Lawmakers say Ohio EPA had 'delayed response' to Sebring water issue

SEBRING — State lawmakers say the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had a “delayed response” to signs of elevated lead levels in Sebring and Beloit’s drinking water, in a letter to the OEPA director that was released to the media Friday.

State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-33rd, and State Rep. John Boccieri, D-59th, on Friday sent a letter to Craig Butler, director of the Ohio EPA, asking for confirmation of the timeline of events.

“We are writing to address the delayed responses to signs of elevated lead levels in Sebring and Beloit’s drinking water, as described to us in a call with Ohio EPA at 10:15 p.m. on January 21, 2016. Although the tests revealing lead contamination were conducted in August and September of 2015, this information was just recently made public and brought to our attention. It is therefore possible that residents in the affected areas have unknowingly been drinking water that poses threats to their health,” the letter reads.

The letter goes on to detail a timeline of events spanning August 2015 to Jan. 21.

The letter asks the Ohio EPA to confirm the timeline and answer a number of questions, such as, ‘Does the Ohio EPA have a standard additional waiting period after a violation is triggered? Why the delay between the deadlines and the issuance of violation?’”

The letter ends with a swift call to action.