Hearing tries to get to the bottom of landfill issue

By Paul E. Kostyu
Copley Columbus Bureau Chief

COLUMBUS - The battle over the Tuscarawas River Basin unfolded Wednesday.

The issue is whether new and expanding landfills should be put on hold while the U.S. Geological Survey completes a 13-county study of the river basin. And though just three witnesses testified about Senate Bill 224, differences were clearly drawn. For that reason alone, State Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and sponsor of the bill, called the third hearing critical.

Opponents said the moratorium on landfills proposed by the bill is unnecessary because environmental protections already are in place.

Proponents said landfills aren’t at risk because there is plenty of capacity and time is needed to ensure the river basin can be protected from pollution.

By the time the hearing began, State Sen. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, was the only one listening. The rest of the nine-member Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs, had left. [emphasis added] . . Read more