ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Pleasant Valley Iron and Metal, a local scrap yard in Ross County, has received a notice of violation from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following an inspection that uncovered multiple environmental infractions.
The inspection, conducted on July 3, 2024, at the recycling facility located at 11185 County Road 550, revealed significant compliance failures, according to the Ohio EPA. Among the violations cited was the facility’s failure to monitor waste discharge, a critical oversight that has been the subject of concern among local residents. Over the years, several complaints have been filed by residents alleging that chemicals from the facility have been leaking into Biers Run, a nearby waterway.
Additionally, the Ohio EPA accused the business of neglecting to provide required quarterly visual inspections, a claim the business disputes. While Pleasant Valley Iron and Metal asserts that it has conducted these inspections, the Ohio EPA maintains that no records or evidence have been submitted to support these claims.
In its notice, the Ohio EPA also highlighted the facility’s failure to “implement good housekeeping or develop sufficient control measures/Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent or minimize the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff.” This lack of proper environmental management raises concerns about the potential impact on local ecosystems and water quality.
This latest notice of violation is not the first time Pleasant Valley Iron and Metal has faced scrutiny from the Ohio EPA. Since 2018, the business has received several additional violations for similar issues related to pollutant discharges from the facility.
The scrap yard now has 30 days to address the issues outlined in the notice. Failure to comply could result in further enforcement actions by the Ohio EPA.