JEFFERSON TWP., Montgomery Co. — Drafts of state and federal permits for hazardous waste operations and air emission controls at the troubled Perma-Fix of Dayton plant are now open to public comment.

In addition to sending letters or e-mails, the public can attend a hearing on a renewal and modification of the plant's state hazardous waste permit this Tuesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Twp. Trustees Building, One Business Park Drive, Dayton.

The public also can comment via letter or e-mail on a draft of the federal air emissions permit.

Currently, Perma-Fix is permitted to store, and blend into fuel, containerized hazardous waste as well as to treat, solidify and recycle non-hazardous materials such as used oil and industrial waste water.

After years of complaints from neighbors about noxious fumes, Perma-Fix agreed late last year to reduce hazardous air emissions, pay a fine of $360,000 and spend $562,000 on additional environmental controls as part of a court settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local residents.

Ownership of the plant is changing. In March, OGM Limited, which does business as Clean Water, finalized arrangements to purchase the Perma-Fix facility at 300 Cherokee Drive. Clean Water applied to the Ohio EPA to modify the facility's permit, which would allow the company to assume full ownership and responsibility for regulatory obligations.

Ohio EPA will accept written comments about its draft permit and modification through June 20. Comments can be sent to: Ohio EPA, Division of Hazardous Waste Management, Attn: Regulatory and Information Services, PO Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049. Or they can be faxed at (614) 728-1245 or sent by e-mail to hdwmcomments@epa.state.oh.us.

The U.S. EPA also has drafted a permit to address air emissions from the plant's hazardous waste storage units, which Ohio is not yet authorized to regulate. Comments on the U.S. EPA's draft permit can be mailed to: U.S. EPA, Region 5, Mr. Jae Lee, RCRA Branch, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Il, 60604-3590; faxed to (312) 353-4788 or e-mailed to Lee.Jae@epa.gov.

Copies of the state's renewal permit is available at Ohio EPA's Dayton office, 401 E. Fifth St., Dayton, by first calling (937) 285-6025.

Additional copies of the permits also are available at:

•Dayton Metro Library, Trotwood Branch, 651 E. Main St., Dayton, OH 45426.

•The U.S. EPA permit information also can be viewed at www.epa.gov/reg5cra/wptdiv/permits/index.htm/

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