Ohio EPA announced as hazardous waste permitting authority in the state

U.S. EPA gives Ohio EPA full authority to eliminate redundancy in the permitting process.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Local, state, and federal government figures visited AMG Vanadium in Zanesville for a major announcement.

The U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel announced that the Ohio EPA is the hazardous waste permitting authority for the state. AMG Vanadium President Tom Centa explains what that means for his company, which converts vanadium-bearing waste materials into specialty metals.

“So our day-to-day operations it doesn’t have an impact, in that we are very compliant with all of the permitting regulations from both the state and the U.S. EPA,” Centa said. “But, the symbolism today is that it makes it a little easier. It removes some of the duplicative efforts that are required of doing the same thing for both the United Sates EPA and for the Ohio EPA. Now it’s all-in-one. ”

U.S. Congressman Troy Balderson was excited for the announcement to be made at a business in his district. After the announcement, he spoke about the importance of collaboration between businesses and the various levels of government.

“Anyone at AMG on both sides, even from me, I can pick up the telephone and call their leadership team at any time if I have a question. They can do the same with me,” Balderson said. “I’ve been working with the Regional U.S. EPA director, Anne Vogel since about, I don’t know, almost 15 years now, and we have that same availability to pick up the telephone and call each other. Communications the key in building these relationships is what’s helpful and it’s helpful for the people that are employed here. But, it’s also helpful for everyone that is involved in the process of what we go through.”

Other notable attendees included Zanesville Mayor Don Mason, Ohio EPA Director John Logue, and representatives of the Ohio Environmental Services Industry and Ohio Manufacturers Association.