COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Two Ohio environmental groups will
ask federal regulators Monday to investigate circumstances surrounding
expired pollution-discharge permits at an agency where allegations of
coal-industry influence arose during a personnel flap last year.
The
Sierra Club and Ohio Environmental Council planned to put the request
in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A copy of
their letter provided to The Associated Press expresses the groups’
concern that the Ohio EPA may be reluctant due to political pressure to
impose pollution limits adequate to protect Ohio streams.
"Several of the permits have been expired for 6 years or more, with the majority having expired more
recently," the letter said.
The
AP reported last week that 18 coal facilities’ permits have expired, 13
since Republican Gov. John Kasich took office. The letter says a
general surface-mining permit also has expired.
The agreements
spell out what pollutants each mining operation, coal preparation plant,
storm water facility or coal waste storage area can release under state
and federal clean water laws.
Ohio EPA spokesman Chris Abbruzzese
has told the AP that expired permits are legal, protective and
enforceable. A message was left with him Monday seeking comment on the
environmental groups’ request.
A spokesman for Kasich deferred to the EPA.
Ohio
EPA’s coal permitting efforts came under scrutiny last year after a
39-year agency veteran claimed Kasich’s administration forced him to
resign amid pressure from the coal industry.
George Elmaraghy
headed Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water, which issues permits for
mining and other activities. He said in a widely publicized email to his
staff that coal companies sought permits that he said would have
violated state and federal laws and harmed Ohio’s streams and wetlands.
He
pointed to an objection by the federal EPA that’s holding up one of the
lapsed permits — for American Energy Corp.’s Century Mine in Belmont
County — as validation of his claims. American Energy is owned by Murray
Energy, which is among the companies holding expired permits whose
employees have contributed generously to Kasich’s political campaigns.
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