Locally, the volume of air pollution grew in Stark and Medina counties and declined in Summit, Portage, Wayne and Cuyahoga counties. Totals are based on legally permitted handling of toxic chemicals under federal and state permits. That includes toxic wastes shipped to landfills, recycled, incinerated and injected into rock formations below ground, as well as releases to air, water and sewage plants. The report includes how much of each chemical was released and where it went, without indicating the rate or concentration. Because so many variables are involved, it is impossible to tell whether health or environmental problems are being created, officials say.
Air pollution gets the most attention because of the potential impacts on neighboring states.
Ohio ranked No. 1 in the country for air pollution in 1998, when utilities were added for the first time to the federal list. Where Ohio ranks nationally in 1999 won't be known until the U.S. EPA announces its final findings. In 1999, Ohio's power plants cut air emissions by more than 12 million pounds from 1998. The biggest reduction occurred at FirstEnergy's Sammis plant on the Ohio River in Jefferson County. It reduced its emissions by 4.2 million pounds, mostly due to improved collection data, DiNicola said.