Community Stakeholder Meeting
February 19, 2004
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Representatives from Warren
Recycling Industries and Warren Hills LLC met with EPA Region 5, Ohio EPA, ATSDR,
Ohio DOH, and MTAPCA on 1/15/04 in Chicago to discuss ongoing health and
environmental problems at the Warren Hills landfill in Warren, Ohio.
During that meeting, the idea
was proposed to establish a formal dialog with the community on issues related
to the facility. Mr. Jack Stacy (Warren
Hills LLC) and Paul Ruesch (EPA Region 5) agreed to establish and co-facilitate
monthly meetings to foster better communication among stakeholders. An invitation was sent out via email on
1/22/04 announcing the meeting, location and proposed agenda to contacts in 10
agencies, 2 community organizations, and the both operators at the
facility.
The purpose of the first
meeting was to define the stakeholder group purpose, participation, meeting
objectives, timeframes and communication methods. In addition, the facility was to provide an update on
environmental compliance activities at the site since the July 1, 2002 Consent
Order with Ohio EPA.
Paul Ruesch EPA Region 5 312/886-7598
Katharina Snyder Ohio EPA 330/963-1257
John Schmidt Ohio EPA 330/963-1175
Larry Himes MTAPCA 330/743-3333
Denise Dick Vindicator 330/392-0176
Bob Pinti Warren HD 330/841-2592
Marlin Bartholomew Warren HD 330/841-2699
Paul Barley Warren Hills 330/306-0910
Mary Beth Smith Sen. Marc Dann 330/759-4155
Drew Orient Warren Hill 330/338-6744
Frank Migliozzi Trumbull Co HD 330/675-2489
Kay Anderson Warren Township 330/898-1995
Richard Sargent Eastman & Smith 419/247-1681
Debbie Roth Our Lives Count 330/847-9452
William Bush Our Lives Count 330/898-5574
Eric Yates Ohio DOH 614/995-4157
Greg Stein Ohio DOH
Michelle Colledge ATSDR 312/886-1462
Note: Due to an oversight by EPA Region 5, a conference line could not be maintained for the duration of the meeting, so teleconference participants were unable to participate the entire meeting. This problem will be corrected for the next meeting.
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Since Jack Stacy was not
present, Paul Ruesch provided a background on the meeting and an overview of
the agenda.
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Introductions took place
and it was recognized that several parties were in attendance that were not
expected. These individuals were welcomed to join the meeting, and it was
stated that these meetings were open to any and all interested parties.
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The first order of
business was to better define the group. Each participant had an opportunity to
state their goals and objectives for attending, which are summarized as
follows:
o
Address odor/dust/health
issues
o
Stop loss of local
businesses due to odors
o
Improve communications
o
Define means of
communicating complaints to City
o
Get everyone on the same
page so things can be worked out (odor, fire, safety issues)
o
Stop defensive posturing
o
Provide for direct
communication
o
Build trust
o
More public involvement
o
Define actual conditions
in neighborhood, determine if remedies employed are working
o
Get everyone together
o
Improve health for
residents and children of Leavittsburg
o
Enhance communication
with facility
o
Stop personal attacks
o
Communicate health
issues to epidemiologists
o
Better communication w/
government agencies prior to press releases
o
Achieve, enhance and
shorten route to compliance with regulations, consent order
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The question was raised
about the true purpose of the group: a) work and help the facility come into
compliance? b) close the facility down? or c) open up communication?
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After a brief discussion
it was proposed and agreed that the goal of the group will be for the Warren
Hills landfill to achieve compliance with regulations/orders and harmony with
the community. The objectives of the group will be to support ongoing
communication and share information.
There was no opposition stated to these goals and objectives at this
time.
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An exchange of
perspectives took place between community and facility representatives:
o
The community
representatives were seeking acknowledgement that there were adverse health
impacts in the neighborhoods from the facility. It was stated that residents
and schoolchildren are getting sicker.
In addition, there were questions as to whether or not Warren Hills LLC
was going to stay a member of the community, as the facility has yet to be
purchased from Warren Recycling Industries, which was not represented at the
meeting.
o
The facility
representatives were seeking acknowledgement that over $1.6m had been spent on
leachate collection, capping, monitoring and compliance at that these actions
were making a positive improvement. It
was stated that as a result of the state consent order, the landfill was the
most highly regulated in the state.
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The facility
representatives went through a presentation titled “US EPA / ATSDR Coordinated,
Warren Hills / Community Meeting, Warren Township Hall, February 19, 2004”
(copies of the slides were distributed and extras are available upon request).
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The actions the facility
was taking to address issues such as hydrogen sulfide monitoring, leachate
collection, capping, fire control, noise and dust were presented and discussed.
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A handout of charts
showing a summary of the hydrogen sulfide monitoring data at the site was
distributed (copies available upon request).
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The facility recommended
that if residents see, hear or smell anything of concern that they contact the
facility manager directly to resolve the complaint. Paul Barley gave residents his direct cell phone number.
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An action item was
proposed to take a tour of the hyrdrogen sulfide monitoring system with the
facility’s consultants along to explain how it works. This will be considered for a future meeting.
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Residents raised the
compliance history of the facility as a concern, specifically that there had
been numerous NOVs, smoke problems, and a lack of timeliness in response to the
consent order provisions and EPA information request.
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There was discussion on
the status of ATSDR monitoring and studies (canister sample collection) in the
neighborhood along with the designation of an ‘urgent public health
hazard.’ An update from ATSDR will be
proposed for the next meeting to discuss this issue.
- The question was raised about the value of the stakeholder meeting and whether or not it should be held again and on and ongoing basis. The group unanimously decided that there should be additional meetings.
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It was proposed that the
next meeting could take place on Thursday, March 25th at the Warren
City Health Department’s offices at 418 Main Avenue. It was stated that this date could change to accommodate the
schedule of those not in attendance and that Paul Ruesch would confirm the date
and send an email with the final meeting information to everyone participating.
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The meeting adjourned at
4:15pm.