Strickland's reversal on fee is welcome
The Canton Repository
COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland has seen the wisdom of imposing a small fee on certain landfills. His second thoughts are appreciated.
The fee of 10 cents per ton was to be charged to landfills that accept construction and demolition debris. The money was to be used to monitor groundwater at the landfills. The Legislature approved the fee two years ago, and it was to take effect July 1. Then it ran into the new governor's no-new-taxes-or-fees policy.
Strickland left the fee out of the new budget, despite its also having the support of his EPA director, and despite its acceptance by the landfills. Now that the budget has taken effect, Strickland said his goal has been accomplished.
EPA Director Chris Korleski had said earlier this year that he would lobby the governor to change his mind. State Rep. John Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, author of the state's C&D landfill regulations, recently wrote Strickland yet another letter asking the same. Whether either of these contacts did the trick, we don't know. What's important is that the fee has taken a big step forward.
The next step is the public-comment phase. It would be surprising if the public didn't want the water supply in these landfills tested. This fee will be money well-spent for the benefit of the public. Gov. Strickland was right to change his mind.
COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland has seen the wisdom of imposing a small fee on certain landfills. His second thoughts are appreciated.
The fee of 10 cents per ton was to be charged to landfills that accept construction and demolition debris. The money was to be used to monitor groundwater at the landfills. The Legislature approved the fee two years ago, and it was to take effect July 1. Then it ran into the new governor's no-new-taxes-or-fees policy.
Strickland left the fee out of the new budget, despite its also having the support of his EPA director, and despite its acceptance by the landfills. Now that the budget has taken effect, Strickland said his goal has been accomplished.
EPA Director Chris Korleski had said earlier this year that he would lobby the governor to change his mind. State Rep. John Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, author of the state's C&D landfill regulations, recently wrote Strickland yet another letter asking the same. Whether either of these contacts did the trick, we don't know. What's important is that the fee has taken a big step forward.
The next step is the public-comment phase. It would be surprising if the public didn't want the water supply in these landfills tested. This fee will be money well-spent for the benefit of the public. Gov. Strickland was right to change his mind.
