 |
| Watch This Week's "The State of Ohio" Online |
| Order Online : "The State of Ohio" |
 |
|
This week on "The State of Ohio": The Senate version of the budget is on its way, with just a few weeks remaining to hammer out differences with the House. Lawmakers try to clarify the state auditor's role with JobsOhio. And we revisit and update two controversial issues from the last year - the abortion debate in Ohio and the state's new exotic animals law and the facility it created.
|
|
| |
|
|
| Ohio EPA director speaks out on changes in air permitting rules - what some call "the bad air bill". |
|
By Karen Kasler - April 5, 2006 |
|
|
Supporters and critics of a new bill changing the permitting process for air polluters in Ohio have sounded off on the measure. Now the director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is speaking out. Joe Koncelik says the bill is an improvement, though he admits it's not perfect.
Backers of the measure say it streamlines the permitting process and making Ohio a cheaper place to do business. Opponents say it will allow for smaller polluters to escape scrutiny, and are particularly concerned about what they call an exemption from regulation for small polluters, which emit less than 10 tons of toxins a year. Koncelik says these polluters will still have to get permits, but won't be as carefully watched.
Some critics have worried that the state's auto emissions testing program E-check will have to be reinstituted if Ohio's air quality drops. Koncelik says, not on his watch.
Koncelik says Ohio's air - ranked as the dirtiest in the nation - will be cleaner under this measure and other federal regulations. But opponents say this bill exempts smaller polluters like gas stations and dry cleaners from strict regulation, meaning the air near them will get worse. |
|
OEPA Director Joe Koncelik (:19) 
|
|
|
OEPA Director Joe Koncelik (:24)
|
|
|
OEPA Director Joe Koncelik (:13)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
