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Agency okays more pollution for contaminated streams
OEPA's refusal to enforce state and federal laws at AK Steel's Middletown plant is just one example of the agency's many failures. OEPA has been resistant to prosecuting AK Steel's violations, has a poor historical track record and has shown signs the agency is willing to cut deals with the company. Despite what appear to be clear contradictions to the law, OEPA recently granted/modified two permits to AK Steel's requested specifications. OEPA did join the U.S. EPA's federal air, water and waste lawsuit
against AK Steel in June 2000. The Sierra Club and the Natural Resources
Defense Council have filed a motion to intervene in the case; the
judge has not yet ruled on the motion. Photo: Volunteers in hazmat gear collect sediment samples from Dicks Creek. Photo by Susan Knight. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
The
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) is so bad at enforcing
environmental laws that in 1997 the Sierra Club petitioned the federal
EPA to withdraw Ohio's authority over air and water pollution and
hazardous waste. If U.S. EPA withdraws OEPA's authority, federal
officials would take over permitting and enforcement responsibilities
in Ohio. The U.S. EPA still hasn't ruled on the administrative petition,
although it is expected to issue a final report by the end of 2002.