Friday, February 5, 1999

Rumpke expansion could add 15 years to dump's life

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Homeowners might be forced out

BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Expansion of the Rumpke landfill (background) would overtake the houses here on Struble Road. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — To meet Greater Cincinnati's garbage disposal needs through 2023, Hamilton County's only landfill company unveiled a plan Thursday that would send “Mount Rumpke” creeping southward.

        It would envelop land now occupied by Rumpke Consolidated Companies' garages and outbuildings. And it could push the firm's headquarters into a proposed light-industrial park in an area now occupied by several dozen homes.

        On the surface, county officials said, they welcome the proposed 100-acre landfill expansion.

INFOGRAPHICS

• Map of proposed addition • How landfill is constructed

        Without it, Rumpke expects to fill its existing landfill space in about 2008. And the region's garbage then would have to be shipped to other counties and states — most likely at a greater cost to taxpayers and businesses.

        “The more disposal capacity that's available in Hamilton County, the lower the cost ... will be for Hamilton County residents. That's our main concern, to keep those costs low,” said Meredith Yankow, community specialist with the county Department of Environmental Services. “The further you have to ship garbage, the more expensive it will be.”

        Yet Rumpke officials acknowledge that some of their neighbors will not be pleased with the plan.

In some back yards
        Grassy buffer strips and sound-absorbing walls around the expanded landfill eventually would bump the back yards of residents along Hughes and Struble roads and Locharbour Lane.

        “I know not everyone is going to be comfortable with this expansion,” said Larry Stone, Rumpke general manager. “We'll do what we need to address those concerns.”

        Rumpke already owns or has optioned purchase rights to several residential parcels along Struble Road, south of the existing landfill. And it owns wooded property north of Struble Road, between Hughes Road and Interstate 275, where it could eventually build a $35 million corporate headquarters.

        The company would like to see both residential areas become light-industrial and office parks, Mr. Stone said.

        That would accommodate Rumpke's infrastructure needs, while providing development zones that could attract other taxpaying and job-creating companies to Colerain Township.

        Rumpke sent a preliminary concept plan to members of the Colerain Township land-use committee last week.

        Township officials said that although details of the proposal have not yet been worked out, the general idea fits in with their development plans.

        It also matches up with the proposed western Hamilton County regional plan that was approved by a county steering committee Wednesday night. That document, which would serve as a development guide for a six-township area, identifies the Struble Road corridor as ideal for commercial and industrial use.

        “Our (Colerain Township) economy right now is heavily dependent on retail. And for that reason, the township trustees have asked me to bring in some clean, light industry — buffered and in appropriate areas” such as this one, said Frank Birkenhauer, assistant township ad ministrator and development director.

Public meetings planned
        Officials already have received feedback from some Rumpke neighbors.

        Those who will be affected by the proposed expansion received notices Thursday from Rumpke, informing them of meetings Feb. 18, 19 and 20 at the Germania Society at 3529 Kemper Road.

        The meetings are 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 7 to 8:30 p.m.

        Richard Clark, who has lived in the 10400 block of Locharbour Lane, off Struble Road, the past 45 years, is considering selling.

        “It's going to be inevitable,” said Mr. Clark, who served on Colerain Township's land-use committee.

        After years of the smells and noises of living next to a landfill, Carole Vatter decided it was time to sell her log house and 5 acres on Breezy Acres Drive. She is moving to Indiana.

        “It is time to go,” Ms. Vatter said. Other neighbors have fought Rumpke in the past and have lost. Now many of them are gone, having sold their land and homes to Rumpke. Whole stretches of streets in the neighborhood are owned by Rumpke.

        The company's Mr. Stone said landfill owners Tom and Bill Rumpke have met with many of the property owners, often to negotiate for their land.

        “Because of the comments that we've received, both in favor and disfavor, I think it will be very interesting. ... I think it will be a toss-up as to what the residents' (overall) reaction will be,” Mr. Birkenhauer said.

More than a mountain
        Rumpke, a family-owned firm, began in Carthage in 1932 and has operated at its Colerain Avenue site for more than 54 years.

        Its 145-acre landfill, known as “Mount Rumpke,” rises to about 1,050 feet above sea level — that's roughly 230 feet above ground from the Struble Road entrance to the highest peak. When decorated for Christmas, it can be seen for miles.

        The company pays more than 2,500 employees $50 million a year. Rumpke paid $591,000 in property taxes last year, spent an estimated $30 million in the county on goods and services, and contributed $300,000 in user fees to Colerain Township.

        Yet it is perhaps best known for a massive 1996 slide in which acres of trash became exposed to the elements and were set alight by a lightning strike. In October, company officials said the incident cost them $20 million in remediation, fines and scaled-back operations.

        Nevertheless, county officials say they have no extraordinary concerns about Rumpke's suitability to expand.

        “The Ohio EPA has been work ing with them and keeping a close eye on them. All the reports we've received indicate that they're doing a great job,” Ms. Yankow said.

        As part of its settlement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Rumpke has been unable to buy a 130-acre Monsanto landfill in Whitewater Township and Dearborn County, Ind.

        But it is contracting with that company to dump Rumpke trash on 60 acres there. The proposed operation should soon receive final regulatory approval, Mr. Stone said.

        That will expand the life of the company's dumping capability, from the six to seven years left at the Colerain Avenue site to an overall nine years and six months — if Rumpke continues to dispose of about 5,000 tons of trash per day.

        And that should be just enough time for Rumpke to gain all of the necessary approval and complete construction on its proposed expansion, Mr. Stone said.

The time is right
        The plan will have to move through Colerain Township zoning and land-use committees — a process that usually takes about three months, according to township officials.

        And then it must be reviewed by the county Regional Planning Commission, other local agencies and Ohio EPA — which could take years. There will be at least three public hearings. Rumpke is planning on a 10-month engineering process and at least one year for construction. Colerain Township officials stressed that no decisions have been made and no final plans are on paper. They will not seize any private property, and zoning changes can be made only with landowners' approval, Mr. Burgess said.

        “They're a good family business. And I think that the township recognizes the landfill as a mixed blessing,” said Trustee Joe Wolterman. “It certainly behooves us to look at their request with scrutiny and make sure that it doesn't deter from the quality of life in Colerain Township.”

        Phillip Pina and Lew Moores contributed to this story.

       

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