caring comes from the
heart |
| Auctions
Valuable Real Estate |
| Automotive
Tire Sale!
#1 customer satisfaction in the
world
Brand Spankin' Used
Inventory Reduction Sale
It's the next best thing to buying
wholesale
Transmissions are ALL we do
$50 off any clutch repair
Used Car Madness!
Take the Mitsubishi Challenge
Official Braggin' Rights
Giant Used Car Clearance Sale
"The GM Giant"
4th of July Celebration
2003 Taurus SE
2003 Taurus SE
When safety counts count on
Subaru
Slow Credit? No Credit?
We'll be there! |
| Banking
Opportunity isn't knocking. It's
smashing down the door
Life just got a little
simpler |
| Business
Notices
Salesman of the Week |
| Buy-Loan-Sell
Antique & Estate
Jewelry |
| Church
Revival Services |
| Community
Service
Honest Yellow Page Advertising
Value |
| Education
Get the career training you
need
Start changing your life |
| Employment
Fermentation Scientist
Net annual income of $400,000
Technologist Toxicologist
Opportunities in Hazard, KY
Insurance Agent/Management
Opportunity
Want to be a millionaire?
Teller Job Fair
Healthcare Opportunitues
Restaurant Management
Nursing Opportunities
Assistant Managers Licensed
Parmacists
Olmstead Coordinator
Automotive Sales
Department Manager
Quality Assurance Nurse
Extended Learing
Representative
Professional-Management
Underground Positions
Available
Physician Assistant
Employment Opportunities
Shift Supervisor
Joint Apprenticeship Training
Program |
| Entertainment
Now Showing
"UPROARIOUS"
Free Outdoor Concert
Adult Star-Sadie Sexton
Fireworks after the Ball Game!
Final Performance Today
Daniel Rodriguez America's
Tenor
The Evolution of Dumb
July 2-5
From Justin to Kelly
The Hulk
Private Dances Open 7 days a week
Las Vegas Room |
| Florists
Your One-Stop Floral
Shop |
| Grocery\Supermarket
Save 40% Everyday! |
| Hardware
Are you ready for a
Stihl? |
| Home
Improvement
We'll finance your new Metal
Roof
Replace windows for as low as $13 a
week
Work you can trust
Roses-Vegetables-Hanging
Baskets |
| Hotels/
Motels/Condo/Resorts
Celebrate July 4th at
Snowshoe |
| Legal Notice
Asbestos Compensation
Car accident victims get crash
course on their rights
Float-Sink Lab Workers-Claims are
now being filed
Overwhelmed by debt? |
| Lottery
Everybody's winning in Las
Vegas!
Instant Millionaire
$95 MILLION Powerball |
| Medical
Auto & Work-Related injury
victims
Could you repeat that?
Deborah L. Klimek, MD, PLLC now
accepting appts.
National HIV Testing Day
David P. Hernandex, MD FACOG
accepting patients
William A. Peterson, MD
FACOG |
| Recreation
Save up to $200 on Canoes &
Kayaks
Seniors $22 Mon.-Thurs. with
coupon |
| Retail
Summer Patio Sale
3 Day Sale
Free Delivery within 75 Miles
Our Greatest Sale ever ends
Sunday
Princess Cut Diamonds
Nomination-The original Composable
Bracelet
Summer Sale
Home Improvement Sale
Wedding Special
Huge Sale
The kind of diamond she wants
Child Craft
Candles & Gift Items
Spring & Summer Sale
Anything but Ordianary |
| Telecommunication
Free Flip Phone |
| Travel
Summer Vacation Deals
Wild & Wet weekend in Dublin,
OHIO |
|
