Ohio landfill thought to have violated asbestos regulationsLisbon, Ohio - In Lisbon, Ohio, state officials have filed an official, 20-count complaint against a salvage company that operates a potentially hazardous landfill. A foul-smelling dump outside of Lisbon is at the center of the complaint, which was filed by Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's office in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
The complaint requests that the court force A & L Salvage to cover the 42-acre dump site with an additional 12 inches of "cohesive earthen material". The complaint also demands that officials with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) be allowed to access the site.
The smell, associated with the presence of hydrogen sulfide, has caused stomach problems and headaches among locals. OEPA Director Chris Korleski thinks it is time to take action. "This situation cannot continue as is," Korleski said in a press release. "The odors need to be stopped and the landfill needs to be properly stabilized and closed once and for all."
According to local sources, "the violations included acceptance of pulverized debris and solid waste, which is prohibited at a C&DD landfill, improper asbestos handling, and creating a nuisance from the hydrogen sulfide, or rotten egg, smell." Improper handling of asbestos can increase a person's risk of developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma often kills within 24 months of being diagnosed, and while chemotherapy can help some patients, the disease is still incurable.
"I am personally grateful for the hard work the OEPA has done. I am also hopeful this court action will finally bring relief for all of us who live around the landfill," local resident Don Kibler said.
