Health & Environmental Risks Caused by Landfills Leaching Gasses Above EPA Limits

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If a landfill is leaching gases into the air above EPA maximum levels, this situation poses significant health and environmental risks. Landfills emit a variety of gases, primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), along with a mixture of other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and potentially hazardous air pollutants. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, while VOCs and other emissions can have various health and environmental impacts. The risk levels associated with these emissions exceeding EPA standards include:

Health Risks

  1. Respiratory Problems: Exposure to certain landfill gases, especially VOCs, can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic respiratory diseases.
  2. Neurological Effects: Some VOCs and hazardous air pollutants have been linked to neurological effects, including headaches, dizziness, and, in extreme cases, long-term cognitive impairments.
  3. Cancer Risk: Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene and vinyl chloride, which can be present in landfill gases, has been associated with an increased risk of cancer.
  4. Developmental Issues: Exposure to high levels of certain pollutants can affect fetal development and may lead to birth defects or developmental delays in children.
  5. Skin and Eye Irritation: Direct contact with or exposure to high concentrations of landfill gases can cause skin and eye irritation.

Environmental Risks

  1. Climate Change: Methane is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential more than 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Excessive methane emissions contribute significantly to climate change.
  2. Air Quality Degradation: The release of VOCs and other pollutants can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter, which are key components of smog and poor air quality.
  3. Vegetation Damage: Certain gases and chemicals can be toxic to plants, leading to vegetation damage or reduced crop yields.
  4. Wildlife Health: Wildlife can be affected by the same health risks as humans due to exposure to high levels of landfill gases, potentially leading to population declines or disruption of local ecosystems.
  5. Ozone Layer Impact: Some landfill gases, particularly those that are chlorinated or fluorinated, can contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer if they reach the upper atmosphere.

Risk Management and Mitigation

Managing and mitigating these risks involves several strategies, including:

  • Improved Gas Collection: Enhancing the efficiency of landfill gas collection systems to capture and either flare or utilize the gas before it is released into the atmosphere.
  • Regular Monitoring: Conducting regular monitoring of gas emissions to ensure they remain within safe and regulatory compliant levels.
  • Use of Gas as a Resource: Capturing landfill gas to use as an energy source, thus reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Public Health Measures: Implementing public health measures and providing information to nearby residents about potential risks and precautions.

Compliance with EPA standards is crucial for minimizing these risks. The EPA provides guidelines and regulations specifically designed to manage landfill emissions effectively, protecting both human health and the environment.

Fostoria water complaints surge again -water table pollution?, pumping from Res. #4 reveals a submerged SUV

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94 Acres of Farmland to be Destroyed in Hancock County, OH. – Farmer Pushback Nowhere to be Found

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WASHING TOWNSHIP, OH: WinWaste / Sunny Farms Landfill LLC is the current operator of the Seneca County Industrial Waste Depository south of Fostoria. The Company is attempting to purchase 94 acres of farmland in Hancock County, remove 20′ of topsoil and use it to cover out-of-state waste. 7,500tn of waste by railcar from the east coast arrives daily to be injected into the Earth. Some feel instead of destroying our land that Sunny Farms should pay to haul in out-of-state dirt and leave our farmland alone.

Below is the video of the recent township meeting regarding this matter.

 

2023 | MTD YTD Revenue Reports | The City of Fostoria |

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2023 | MTD YTD Revenue Reports | The City of Fostoria

MTD YTD Revenue Reports, often referred to as “Month-to-Date (MTD) Year-to-Date (YTD) Revenue Reports,” are financial documents that provide a detailed breakdown of an organization’s revenue (income) for the current month and the year-to-date period. These reports are widely used in business and financial management to track and analyze an entity’s revenue performance. Here’s what they typically include:

  1. Monthly Revenue (MTD): This section of the report shows the total revenue earned during the current month. It may further break down revenue sources, such as sales, services, or product categories, to provide insights into which areas are contributing the most to the current month’s revenue.
  2. Year-to-Date Revenue (YTD): This part of the report summarizes the total revenue accumulated from the beginning of the fiscal year up to the current date. It includes all revenue sources, providing a year-to-date perspective on income.
  3. Comparison to Prior Periods: MTD YTD Revenue Reports often include a comparison of the current month and year-to-date revenue figures to the same period in the previous year or other relevant periods. This helps assess growth or decline in revenue over time.
  4. Revenue Sources: The report may provide a breakdown of revenue by sources, such as product lines, services, geographic regions, or customer segments. This breakdown can be essential for identifying areas of strength or weakness in the revenue stream.
  5. Trends and Analysis: These reports may include commentary and analysis on the factors influencing revenue performance, highlighting significant events, trends, or changes in the revenue stream.

MTD YTD Revenue Reports are valuable for various purposes, including financial planning, performance evaluation, and decision-making. They help organizations keep track of their financial health, make adjustments to their revenue-generating strategies, and set targets for future revenue growth. These reports are commonly used in businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to monitor financial performance.

MTDYTDRevenueReport.Oct

MTDYTDRevenueReport-8.Sept

MTDYTDRevenueReport-7.Aug

MTDYTDRevenueReport-6.Jul

MTDYTDRevenueReport-5.Jun

MTDYTDRevenueReport-4.May

MTDYTDRevenueReport-3.Apr

MTDYTDRevenueReport-2.Mar

MTDYTDRevenueReport-1.Feb

MTDYTDRevenueReport-9.Jan

UAW-CAP Council Endorsed the Following Fostoria Candidates: Elliott Shaffer, Brandon Hall, & Robert Podach

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The Following Candidates that Fostoria Area UAW-CAP Council are endorsing:

Local Area:

 

Wood County:

Jan Materni – Perrysburg City Council

Buddy Ritson – Lake Township Trustee

Joseph DeMare – Bowling Green Mayor

Jeffery Dennis – Bowling Green Council-At-Large

 

Seneca County:

Elliott Shaffer – Fostoria Mayor

Braden Hall – Fostoria Council-at-Large

Robert Podach – Fostoria Council-at-Large

Lee Wilkinson – Tiffin Mayor

Aaron Jones – Tiffin Council Ward 1

Gina Grandillo – Tiffin Director of Law

James Fruth – Tiffin-Fostoria Judge of Municipal Court

Cheyane Thacker – Tiffin Council-at-Large

Nearby City Financials & Council Notes

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Findlay, OH
Recreation Budget YTD

Parks Maintenance Budget YTD

2023.10.17 minutes

2023.10.03 minutes (rev 10-10-23)

Tiffin, OH

9-30-23 P & R budget report (1)

City Council meeting minutes

Q&A With Fmr. Fostoria City Council President | Why Did He Resign?

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October 12th, 2023 7:20PM
Author: JT Tolento | Investigative Journalist

FOSTORIA- Recently resigned Fostoria City Council President Steve Kauffman answered questions today submitted by community members. Kauffman resigned from City Council last month and submitted a letter of resignation effective Sep 30th, 2023. In his letter he briefly mentioned that City Government does not prioritize the best interest of Fostoria Citizens.

Below are (9) questions submitted by community members this week, and Steve’s responses. Steve is married to Heidi Kaffuman, in which Heidi hired Hoover Law Officer and served the City with a litigation hold on March 10th, 2023; 1 day after her early termination.

Q&A

1. During your term from 2016 – 2023 – Do you have any ethical concerns regarding City Government?
 There is a general misunderstanding of open meetings/ “Sunshine” laws regarding what can and cannot be discussed in private conversations, as well as the purpose of the executive session restrictions. I have nothing that I would consider as a major reportable infraction.
2. During the last several months of your term you said that your watched the body stray from their primary function to represent the best interest of Fostoria – Can you elaborate further and give examples of what you witnessed?
The best example of this is the personality conflicts that caused the council to, essentially, remove the finance director. According to all of the emails between Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Mennel, they acknowledge that she was the best we have had in many years, but they did not like her approach. Therefore, they went against the will of the people to move to a hired finance director after the expiration of the term and found what they believed to be a loophole to push her out, colluding behind the scenes to make it happen. They would rather have no one in that role for six months than have to deal with someone they did not like.
 
3. In your resignation letter you mention City Council’s refusal to act – Can you elaborate future, give an example, name specific parties?
I cannot recall a time in the last 12-18 months where the mayor or the safety service director were challenged on any topic. Their word is considered law. I asked for a water update in a meeting in the spring. I was told the issue was fixed, when it was clearly worse than it had been. 
 
4. When citizens speak at council meetings, which members of Council have you witnessed rolling their eyes, or having dismissive behavior?
Not just the council, but there are many examples on video where those in the jury box get very defensive when asked about issues or when it is brought to their attention that no one at the city building can be reached.
5. In your resignation letter, what are some of the evident signs you briefly mention?
I think of three things that would help our citizens feel much better about their taxes being spent well: 
    The ongoing water issues. How many years have we been told that it either cannot be fixed or that “the fix is on the way?” It sure wasn’t like this when I moved here.
    The lack of availability. I received numerous emails about voicemail boxes being full and emails going unanswered. When asked about it at meetings, the reply is always that people should just schedule a meeting. How?
     Where is the splash pad? Money was budgeted in this budget. The mayor said at a meeting it would be open by Memorial day ’23. Was he ever questioned on it by anyone in council?
6. What ever happened to the Covid money that did not get used ? Was it really used for fire and police dept PPE?
To my knowledge it was all used. We didn’t get much. Past that, those answers lie in the finance department.
7. How did the city wind up in financial distress- has anyone been held accountable?
It was that way when I was appointed. I do know that the issues no lie not in money, but in lack of proper procedures and the refusal to follow them. The mayor said in a meeting that every finance director has their own way of doing POs. Not true. There is Ohio law for that.
8. Why can’t we have a transparent city checking account to help prevent future problems?
We can. Heidi was planning that when her term was ended. The mayor opposed it.
9. Who owns the City Lofts? Why is FEDC involved.
I have no knowledge of FEDC. They are not a city entity. I also don’t know who owns the lofts. I would think a property search would show that.

Schuylerville, NY – Police Arrest Man For Using a Single-engine Cessna Plane to Stalk Her Mother for More Than Four Years.

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A New Hampshire man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of stalking a woman by flying his small plane over her home, throwing tomatoes.

Michael Arnold, 65, was arraigned in southern Vermont, where he kept his plane, on charges of aggravated stalking, violating an abuse prevention order, resisting arrest, impeding a public officer and providing false information to police. He was later released on several conditions, including that he have no contact with the woman, not stalk her, and stay 300 feet (91 meters) from her home and business, as well as from all airplanes.

 

 

A stalking order was issued banning him from flying his plane, according to an FBI agent, who said “Arnold had been stalking the Schuylerville, e         .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,                                                                                          w York, woman for approximately ,,,,,, years.” New York authorities say “Arnold was spotted flying low over the village of Schuylerville and at one point was observed throwing tomatoes from the plane,” according to the investigating officer in Bennington, Vermont.

The woman told police that she feared for her safety for a long time and worried that Arnold was going to fly his plane into her home, court papers state. She told local media that Arnold was a customer in the cafe she owns.

Arnold was arrested Tuesday, as he was arriving at the William H. Morse state airport in Bennington, Vermont, where he kept his 1976 Cessna 180 single-engine plane. He said he had not stalked anyone and denied that he was flying his plane the day before, saying instead that he was riding with someone, police said. Arnold told the officer that he has had no contact with the woman and that if he wanted to harm her he could have very easily, but he never did, according to the affidavit.

He said the Federal Aviation Administration had not told him he couldn’t fly and said he flies over Schuylerville to take pictures for their Facebook community page, according to the affidavit. Schuylerville is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of the Bennington airport.

On May 30, a judge in Saratoga, New York, town court issued a temporary order of protection for Arnold to stay away from the woman, her home, business and place of employment, according to a police affidavit. He was ordered to not contact her and to refrain from harassing, intimidating, threatening or otherwise interfering with her, her family or household members and witnesses to the alleged offense, the affidavit said.

Arnold is also required to stop flying any aircraft, under the order which remains in effect until a court date of Nov. 30.

He was arrested in New York on June 1 for stalking, resisting arrest, disobeying a court order and obstruction of governmental administration, according to the affidavit. He faces pending charges, including one felony count, in New York.

A sergeant with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said he had seen Arnold’s plane flying over Schuylerville on Oct. 1, and was investigating where Arnold had been keeping his plane, according to the affidavit. An FBI agent said Arnold had relocated his plane to an airport in Maine and that the police department there was also seeking charges but Arnold left the area before he could be arrested, police said.

Last month, the woman reported to the FBI that Arnold was flying over her area on Sept. 28 and she provided video of the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration located a plane landing at the Bennington Airport shortly after the sighting, according to the police affidavit.

Landfill Hazardous Waste Mixing – How It Works

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Landfill waste mixing to hide hazardous materials refers to a practice where hazardous or toxic waste materials are intentionally mixed with non-hazardous waste in a landfill to conceal their presence. This unethical and illegal practice is a form of environmental pollution and poses significant risks to human health and the environment.

Here’s how it generally works:

  1. Mixing Hazardous Waste: Individuals or entities with hazardous waste materials may attempt to disguise them by mixing them with non-hazardous waste. This can include industrial waste, chemicals, or other materials that are regulated or banned from disposal in regular landfills.
  2. Evasion of Regulations: The goal is to avoid the regulatory requirements and associated costs that come with proper disposal of hazardous waste. Regulations typically require hazardous waste to be managed, transported, and disposed of safely in designated facilities that are equipped to handle such materials.
  3. Environmental and Health Risks: Mixing hazardous materials with regular landfill waste can lead to serious environmental and health hazards. Hazardous substances can leach into groundwater, contaminate soil, release harmful gases, and pose risks to landfill workers and nearby communities.
  4. Illegal Activity: Deliberate misrepresentation of waste to avoid proper disposal is illegal in most jurisdictions. Violators can face severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and civil liabilities.

To prevent such practices and protect the environment and public health, regulatory agencies have established strict rules and monitoring mechanisms for landfills. These regulations often include requirements for waste characterization, proper disposal methods, waste tracking, and regular inspections.

Citizens, environmental organizations, and government agencies play a crucial role in preventing and uncovering illegal waste mixing. Reporting suspicious activities or potential violations to local environmental authorities is essential for addressing these issues and ensuring that hazardous waste is managed safely and in accordance with the law. Additionally, whistleblowers who report illegal waste disposal practices may be protected under laws that shield them from retaliation for coming forward with information about environmental violations.