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Problems with the old Crossridge landfill in Jefferson County date back to at least 1999. It was ordered cleaned up years ago, but that has not happened. And, incredibly, there are reports some dumping continues to occur there.
Now, a New York company has proposed reopening the landfill, in exchange for a pledge to mitigate environmental concerns there.
Steubenville City Council members oppose that. So does the Jefferson County Health Department. At least one county commissioner has rejected the plan. The county Soil and Water Conservation District has expressed concern about it.
So have many Jefferson County residents. About 200 of them, most upset about the landfill proposal, attended a health department board meeting last week.
It appears that for the New York company to proceed, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will have to approve the plan. It appears no formal request for such action has been made.
When and if it comes, OEPA officials should take note of opposition from local government officials, including the health department, and a large number of Jefferson Countians. Having heard so many landfill-related promises and seen them broken for so long, it is no wonder that the public is not in a trusting mood.