I’m taking a break from the typical focus of my posts to address an article that just makes me crazy. Forbes has come out with its annual "Most Miserable City List." Last year Forbes ranked Cleveland No.1 and this year it dropped to No.10. This is how Forbes described this year’s Cleveland ranking:
Last year’s most miserable
Recently, the Toledo Blade had a story on the recent court ruling regarding the FDS Coke permit. The FDS permit has been the subject of numerous appeals which have dragged on years. The 10th Appellate Court recently issued a ruling sending the FDS permit back to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission for determination of whether construction had begun in order to maintain
Last week, Governor-Elect Kasich named the new Director’s for Ohio EPA (Scott Nally) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (David Mustine). At the press briefing, Kasich reiterated his election theme of returning business growth to Ohio. This from the Columbus Dispatch:
"These departments are going to send a message to Ohio that we are open for
Boiler MACT Rules- On December 7th, EPA filed a motion with the Court requesting more time in order to re-propose the Boiler MACT rules and allow for public comment. In EPA’s motion to the Court, EPA sets forth following timetable if its motion is granted to move impending January deadline is moved to April: it will publish
Ohio is facing a $8 billion dollar budget gap. Governor-elect Kasich has stressed the need to streamline state government as part of solving the budget crisis as well as making government more efficient.
During his campaign he already announced one very creative proposal to eliminate the Ohio Dept. of Development. Could an idea being tested in other states- combining State environmental programs-be a proposal worth considering in Ohio?
Good in Theory?
A brief overview of the current state structure suggests combining responsibilities would gain efficiencies. Similar functions and staff with similar capabilities are spread across five different state agencies.
Combining functions and potentially agencies could benefit those organizations. Greater efficiency is not only good for business, its good for agencies that are constantly fighting for funding to support their programs.
The counter argument is that combining large government agencies you run the danger of creating even a larger bureaucracy. Not only could there be even more layers of management the organization could become too large to effectively manage.
An Overview of the Current Ohio Structure
Most environmental regulatory functions are split between the Ohio EPA and the Dept. of Natural Resources. However, there are clean up, regulatory and grant programs related to the environment spread across a total of five different state agencies.
Here is just a quick look at various functions that have commonalities and are divided up between multiple agencies.
Brownfield Redevelopment and Clean Up
Federal Water Pollution Permitting Programs
Litter and Recycling
Wetlands
Ground Water Management
Surface Water and Lake Erie
Underground Storage Tanks
Diesel Emission Reduction Programs
The list of similar functions spread across multiple agencies is probably longer. In addition to similar regulatory functions, each of these agencies maintain their own Information Technology Offices, HR, Motor Pools, Facilities Management, Press Offices and Director’s Offices. Combining support offices could also gain efficiencies.
Not a Budget Fix
After modifications to its funding strategy, Ohio EPA utilizes no general revenue funds to support its programs. ODNR has substantially reduced its reliance on GRF. So combining agencies is not going to do much to fix the $8 billion dollar budget hole.
However, both agencies (as well as the other three agencies) assess multiple fees to business to support their programs. These fees have regularly been increased to support rising human resource expenses within the Agencies. Fees, while imposing costs on businesses, have traditionally not received the same political attention as GRF.
While streamlining and combining functions may not solve the $8 billion budget hole, it could avoid or reduce the need to raise fees on businesses.
For a discussion of what has occurred in other states…continue reading.Continue Reading Ohio EPA + ODNR?
On October 6th, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published the final revisions to the 1988 "Green Guides" which provide guidance to companies when making environmental claims regarding their products. The FTC is seeking public comments on the proposed changes until December 10, 2010, after which it will decide which changes to make final.
The FTC can
In my tenure at Ohio EPA, no issue was as vexing as Environmental Justice (EJ). In a nutshell, there is a legitimate issue behind the concept of EJ- low income and minorities are exposed to more pollution. Here is how EPA presents the EJ issues:
Fair Treatment means that no group of people should bear a
Ohio does not have regulations governing the disposal or recycling of consumer electronic waste. State legislation has been adopted by at least nineteen other states to encourage the recycling of e-waste and divert computers and other electronic equipment from landfills.
Why manage e-waste differently? E-waste components can contain hazardous or toxic compounds that make it
A few weeks back I was contacted by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) to meet with a small delegation of representatives from Serbia who were interested in learning about environmental regulations, specifically those that relate to solid waste and/or recycling. While I was to be interviewed by the delegation members, I think I
The Obama Administration proposal for funding the Great Lakes, known as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), has cleared a key House-Senate conference committee. The legislation would provide $475 million for a comprehensive Great Lakes restoration and protection initiative. The funding would be targeted toward the most critical environmental concerns facing the Great Lakes, including invasive species