With appreciation from the Polk Community For a Healthy Environment, I sent EPA Public Involvement Coordinator, Region 5 Darla Peelle a thank you note for her part in pushing our community needs forward when we were desperately searching for answers in dealing with the recent proposed compost facility. A copy was sent to Tyler and Mike as well for their part in investigating the ownership of this business and the wetlands that we were protecting. This was the response from Ms Darla Peelle, EPA; Thank you for your kind words and appreciation for the work we do – and that we listen. There are many occasions when we cannot provide the results an individual or a community requests, but we always try to determine whether there’s a way to come to some sort of resolution. Mike and Tyler are dedicated to the work they do to protect Ohio’s environment and those of us who live together in it. I also do want to let you know that several staff members, including me, recently participated in an online overview of new software to be used to determine whether a community can be designated an environmental justice area. If things go as planned, this software will be available to state agencies in November. In the meantime, I contacted the U.S. EPA Region 5 staff member who conducted the training and asked that he look at the data as it pertains Polk, Ashland County, the state and the United States. The data includes a wide spectrum of criteria, few of which I can recall off the top of my head. However, in order to be classified as an environmental justice community, the numbers must be greater than or equal to 80%. Polk is in line with the rest of Richland County, Ohio and the nation with an overall score in the mid-50th percentile. I don’t have the exact numbers because this work was being conducted while Region 5 and I were on the phone. I understand that this is moot now, but I wanted to let you know that I followed up to ensure that we weren’t overlooking a possible EJ community. With this said, I want to make note of a small community that felt hopeless, and with the efforts of all that made calls, knocked on doors and put their hearts into making sure Polk community stayed a healthy and happy place to be. Thank you for all your dedication to your community, now get out there an vote to pass this levy, this will protect your water supply in a big way. Thanks.....Elaine
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:48:43 +0000
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