SOMETHING STINKS:

ONE YEAR OF EVENTS IN CLEVELANDWITH

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

MARCH 2006-MARCH 2007

March 1, 2006 – Ohio EPA announces signing of “interim order” with General Environmental Management after Cleveland Division of Air Quality receives over 100 complaints from residents about horrible stench and chemical emissions. The interim order requires GEM to “study” and “mask” odors. Despite the evidence that the stench and emissions come from GEM’s biotreatment unit, Cleveland Division of Air Quality does not require GEM to get a permit for the biotreatment unit or do any air emissions testing at the unit, accepting GEM’s claim that the air emissions are “de minimis” (e.g., too small to be regulated). (To this point, the only tests of GEM’s emissions available to the public were bucket and real-time air monitoring tests taken by Ohio Citizen Action, which found solvents and hydrogen sulfide in the air). Although the purpose of the biotreatment unit is to remove chemicals from wastewater before it is disposed down the sewer system, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District says it is cannot take any action to deal with emissions from the system.

April 2006 – GEM has major fire and explosion – five people are injured, parts of facility are destroyed. Over the next two months, the Cleveland Division of Fire sues GEM to keep it closed until it can come up to fire code, and over 1500 people call and write Mayor Jackson to shut GEM down.

May 2006 – Ohio Citizen Action holds public meeting on GEM, invites all agencies involved in regulating GEM to participate and listen to what residents have to say – all agencies refuse to attend. Dr. Teresa Cutright, an expert in biotreatment from University of Akron, makes a presentation at the meeting. GEM owner Eric Lofquist invites Dr. Cutright to visit his facility.

July 2006 - The Housing Court allows GEM to reopen, requiring permission for “hot work.”Air complaints resume as GEM apparently starts biotreatment unit up again, complaints resume. From July 2006 – March 2007, among frequent complainants are Matthew Carroll, Director of Cleveland Department of Health, Richard Nemeth, CDAQ Commissioner, and various CDAQ staff

August 2006 – Ohio EPA sends a letter to GEM citing 11 hazardous waste violations.

September 8, 2006: When CDAQ investigates a complaint, GEM states that hydrogen peroxide has been added to theICB stack units for 1.5 weeks prior to the complaint, and says hydrogen peroxide was "eating away the hoses and nozzles."

September 18, 2006 - Dr. Cutright visits GEM, and investigates operations of biotreatment unit. She finds that the unit is set up inpromperly, are being operated improperly, and the bacteria is probably dead. She contacts CDAQ to let them know of her findings.

October 31, 2006 – Robin Yates, owner of the Brownstown Inn, files a verified complaint about GEM with Ohio EPA.

November 2006 – CDAQ has conference call with Dr. Cutright.

December 18, 2006 – Ohio EPA and CDAQ hold a public meeting on GEM. Gregory Orr of Ohio EPA says GEM is an “illegal hazardous waste facility,”but will be allowed to continue to operate. On the same day, GEM has another fire (see attached photos of condition of pipes at GEM.).

January 18, 2007 – US EPA enforcement specialist Erik Hardin comes to Cleveland from Chicago, does a surprise inspection of GEM, takes air tests

March 1, 2007 – during an inspection of GEM, CDAQ reports:“a sporatic (sic), vertical geyser of foam was seen shooting approximately 6 - 8 feet from a port on the top of the (biotreatment) unit. GEM’s Scott Forster tells CDAQ that this is a sign of “healthy biological activity in the microbes.”

March 6, 2007 – after seeing the CDAQ report, Ohio Citizen Action contacts Dr. Cutright about whether the above claim can be true. She replies in an email to CDAQ and Ohio Citizen Action: “the short answer is NO.That is notnormal activity for an aerobic system. More importantly, a clearly visible"sporatic geyser shooting 6-8 feet in the air" is definitely a sign thatsomething is wrong with the system. The first question that should be askedis what is causing the pressure increase where there is a serious releasefrom an inlet area??? (That is a definite cause of alarm for even juniorchemical engineering student.) Keep in mind that excessive pressure canalso kill the microbes (cause the cell wall to rupture).”

March 14, 2007 – As of today:

  • Neighbors, post office employees, and others, continue to get sick and complain about GEM
  • GEM continues to operate as an “illegal hazardous waste facility” with no fines or penalties
  • GEM continues to operate its biotreatment unit with no permit and no air tests required
  • CDAQ continues to allow GEM to police itself