04/08/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/08/2021 12:13
4/8/21
PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER, (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Chenault
CITIZEN CONTACT: Kristopher Weiss
Ohio EPA is considering an application for a water quality certification for a project to replace the existing railroad bridge over Conneaut Creek, west of Woodworth Road in Conneaut.
A virtual public meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2021, with the Agency giving a short presentation about the application and answering questions from the public. A hearing will immediately follow, during which the public may submit written comments on the record about the application. Citizens who want to participate must register in advance for the meeting.
If approved, discharges from the activity would result in degradation to, or lowering of, the water quality of Conneaut Creek, an unnamed ephemeral tributary to Conneaut Creek, and one forested wetland. Proposed degradation of water quality would be offset through appropriate mitigation. Ohio EPA will consider technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of the project before deciding whether to issue or deny the certification.
Written comments may be submitted during the virtual public hearing or emailed to the attention of Brandon Beck at [email protected]. All comments received at the virtual hearing or via email by close of business April 29 will be considered by Ohio EPA prior to final action on this proposal.
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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.