Valley representatives express outrage at OEPA's part in Sebring water crisis

YOUNGSTOWN

State Rep. John Boccieri is calling on the Ohio House of Representatives to subpoena Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler to answer questions relating to the state’s “failure to protect the public for some six months” after lead was found in drinking water in Sebring and Beloit.

Boccieri, of Poland, D-59th, said he has repeatedly called on the director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to provide the public with answers to basic questions surrounding the renewal of water permits and sluggish communication that “forced seniors, pregnant mothers and children to unknowingly drink water contaminated with copper and lead.”

Amid the finger-pointing over the water crisis, Mahoning County officials are focused on the lead testing and emergency water-supply needs of the people affected, a county commissioner said.

“There’s going to be plenty of time to cast blame, and as this thing unfolds, it may disclose itself even more,” said Commissioner Anthony Traficanti at Thursday’s commissioners meeting in Youngstown.

He was reacting to U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s call for the resignation of Butler.

“To cast blame right now, or to throw eggs to make this thing any messier, or turn it into a political football totally will take away from the services the residents need,” Traficanti said.

In a letter to Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger, Boccieri wrote, “We have received no answer to our repeated questions about steps taken by the EPA, which shares a moral and legal obligation to notify the public when such a crisis evolves, to remedy this crisis.”

Butler is Gov. John Kasich’s former policy adviser and was appointed by Kasich to the Ohio EPA, Boccieri noted in a news release.

CONGRESSMAN ‘LIVID’

Ryan said he is “livid” that the Ohio EPA knew for months about high lead levels in Sebring’s water and didn’t let the public know about the problem.

“This is a complete debacle; playing Russian roulette” with people’s health, Ryan said Thursday. “It’s inconceivable.”

Read more reaction and the latest in the water crisis in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.