AMSTERDAM - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a draft air permit to install to Apex Environmental and will hold a public hearing on the issue on Dec. 7.

Erin Strouse, an environmental public information officer with the OEPA, said the draft air permit to install hearing is in conjunction with the draft solid waste permit from the Apex Landfill now under consideration by the OEPA.

According to Strouse, the landfill applied for a permit to account for increased air emissions that would be created by its proposed increase in the waste acceptance rate at the Apex Sanitary Landfill in Jefferson and Harrison counties.

A legal advertisement published in local newspapers said the draft permit "proposes to allow a modification to increase allowable emissions from the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, including gas collection and control, unpaved roadways and rail unloading based on an increase in the waste acceptance rate."

The landfill is located on county Road 78, one mile north of state Route 646 in Amsterdam in Springfield Township.

The OEPA issued Apex a draft permit in June that would authorize a vertical expansion of the landfill and an increase in the daily waste receipt limit from 5,250 tons per day to 7,500 tons per day. The draft permit also includes an odor management plan that includes two major components: Controlling odors from the active waste handling and disposal operations and installing a landfill gas collection and control system.

A public hearing was held in July to hear comments from the public on plans by Apex to expand its solid waste operations.

Oral and written comments from the July hearing are currently under review by the OEPA staff.

The information session and public hearing specific to the draft air permit-to-install is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at John Gregg Elementary School in Bergholz.

During the information session, representatives from the OEPA's Division of Air Pollution Control are expected to explain and answer questions regarding the draft air permit. During the hearing, which immediately follows the information session, the public can submit comments for the record about the draft air permit. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain additional information that will be considered before the OEPA issues or denies a final air permit, Strouse explained.

She noted the draft air permit "establishes emission limits at the landfill to ensure compliance with federal and state clean air standards and protect public health. The draft air permit would establish emission limits for the flare which is designed to control emissions captured by the facility's landfill gas collection system. The draft air permit also would limit particulate or fugitive dust emissions related to the facility's unpaved roadways, parking areas, material handling and rail unloading areas."

The public comment period for the company's pending draft solid waste permit ended on July 23 following the July 9 public hearing. The solid waste permit application is in the final stages of review by the OEPA's technical staff.

According to Strouse, the agency staff reviewed the technical aspects of the solid waste permit and air permit applications and then issued draft permits after determining that each application met the requirements of Ohio's environmental laws and rules.

"After all public comments on the draft air permit are received and reviewed, the agency's technical staff will forward both the draft air permit and draft solid waste permit to the OEPA director for his final review," said Strouse.

"Citizens are encouraged to review the draft air permit prior to the Dec. 7 public hearing," Strouse added.

A copy of the draft air permit is available for review online at http://wwwapp.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/permits_issued/310556.pdf and at the OEPA's Southeast District Office, 2195 Front St., Logan by first calling (740) 385-8501 or (800) 686-7330 to schedule a file review.

"In addition to oral comments about the draft air permit provided at the Dec. 7 public meeting, the OEPA will equally consider written comments received through Dec. 14.

Interested parties can send comments to OEPA, Division of Air Pollution Control, Southeast District Office, 2195 Front St., Logan, OH 43138," Strouse stated.

She said copies of the draft solid waste permit also are available at the OEPA's Southeast District Office.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)