SENECA COUNTY, Ohio — Sunny Farms has violated its allowed sulfur dioxide output by more than twice the permitted amount.
The landfill reports the facility's sulfur dioxide emissions for 12-month rolling periods each month. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the company reported their output to be of 1,023.33 tons in June, way beyond the 479 tons per year limit.
The violations, along with other previous ones, have been referred to the Ohio Attorney General, the EPA said.
In a statement to WTOL, Sunny Farms senior vice president Matt Neely said, "Sunny Farms has completed extensive and sophisticated chemical, operational, meteorological and air dispersion analysis and modeling of sulfur dioxide emissions from the landfill. The modeling methodology used is widely recognized as state-of-the-art by the scientific and environmental regulatory communities and is approved by both the US EPA and Ohio EPA. Based on this analysis, Sunny Farms meets US EPA's most stringent sulfur dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standard, under present and prospective operating scenarios. Compliance with the air quality standard is highly protective of the most sensitive individuals.
"In the meantime, it’s important to note that Sunny Farms continues to make substantial investments in new technology and processes, which have essentially eliminated any odor action level exceedances over the past two and a half months. Further, recent independent testing of soil and water confirmed that surface water quality meets or exceeds local, state and federal drinking water standards. Sunny Farms will continue to operate in a manner that protects residents and the environment."
Earlier this year, 11 Investigates reported that Seneca County residents as far away as 10 miles from Sunny Farms Landfill complained they are sometimes awakened in the night by the odor coming from the dumping ground.
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Sunny Farms is set to argue their license renewal before the Seneca County General Health District later this month.