Public Information Session on
General Environmental Management Hazardous Waste Violations
Monday, December 18, 2006
6:30 p.m.
City of Cleveland, Public Utilities Building
1201 Lakeside Avenue
Sponsored by Ohio EPA and Cleveland Division of Air Quality

Ohio EPA and the Cleveland Division of Air Quality have announced they will hold an “information session” to discuss hazardous waste violations at General Environmental Management. Ohio EPA cited GEM in September for eleven counts of violations of hazardous waste storage, labelling, disposal, transportation, design, and operations laws.

This is the first time that these two agencies have held a public meeting about the problems at General Environmental Management. It is an opportunity for people in Cleveland to make it clear we do not want GEM to get away with polluting the air and endangering its neighbors.

Facts about General Environmental Management (GEM):
· GEM is an industrial waste treatment facility located in Cleveland’s Flats. On April 20, 2006, GEM had a catastrophic fire and explosion which sent five people to the hospital, some with severe burns. After the fire, the City of Cleveland Fire Department filed legal action to keep GEM shut down until they met the fire codes, but the court allowed GEM to resume partial operations.

· General Environmental Management's record shows a pattern of violations of city fire safety codes and virtually every environmental law that they are supposed to follow. For a list of these violations, go to: http://www.ohiocitizen.org/campaigns/isg/gemtime.htm

· The “biotreatment” unit at GEM’s operations, which has been identified as the source of GEM’s terrible odors, has been operating with no restrictions on its air emissions ever since it went on-line approximately two years ago. GEM management has asserted that its emissions are not significant enough to require a permit, so the City of Cleveland has never required them to take air tests, despite receiving 100 odor complaints.

*Over 1500 people have written or called Mayor Frank Jackson since the explosion in April, urging him to shut GEM down.

For more background information, go to http://www.ohiocitizen.org/campaigns/gem/gem.htm

If you want more information or need transportation, please call Ohio Citizen Action at 216-861-5200 or email sbuchanan@ohiocitizen.org.