June 2, 2010
EPA Representatives Discuss Port of Huntington Air, Water, and Waste Issues
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Port of Huntington sits along a 100 mile portion of the Ohio River that includes 99 miles of the Kanawha River and nine miles of the Big Sandy River and qualifies as the largest inland port in the United States, in both total linear miles and total tonnage transported.
But, the proximity of industry along the Ohio River in Huntington and along the Kanawha River near Charleston has a less than "green" image.
EPA compliance inspectors on a reconnaissance mission toured the ‘port’ from a Coast Guard river vessel in 2009. Observing facilities from the river rather than their front entrances resulted in “potential noncompliance [issues] in air, water and waste management, explained Matthew Lee, program analyst for the Office of Enforcement, Compliance & Environmental Justice, EPA Region III.
At a public meeting Tuesday, June 1, at Marshall University, representatives of EPA Region III and IV, sought input on this port which has the reputation as one of the worst regions for air quality and high carcinogenic cancer risks. That issue went national when USA Today published their “Smokestack” series, in which many current and former industrial belts received poor air emission ratings.
An audience member who chose to remain unidentified stated, “When we come to Huntington we smell garbage burning everywhere.” This speaker went on to complain about his neighbor’s wood burning stove, “ There’s smoke in the air [and] we can’t breathe in our own living room.”
However, Region III representatives said that beyond suggesting a more energy and environmentally friendly wood burning equipment, if you do have a complaint or a “tip” for the EPA, residents of WV should contact Lee, who receives all complaints from the state. “I forward [them] and follow up,” Lee told the small audience.
Many of those in attendance found it frustrating that EPA representatives could not talk with specificity on “what they found” during their river reconnaissance. Although an additional round of inspections are planned this summer, the results of the first series stays confidential due to the cases being open.
Generally, the river tour around the Nitro, WV area found ten out of eleven facilities potentially non-compliant in air, water or waste management, Lee stated. In fact, eight of eleven of these high priority facilities were non-compliant in more than one area, ranging from storm water runoff , Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), PCB, and hazardous waste.
Interestingly, a facility given a thorough inspection five years ago was the only one now found in total compliance.
Thus, one of the purposes of the discussion is to “proactively [help facilities] get ahead of [compliance] issues” before inspections, stated Makeba Morris, Region III Compliance Assistance Coordinator. The goal is to inform facilities of their responsibilities before they are cited for a violation.
In April, over sixty industry representatives attended a one-day environmental compliance workshop for Port of Huntington manufacturing facilities. The workshop provided resources for complying with environmental regulations and highlighting waste reduction opportunities that can save money.
Although Lee indicated that the Huntington Port has “no central port authority,” neither he nor anyone else from the EPA had concerns about the region being over crowded with facilities. They had no knowledge of the proposed $50 million dollar Port Development project which could include new facilities to replace the now largely unused ACF facility.
Among those in attendance were representatives of the West Virginia Division of Air Quality; Jim Ashworth, vice chairman of the Huntington Sanitary Board; C.T. Anderson, assistant director of Public Works; and Lew Baker of the West Virginia Rural Water Association.
EPA Representatives will meet with the public Wednesday night at West Virginia State University at Institute, where MIC and port security may be on the table of public concerns.
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EPA Representatives Discuss Port of Huntington Air, Water, and Waste Issues
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The Port of Huntington sits along a 100 mile portion of the Ohio River that includes 99 miles of the Kanawha River and nine miles of the Big Sandy River and qualifies as the largest inland port in the United States, in both total linear miles and total tonnage transported.
But, the proximity of industry along the Ohio River in Huntington and along the Kanawha River near Charleston has a less than "green" image.
EPA compliance inspectors on a reconnaissance mission toured the ‘port’ from a Coast Guard river vessel in 2009. Observing facilities from the river rather than their front entrances resulted in “potential noncompliance [issues] in air, water and waste management, explained Matthew Lee, program analyst for the Office of Enforcement, Compliance & Environmental Justice, EPA Region III.
At a public meeting Tuesday, June 1, at Marshall University, representatives of EPA Region III and IV, sought input on this port which has the reputation as one of the worst regions for air quality and high carcinogenic cancer risks. That issue went national when USA Today published their “Smokestack” series, in which many current and former industrial belts received poor air emission ratings.
An audience member who chose to remain unidentified stated, “When we come to Huntington we smell garbage burning everywhere.” This speaker went on to complain about his neighbor’s wood burning stove, “ There’s smoke in the air [and] we can’t breathe in our own living room.”
However, Region III representatives said that beyond suggesting a more energy and environmentally friendly wood burning equipment, if you do have a complaint or a “tip” for the EPA, residents of WV should contact Lee, who receives all complaints from the state. “I forward [them] and follow up,” Lee told the small audience.
Many of those in attendance found it frustrating that EPA representatives could not talk with specificity on “what they found” during their river reconnaissance. Although an additional round of inspections are planned this summer, the results of the first series stays confidential due to the cases being open.
Generally, the river tour around the Nitro, WV area found ten out of eleven facilities potentially non-compliant in air, water or waste management, Lee stated. In fact, eight of eleven of these high priority facilities were non-compliant in more than one area, ranging from storm water runoff , Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), PCB, and hazardous waste.
Interestingly, a facility given a thorough inspection five years ago was the only one now found in total compliance.
Thus, one of the purposes of the discussion is to “proactively [help facilities] get ahead of [compliance] issues” before inspections, stated Makeba Morris, Region III Compliance Assistance Coordinator. The goal is to inform facilities of their responsibilities before they are cited for a violation.
In April, over sixty industry representatives attended a one-day environmental compliance workshop for Port of Huntington manufacturing facilities. The workshop provided resources for complying with environmental regulations and highlighting waste reduction opportunities that can save money.
Although Lee indicated that the Huntington Port has “no central port authority,” neither he nor anyone else from the EPA had concerns about the region being over crowded with facilities. They had no knowledge of the proposed $50 million dollar Port Development project which could include new facilities to replace the now largely unused ACF facility.
Among those in attendance were representatives of the West Virginia Division of Air Quality; Jim Ashworth, vice chairman of the Huntington Sanitary Board; C.T. Anderson, assistant director of Public Works; and Lew Baker of the West Virginia Rural Water Association.
EPA Representatives will meet with the public Wednesday night at West Virginia State University at Institute, where MIC and port security may be on the table of public concerns.
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