Temperature increase slight at Countywide

BY Robert Wang
The Canton Repository

PIKE TWP - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is trying to determine what is causing a slight temperature increase within the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility, a state official said Friday.

Ed Gortner, one of the EPA’s enforcement coordinators, said EPA staffers want to look at more temperature readings from the landfill on Gracemont Street SW.

In April, one gas well had a reading of 228 degrees. By June, a nearby well was at 230 degrees. While that may not seem significant, Gortner said Countywide has submitted data indicating higher temperatures throughout the landfill....Read more.

Ohio EPA opposes cap at Stark landfill

By Bob Downing
The Akron Beacon Journal

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is directing the company that owns the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility in southern Stark County not to proceed with capping parts of the landfill.

Capping those sections of the Pike Township landfill would be premature and a violation of EPA Director Chris Korleski's orders, as well as state law, Ed Gortner said Tuesday in an EPA letter to Republic Waste Services of Ohio.

The EPA wants the company to delay installing a permanent cap of clay and a synthetic liner until Korleski decides what steps are needed to extinguish underground fires at the 258-acre landfill....Read more.

Strickland's reversal on fee is welcome

The Canton Repository

COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland has seen the wisdom of imposing a small fee on certain landfills. His second thoughts are appreciated.

The fee of 10 cents per ton was to be charged to landfills that accept construction and demolition debris. The money was to be used to monitor groundwater at the landfills. The Legislature approved the fee two years ago, and it was to take effect July 1. Then it ran into the new governor's no-new-taxes-or-fees policy.

Strickland left the fee out of the new budget, despite its also having the support of his EPA director, and despite its acceptance by the landfills. Now that the budget has taken effect, Strickland said his goal has been accomplished....Read more.