Portage County Property Owner Ordered to Pay Penalty for Open Burning
January 24, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Ohio EPA has ordered a Portage County resident to pay a $1,250 civil penalty for repeated illegal open burning. Seth Powers was ordered to pay the penalty after open burning solid waste, wood, brush and other materials on property located at New Milford Road and adjacent to the I-76 overpass in Rootstown Township. Powers has a land contract on the residential property.
In 2009, the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District (ARAQMD) documented repeated open burning on Power’s property. ARAQMD is Ohio EPA’s contractual representative for air pollution complaints in Portage County.
After the first incident, Powers was warned to stop open burning, but continued to do so on at least four other occasions. The Rootstown Fire Department was called to respond to three of the fires.
Should Powers fail to comply with the order, Ohio EPA may refer the matter to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for possible litigation and additional civil penalties.
To protect human health and the environment, Ohio law places strict limits on outdoor burning, including the locations where burning is permissible and the types of wastes that may be burned. In addition, some local communities have approved more restrictive burning ordinances.
Open burning regulations are available online through Ohio EPA and ARAQMD.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Settles, (614) 644-2160
CITIZEN CONTACT:
Kristopher Weiss, (614) 644-2160
