Tuesday, March 28, 2000
Paper company is penalized
Franklin firm target of warning
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKLIN — As pollution investigators checked out yet another complaint of colored dust spewing from the Miami Valley Paper Co. on Monday, the state declared the firm a public nuisance.
Following two years of resi dents' complaints about orange goo and dust raining down on their houses and cars, the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services ordered the company to submit to costly emissions testing and warned the company could face fines. The county is working under contract with the Ohio EPA.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
But Kerri Kahlenberg, complaint coordinator with HCDES, said the company promised to fix emissions problems last fall. It hasn't followed through.
“The company tells us they are going to be doing something. It looks like a good plan to us, but they haven't followed through yet.
“We want an answer from them,” Ms. Kahlenberg said.
Franklin City Manager James Lukas said company officials have promised to install equipment in the next four to six weeks to prevent further problems.
Miami Valley Paper makes specialty and coated papers for labels and office products at the nearly 100-year-old Franklin plant. The building is on Oxford Road and abuts a residential area.
HCDES began investigating in September after receiving nine complaints from citizens.
According to a certified letter sent to the company on Friday HCDES also observed two visible emissions from a stack at the plant and obtained a videotape of orange coating being released from the same stack in August.
On Friday, Ms. Kahlenberg said HCDES investigators traced chemical odors to the plant after receiving more complaints. Monday's emission involved green dust particles, she said. This month, residents found orange dust on their cars, but company officials denied fault.
Tressa Besserman, a South Avenue resident who has sued the company over the 1998 spill that damaged her property, didn't know what to think about the latest development.
She said she complains regularly to HCDES. Despite the state's intervention, she doesn't expect any quick action from the company.
“It's nowhere near over — and I say that with disgust,” Mrs. Besserman said. “But I'm not quitting. I'm determined to get something done about it.”
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