Columbiana County to seek judgment against landfill

By D.A. Wilkinson

The landfill has scaled back its operations, says its director of operations.

LISBON — Columbiana County will seek a judgment for $225,000 against a local landfill the state wants to close.

Troy Graft, chief engineer with the county engineer’s office, said A&L Salvage had agreed to pay $250,000 in 2006 for its portion of a waterline installation.

In addition to serving the landfill at 11255 state Route 45, Center Township, the waterline also was extended to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Post and the Columbiana County Career & Technical Center.

Graft told the county commissioners Wednesday the company had made only two payments that totaled $25,000.

Graft said the line also was extended to homeowners near the landfill who may have feared their well water was contaminated by contaminants leaking from the landfill.

Only a handful of homeowners tapped into the line, Graft said.

The county creates water and sewer districts. In this case, water is supplied from Buckeye Water in Wellsville.

A&L is a demolition debris landfill that is allowed to take asbestos, which can cause cancer. But a video of operations earlier this year appeared to show that machines were running over and popping open bags of asbestos.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in May stated it would start efforts to close A&L.

Steven Callahan, the director of operations for A&L, said the landfill has scaled back its operations.

Instead of accepting 3,000 tons of demolition debris a day, it is taking about 1,000 tons daily, he said.

The landfill also is down to about 20 workers. The jobs pay well and have benefits, he added.

The reduction in tonnage has put the company behind in its payment to the county for the waterline, he said.

Callahan said talks are continuing with the OEPA about keeping the landfill open. The landfill is allowed to continue operating under its 2006 permit until the issues are resolved.

Mike Settles, an OEPA spokesman, said A&L just applied for its permit for next year.

Settles said the company and OEPA officials meet from time to time to discuss the landfill’s situation. Representatives of the Ohio Attorney General’s office occasionally take part in those discussions, he added.

wilkinson@vindy.com