P.O.W.E.R. Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working on behalf of citizens to enhance quality of life and property values in Colerain Township, Ohio through public involvement, awareness and empowerment. For more information, email P.O.W.E.R. Inc. or call 1-888-801-5606. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 53454, Cincinnati, OH 45251.
We also accept credit card donations via PAYPAL.
All donations are tax deductible.
June 6, 2011: LARGE RECYCLE BINS AVAILABLE
Are you tired of those puny red recycling bins? If so, you may be able to get a large recycling cart for the same price. These are the large rolling recycling carts (68 or 96 gallons), so you won't have to hassle with carrying an overflowing red bin out to the curb!
Rumpke is not advertising these carts on their website, but they have included the information on some of their bills. Give them a call and tell them you WANT TO RECYCLE MORE!
Apr. 20, 2011: OHIO SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR TOWNSHIP APPEAL
The Ohio Supreme Court has decided it will not hear Colerain Township's appeal of the public utility ruling which gives Rumpke, a privately owned landfill, the ability to bypass local zoning.
Apr. 15, 2011: 9,205 LETTERS TO RUMPKE
Ohio Citizen Action reports 9,205 neighbors have sent handwritten letters and petitions urging Rumpke to be a good neighbor and not to expand the landfill. For more information on the Rumpke campaign visit the website at www.ohiocitizenaction.org.
Mar 5, 2011: EXPANSION ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED TO 11 GROUPS
Ohio Citizen Action and POWER Inc. has received a great response to our presentations on landfill expansion alternatives. More presentations will follow in March and April. To date, ELEVEN presentations have been made to a variety of organizations including:
1. Miami University/Oxford This ruling has consequences of concern to every citizen in the State of Ohio because it potentially allows any business that can convince judges they meet the definition of "essential", to locate anywhere and without regulation. Examples might include: cell phone towers, hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" to access natural gas reserves (occuring now in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia), factory farms or chemical plants.
2. Pleasant Ridge Community Council
3. N. Kentucky Sierra Club
4. Catholic Social Action - Archdiocese of Cincinnati
5. University of Cincinnati
6. Xavier Sustainability Club
7. North Avondale Neighborhood Association
8. Cincinnati State Environmental Club
9. Cincinnati Environmental Advisory Council
10. Christ Church Cathedral
11. Colerain Township Trustees
Jan. 20, 2011: 7,008 LETTERS TO RUMPKE
Jan. 5, 2011: 6,599 LETTERS TO RUMPKE
Dec. 20, 2010: OHIO CITIZEN ACTION BRINGS ZERO WASTE TO LIFE IN CINCINNATI
Bob Gedert, Solid Waste Services Director for Austin, Texas met with representives from Ohio Citizen Action, the City of Cincinnati,
P.O.W.E.R., the Hamilton County Solid Waste District and Rumpke to share his experience in recycling and zero waste programs.
Mr. Gedert shared real life examples of how he has significantly increased recycling rates in California, Texas, Indiana and Ohio
cities. Based on his experience, 75% recycling is a realistic and achievable goal without new technologies. According to Mr. Gedert
the keys to implementing effective zero waste programs include bundling trash and recycling services to eliminate the perception that recycling costs more, developing volume based fees that incent people to recycle more and dispose less, larger recycling bins and education. Read more here.
Dec. 17, 2010: 6,088 LETTERS TO RUMPKE
Dec. 17, 2010: RULING - PRIVATELY OWNED LANDFILL CAN BE PUBLIC UTILITY
On appeal by Colerain Township, the Hamilton County Court of Appeals, Judges Cunningham, Sundermann and Hendon upheld the previous ruling of Judge Winkler that Rumpke, a privately held company, is a public utility exempt from Township zoning.
Read the Ruling HERE
Dec. 16, 2010: OHIO SUPREME COURT RULES ON TOWNSHIP's RIGHT TO INTERVENE
The Ohio Supreme Court upheld a decision by the 1st District Court of Appeals against Colerain Township, refusing to grant the township the right to intervene in a case Rumpke Consolidated Companies filed against the State of Ohio. Rumpke sued the State of Ohio claiming an amendment included in House Bill 562 violated the single subject rule. The amendment specified that the term "public utility" does not include a person that owns or operates a privately owned solid waste facility.
Dec. 2, 2010: PUBLIC MEETING on Rumpke Landfill Expansion Issue
At the Community Issues Forum at the Christ Church Cathedral, Melissa English, Executive Director of Ohio Citizen Action-Cincinnati, presented the case against the landfill expansion and presented an alternative solution. Read more here.
Dec. 2, 2010: 5,580 LETTERS SENT TO RUMPKE
These letters come from various locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and ask Rumpke to be a good neighbor and not to expand the landfill. Read more here.
Nov. 3, 2010: READ the CITY BEAT ARTICLE here
Oct. 28, 2010: PUBLIC MEETING on Rumpke Landfill Expansion
Approximately forty neighbors attended a public meeting hosted by Ohio Citizen Action and Property Owners Want Equal Rights. The group presented key findings and recommendations from the report: "The Future is Now: A Citizens' Audit of the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill".
Oct. 13, 2010: CITIZENS' AUDIT OF RUMPKE LANDFILL RELEASED
Ohio Citizen Action and P.O.W.E.R. have released a report titled: "The Future is Now: A Citizens’ Audit of the Rumpke Sanitary
Landfill". The report states that we can handle our waste without expanding the landfill. It lays out arguments against the proposed 350-acre expansion, presents the history and lays out the groups’ recommendations for an alternative to expansion. The main recommendation is Rumpke should NOT expand and do the right thing by respecting citizens standards for environment, health and quality of life. The report says Rumpke can choose to take a leadership role by working with stakeholders on an aggressive plan to develop alternatives and there is time to do so. This would be a win-win for everyone and Rumpke is positioned to benefit.
Click here to read the comprehensive report
Click here to read the article "Neighbors Release Report" on the Ohio Citizen Action website.
A citizens meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Thursday, October 28th
Location: Pleasant Run Presbyterian Church, 11565 Pippin Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
Sept. 15, 2010: OHIO SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUEMENTS ON THE "SINGLE SUBJECT RULE" FROM COLERAIN TOWNSHIP and RUMPKE
View the video here
Aug. 31, 2010: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF RUMPKE LANDFILL FIRE
This marks the one year anniversary of the reporting of the elevated gas well temperatures at the Rumpke landfill, which is technically considered a "fire" by the Ohio EPA. The cause of the fire remains unknown according to the Ohio EPA.
August 9, 2010: RUMPKE LEACHATE BACKING UP INTO STRUBLE RD NEIGHBOR'S HOME
Read the article here
July 29, 2010: 3 CLEANUPS RESULT IN TEMPORARY INCREASE TO 12,000 TONS PER DAY
The Ohio EPA approved a temporary increase in Rumpke's maximum allowable waste receipts from 10,000 tons per day (tpd) to 12,000 tpd. The director approved the request because Rumpke is receiving soil from three different clean ups. Rumpke has not exceeded their maximum allowable waste receipts and asked for a temporary increase because they were close to the limit. The increase was approved on July 29th and will be in place for 90 days. The 3 cleanups include:
1. AK Steel's Dicks Creek cleanup which is sending soil with < 50 parts per million (ppm) PCB's to Rumpke. Soil with <50 ppm PCB's can be landfilled like any other solid waste. Last spring, POWER attempted obtain information about the movement of this soil from AK Steel, from Rumpke and from the Ohio EPA and was told at the time, there were no plans to send it to Rumpke.
2. Duke Energy stream cleanup. We are attempting to get information about this waste.
3. Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District incinerator ash cleanup. Again, we are attempting to obtain information.
June 5, 2010: Landfills on Fire Read the article here
June 1, 2010: Board of Directors, Ohioans for Health, Environment & Justice support More Monitoring for Colerain Community. Read the letter here.
May 29, 2010: Nine Months Later, still More Questions than Answers from Ohio EPA Response to Subsurface Fire On May 20th, the Ohio EPA answered 27 questions asked during the public hearing on 4/1/10 about the landfill subsurface fire that began in August 2009. See excerpts below. Read the full report here.
Question: What is your theory as to the cause of the fire?
Answer: We are uncertain at this time as to the cause of the subsurface reaction/fire.
Question: What is your theory about high cellulose, iron oxide, aluminum, glycols or other wastes?
Answer: There is no specific theory about these waste streams and other wastes.....at this time.
May 28, 2010: POWER Inc. Position on Removal of PM10 Monitor
1. We need MORE independent monitoring at the Rumpke landfill, not less. We have ongoing odors, the subsurface fire, the PCB dirt coming from AK Steel and we need to monitor the impact of the barrier/cover that is intended to contain the fire.
2. We recommend replacing the PM10 monitor on Hughes Road with a PM2.5 monitor in a location deemed significant by the community since smaller particles travel further and penetrate more deeply into the lungs.
3. We recommend adding air monitors in at least 5 more locations based on odor reports. In addition to the Bank/Hughes location which now has a monitor, additional monitors are justified based on odor report frequency and population. More monitors would likely be justified if more citizens were aware of the odor reporting process.
-Bank/Hughes
-NW High School vicinity
-Hughes Road, where the cluster of odor reports is shown on the 2009 map provided by Ham. County Health
-US 27 & Dryridge area, where the cluster of odor reports is shown on the 2009 map
-Old Colerain at Bank Rd or between Bank & Day Rds
May 16, 2010: Trash-talking: Rumpke neighbors raise stink. Click Here to read Enquirer article.
May 10 2010: Underground Landfill Fires Worry EPA. Click here to read Columbus Dispatch article.
Ohio Citizen Action Coverage of the Rumpke Landfill Click here
Recommended Reading:
"I didn't move near a landfill...IT moved near me!"
Colerain Township Cultural Touchstone bulldozed by landfill expansion
Odor Complaints Rising
April 19, 2010: Colerain Township Trustees Appeal Ohio EPA Finding & Orders
The appeal was filed with the Environmental Reviews Appeal Commisson on 4/16/10 and appeals the Ohio EPA Findings, Orders and Action Plan issued in March. The appeal has six objectives to address:
1. Input from the Trustees
2. Input and communication with Citizens
3. The need for more action beyond the studies & evaluations
4. Inadequacy of actions to identify the reaction zone and limit and abate the issue
5. Inadequate monitoring
6. Preventing similar reactions in the future.
Read the Appeal here
Read the full Northwest Press article here
April 1, 2010: Property Owners Want Equal Rights, Inc. Propose Solutions for Dealing with Subsurface Fire
STATUS: RED As of 5/27/10, insufficient progress - see 5/29/10 update.
1. Fix Root Cause
2. If Root Cause is not known, Moratorium on Dumping until root cause of fire is resolved.
3. Instant Analysis & Reporting of Air Sample Results.
4. Independent Monitoring for air, gas, groundwater, well temperatures.
One air monitor added at Bank/Hughes; plans to remove PM10 (particulate) monitor at Hughes Road.
5. Timely Notification to Public & Access to data and results.
6. Allow Citizen Input on the action plan.
7. Make Operational Changes to prevent nuisance and health hazards.
8. Simplify and communicate Odor complaint process and phone numbers.
9. Health Study in the area surrounding the landfill.
10. Meaningful penalties for violations; funds should benefit Colerain.
March 19, 2010: Rumpke Fined for Air Pollution
The Ohio EPA issued the Final Orders and Action Plan for addressing the fire at the landfill. Rumpke was fined $98,000 for violating their Title V Air Permit. At the urging of citizens, the Ohio EPA plans to hold a public information meeting on Thursday 4/1/10. They will share information and answer questions the abnormal conditions at the landfill. They expect to have the air sample results from the 3/5 incident. We urge all residents and businesses who care about their property values, air quality and quality of life to attend this meeting and demand action from the regulators, the Township and from Rumpke. We need to demand citizen representation and ask the hard questions, because no one else is asking them for us! Read the Press Release here.
Read the OHIO EPA FINDINGS and ORDERS HERE
March 5, 2010: The Hamilton County Health Department received 20 complaints about offensive odors coming from the Rumpke Landfill. A malfunction at the gas plant was the source. US EPA is also engaged in air sampling.
March 1, 2010: Odor Complaints Rising. The Health Department and Hamilton County Dept. of Environmental Services (HCDOES) received a large number of ODOR complaints. The source of the odors was the area (Phase 5) where the underground reaction/fire is occurring. The issue was found to be a blockage in a vacuum line intended to move gases from the trenches to a flare. The purpose of the surface trenches are to move the fugitive emissions to the flares to reduce odors. YOUR CALLS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
January 28, 2010: Update for Todd Portune on the landfill situation. Mr. Portune is Chair of the Policy Committee for the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District. The Health Commissioner reports the "reaction" has spread to 11 wells and it is deep within the waste mass. The report acknowledges that odor complaints have increased. It also indicates these types of issues are challenging and it will be "some time before things return to normal". US and Ohio EPA experts with experience from the Stark County, Countywide Landfill fire are involved. Read the report here
REPORT landfill odors to the health department, regardless of where you smell them.
513-946-7879 Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm
513-946-7777 Weekends/Evenings
January 2010: Colerain Township Appeals Judge Winkler's Ruling. Colerain Township is appealing the decision of Judge Winkler that declared the Rumpke landfill is a public utility. The hearing is scheduled for February 22, 2010 at 9am in Court Room B. The judges scheduled to hear the case are Judges Hendon, Cunningham, and Sundermann. The decision of Judge Winkler found the landfill a “public utility” and therefore NOT subject to Colerain Township zoning authority according to Revised Code Section 519.211. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has told us they would have NO jurisdiction under title 49 of the revised code which governs the PUCO’s authority. The landfill would not be required to come before PUCO for certification or any other regulatory oversight. We believe this decision has significant implications across the entire state of Ohio.
Dec. 5, 2009: Rumpke Expands Into Northeast Ohio. Waste from a Cuyahoga County transfer station that had been going into the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility in southern Stark County is now being shipped by Rumpke to a landfill near Mansfield, OH. In addition, Rumpke has won the new trash collection contract for Cleveland. That waste — about 1,000 tons a day — had been going to Countywide (experiencing fires and ongoing odor issues) and will now go to the Rumpke landfill at Mansfield. Last August, Rumpke of Northern Ohio announced its purchase of the Harvard Road Transfer Station in Newburgh Heights, and the 300-acre Noble Road Landfill and the Richland County Recycling and Transfer Station, both near Mansfield. The purchase involved 39,000 residential and 3,000 commercial customers in Medina, Wayne, Richland, Morrow, Ashland, Huron, Knox, Lorain, Crawford, Holmes and Marion counties.
Sept. 4, 2009: Temperatures in gas wells rise. Temperatures in the gas wells on the north side of the landfill have been measured at 194 degrees. When temperatures exceed 149 degrees the landfill is required to notify the Township and Health Dept. The EPA considers this a fire even though there are no visible flames or smoke.
Aug. 31, 2009: HIGH GAS WELL TEMPERATURES AT LANDFILL REPORTED TO EPA
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP INFORMATION:
Visit www.coleraintwp.org
