Post by Logan on Jan 25, 2016 15:19:30 GMT -6
CLEVELAND: Ohio is sending pallets of bottled water and testing kits to several communities after environmental officials said the operator of a small water system failed to notify the public for months that unsafe levels of lead had been found in some homes.
The state Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order Monday forbidding James Bates from working at the Sebring village water treatment plant and informing him that the agency intends to revoke his operating license for endangering the public and for submitting “misleading, inaccurate or false reports.” Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler said he asked the U.S. EPA to open a criminal investigation of what occurred in Sebring, a village about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland.
The Youngstown Vindicator reported Monday that Bates has been placed on administrative leave. Bates declined to comment when reached at home.
Butler said his agency was “too patient” in pushing for public notification about potential lead hazards after testing found high levels at a handful of older homes starting in June.
Continued at www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-agency-seeks-criminal-probe-into-water-plant-problems-1.657147 .
The state Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order Monday forbidding James Bates from working at the Sebring village water treatment plant and informing him that the agency intends to revoke his operating license for endangering the public and for submitting “misleading, inaccurate or false reports.” Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler said he asked the U.S. EPA to open a criminal investigation of what occurred in Sebring, a village about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland.
The Youngstown Vindicator reported Monday that Bates has been placed on administrative leave. Bates declined to comment when reached at home.
Butler said his agency was “too patient” in pushing for public notification about potential lead hazards after testing found high levels at a handful of older homes starting in June.
Continued at www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-agency-seeks-criminal-probe-into-water-plant-problems-1.657147 .