License awaits renewal

The proposed denial lets the city buy some time.
WARREN -- The board of health has proposed not renewing the Warren Recycling transfer station's operating license for 2006, but the station may continue to operate until the board makes a final decision.
The board voted to review the matter in 180 days.
The WRI transfer station is the place where garbage collected in city-owned trucks is loaded onto larger trucks to be taken to Browning Ferris Industries' Poland landfill.
Mayor Michael O'Brien, who presides over health board meetings, said the city is working on contingency plans to use the closest alternative transfer station -- Total Waste Logistics in Girard -- on an emergency basis if the WRI facility would actually lose its license at a later date.
"This also gives us time to develop that" contingency plan, he said of the proposed denial and review in 180 days. Regardless of what eventually happens, there would be no disruption in garbage collection, the mayor said.
In taking its action Friday, the health board concurred with an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recommendation that the board propose denial while the Ohio Attorney General's office continues a background investigation of the transfer station operators.
"A proposed denial is not the same as a final denial," and the station may continue operating under its previous license until a final action is taken on its pending application, the Ohio EPA explained in a letter to the health board earlier this week.