The commission that sets standards for pollution in the Ohio River has been considering dropping those standards, but will accept more public comment before making a decision. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) has two webinars and three public hearings scheduled.
The webinars are Tuesday, March 12 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m. (all times Eastern) and will cover the latest draft of water quality standards.
That draft was introduced in February at an ORSANCO board meeting in Covington. According to the commission's website, they maintain "Pollution Control Standards for the Ohio River to protect the uses delineated in ORSANCO’s Compact while providing needed flexibility for member states to utilize the Pollution Control Standards or their own rigorously developed and United States Environmental Protection Agency approved water quality criteria for Ohio River discharge permits."
An earlier proposal faced harsh criticism. Opponents accused the commission, states and the EPA of "catering to big business."
The hearings will be held at the following times and locations:
Pittsburgh, Monday, April 1, from 6-8 p.m. ET
DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh
500 Mansfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Evansville, Thursday, April 4, from 6-8 p.m. CT
Tropicana Evansville
421 NW Riverside Drive
Evansville, IN 47708
Cincinnati, Monday, April 8, from 6-8 p.m. ET
Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport
1717 Airport Exchange Boulevard
Erlanger, KY 41018
Comments will be accepted until April 15. ORSANCO's next technical committee and commission meetings are June 4-6 in Richmond, Va.
