EPA issues permit for local landfill despite community opposition

MADISON TWP., Ohio (WKBN) — Despite community opposition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a permit-to-install to West Point Renewables, LLC for a municipal solid waste landfill.

West Point Renewables requested a permit earlier in the year to operate a landfill in West Point, which is a community in Columbiana County’s Madison Township about halfway between Lisbon and East Liverpool.

At a public hearing hosted by the EPA in April , the community voiced its opinion on the matter: a resounding no. Voiced opposition to the landfill included concerns such as water pollution and the impact on a nearby bald eagle nest .

Despite the protests, the EPA announced Thursday the issuance of an installation permit, which authorizes the construction of a 54.92-acre landfill that can accept up to 4,000 tons of waste daily.

The West Point Renewables Landfill will be built with a dual liner system, and the EPA will oversee the construction to ensure it complies with state environmental rules, the announcement stated.

The landfill will also have a system to collect and manage leachate (liquid that leaks from waste), controls for surface water, and a final cover to seal it after the landfill closes.

West Point Renewables LLC must monitor groundwater and landfill gas during operation and for at least 30 years after it is closed. The company is also required to provide financial assurance to cover the costs of closing the landfill and post-closure maintenance.

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