State landfill regulation moves forward
COLUMBUS - Legislation that will bring sweeping regulation of landfills where none existed before moved from the Ohio House to the Senate on Tuesday, but not without some disagreement between two Stark County Republicans.
House Bill 397, sponsored by State Rep. John Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, won overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans alike, who called it much-needed legislation. The Ohio Environmental Council, which gave the bill its highest rating despite some reservations, said it would provide “first-ever protections for human health and the environment.”
The Senate is expected to pass the bill today. A spokesman for Gov. Bob Taft said the governor intends to sign it into law before the end of the year when a moratorium on new construction and demolition debris landfills expires.
But approval of the bill, which never seemed in doubt, stalled briefly when Republicans went into a caucus to consider an amendment by one of their own. State Rep. Randy Law, R-Warren, wanted to eliminate a grandfather clause that protects seven landfill applicants who filed for licenses just before the moratorium went into place. Under the legislation, they would not be covered by the new, stricter requirements for siting a landfill. . Read more
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