Strouse was responding to a request by Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray that Ohio EPA inspect the wastewater facilities at Southern Ohio Medical Center.
“We are aware of the problem and we are looking to assist the city,” Strouse said. “I think we are early on in that process, and continuing our conversations with the mayor and other involved parties. There’s not really much that I can say at this time. But I can assure you that the process is under way.”
Tuesday afternoon, after a meeting with SOMC officials, Murray expressed her displeasure with the answers she received, and sent an e-mail to Ohio EPA requesting that EPA do a joint inspection of the hospital and their wastes.
“Of course, like with any entity, a business or a local government, we work toward compliance, so we work with the ability to correct any violations,” Strouse said. “If solid waste interferes with the sewer system, there is specific language written out in the Ohio Revised Code. So certainly we would enforce the rules.”
Randy Arnett, president and CEO of SOMC, said Tuesday morning at a meeting that the hospital has plans to install two grinders to handle any waste material that comes out of the facility.
Leann L. Sammons, vice president of Health and Safety at SOMC, said the hospital received a letter from Murray in June (2010) that alleged that SOMC had been improperly disposing of waste that was clogging the city’s sewer lines along Shawnee Road.
Sammons said there had been other discussions about the accusation, and that it had been put out to the public. But, she said the June letter was the first correspondence the hospital had received from Murray.
Sammons added, “We have not been presented with any convincing evidence at this point that there is any improper waste disposal that is coming from the hospital.”
In the e-mail, Murray requested inspections by “the Divisions of Surface Water, Hazardous Wastes, and Solid and Infectious Wastes (and any others you feel appropriate).”
Strouse was unable to discuss when or if any inspections might take place, but said the Ohio EPA is monitoring the situation.
“Conversations with the mayor’s office do continue,” Strouse said. “And there has been additional correspondence. More information will be available next week.”
FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232 or flewis@heartlandpublications.com
I believe Jane Murray promised to fight these types of things and I believe she was voted in to do just this.
Don't the people of Portsmouth want anybody to fight for them or are they so trusting that they think business people who are in business to make a profit will actually look out for their well being.
WAKE UP STOP LAYING IN YOUR FILTH AND CLEAN UP YOUR CITY
If you think about it it does not make sense that SOMC would put anything in the sewer system. Almost all of us have been there and you always see the maintenance / custodial workers cleaning and they have trash bins for all the waste. So why would waste end up in the sewers. Are Jane’s buddies putting it there?
2, The Grinder their hole card? Was the grinder approved in their permit, installations of just anything could make things worst on the treatment of the sewage, etc.
3, There was an April Contact by Engineer Peck Chased away by the city council.
4, It's not an accusation, this is not the court of public opinion, it's a regulatory agency that your arrogance should not now shine on like Reisner, and Walton, Sr. and the rest of "da bouys" do.
5, Does not the SOMC know their effluent and can explain it on the spot they have to investigate it, what kind of management is there there?
6, They are stoning walling it thinking it will go away like in decades passed. Now they will have to bully the Ohio EPA?
She needs to read "How to make Friends and Influence People".