EPA to target top Ohio polluters
BY Paul Kostyu
The Canton Repository
COLUMBUS - For too long Ohio has rated too high among states in the release of toxic emissions, according to the director of the Ohio EPA.
On the 35th anniversary of the agency, Chris Korleski, an Alliance native, announced an initiative he’s calling Tox Minus.
“Every year, Ohio is very, very high on the (federal) Toxic Release Inventory list, especially with air issues,” he told staff at an agency-wide meeting today. “That ain’t helping. That isn’t helping public health; it isn’t helping the public perception of the agency; it isn’t helping economic development. No one wants to invest in a dirty state.”
Korleski said the Environmental Protection Agency will identify the top 100 emitters of toxic chemicals into the air, water and land and work with them in a voluntary program to lower emissions. He said he will make personal appeals to chief executive officers and plant managers.
“This is about me reaching out to see what we can do reduce pollutants,” he said. “We have got to get past being the dirtiest state in the nation.”
Korleski said there will be naysayers who think the program won’t work on a voluntary basis.
“We want the public engaged in this,” Korleski said. “We are not targeting people, but we plan to spend a lot of time calling and meeting.”
Gov. Ted Strickland, who also addressed the staff, backed the effort.
“In these instances we’ve found that the carrot is better than the stick,” the governor said after his speech. “We’re fully prepared to use the stick when it becomes clear to us it’s necessary.”
The governor said tougher legislation could be one of those sticks.
“The problem is related to historical factors and past economic factors,” he said. “We do have cleaner water and air, and have been making progress across the board. The question is, ‘Are we proceeding rapidly enough?’ Should we be pushing harder and faster?”
The Canton Repository
COLUMBUS - For too long Ohio has rated too high among states in the release of toxic emissions, according to the director of the Ohio EPA.
On the 35th anniversary of the agency, Chris Korleski, an Alliance native, announced an initiative he’s calling Tox Minus.
“Every year, Ohio is very, very high on the (federal) Toxic Release Inventory list, especially with air issues,” he told staff at an agency-wide meeting today. “That ain’t helping. That isn’t helping public health; it isn’t helping the public perception of the agency; it isn’t helping economic development. No one wants to invest in a dirty state.”
Korleski said the Environmental Protection Agency will identify the top 100 emitters of toxic chemicals into the air, water and land and work with them in a voluntary program to lower emissions. He said he will make personal appeals to chief executive officers and plant managers.
“This is about me reaching out to see what we can do reduce pollutants,” he said. “We have got to get past being the dirtiest state in the nation.”
Korleski said there will be naysayers who think the program won’t work on a voluntary basis.
“We want the public engaged in this,” Korleski said. “We are not targeting people, but we plan to spend a lot of time calling and meeting.”
Gov. Ted Strickland, who also addressed the staff, backed the effort.
“In these instances we’ve found that the carrot is better than the stick,” the governor said after his speech. “We’re fully prepared to use the stick when it becomes clear to us it’s necessary.”
The governor said tougher legislation could be one of those sticks.
“The problem is related to historical factors and past economic factors,” he said. “We do have cleaner water and air, and have been making progress across the board. The question is, ‘Are we proceeding rapidly enough?’ Should we be pushing harder and faster?”
