Dann's landfill restrictions to get 1st hearing

The bill is a companion to one introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives.
& lt;a href=mailto:slshaulis@vindy.com & gt;By SHERRI L. SHAULIS & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- An Ohio Senate bill introduced in the wake of local controversies over construction and demolition debris landfills will have its first hearing this week.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-33rd, proposes some significant changes to the current ways such landfills are licensed and operated in the state.
Originally introduced in August, the bill was assigned to the Ohio Senate's Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Committee, which will hear the proposal at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Statehouse.
Referred to as Senate Bill 119, the legislation calls for replacing the current license fee with a disposal fee, revising the siting criteria and requiring background checks for companies wanting to open such facilities.
Dann became involved with the bill, which was originally introduced last year by Sen. James E. Carnes of St. Clairsville, after local politicians and residents asked for his help in fighting such landfills in their areas. Carnes' version of the bill passed the Senate, but never came to the floor for a vote in the House of Representatives.
Environmental groups and local legislators have been trying to close Warren Hills Recycling in Warren Township and to stop the opening of Lordstown Construction Recovery, a subsidiary of Lafarge North America, in Lordstown. Trustees in Hubbard Township are also working closely with Dann on the bill, because they are concerned a Maryland company wants to open another construction and demolition debris landfill on 264 acres of the old Midwest Steel property on Mount Everett Road S.E.
Most of the changes would not affect landfills currently operating, nor would they apply to landfills currently licensed, but not in operation, such as Lordstown Construction Recovery.
Dann, who has pledged to fight to keep Trumbull County from becoming "the dumping ground for the eastern United States," wants companies who operate such facilities to be charged per tonnage, rather than a flat rate. He is also asking for public meetings to take place in the communities of intended location and to ensure future facilities are located at least 1,000 feet from a water supply well, 300 feet from the facility's property line and at least 500 feet from a school.
Dann's bill is comparable to one introduced by state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th. Her bill was given its first reading by the Energy and Environment Committee at the end of September. A committee report has not yet been issued on that hearing.