Alliance native directing Ohio EPA
BY Paul Kostyu
The Canton Repository
COLUMBUS - Attorney Christopher Jones, with clients in tow, had to check in recently with security like any other visitor to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. But for most who do business with the EPA, it might seem that little has changed since Jones led the agency from 1999 to 2004 as an appointee of former Republican Gov. Bob Taft.
That could have businesses and manufacturers breathing a sigh of relief, while environmentalists hold their breath. No one at the moment has a clear idea of what direction the agency will go under its new director, Alliance native Chris Korleski.
After six weeks, there are signs.
Businesses have good reason to believe Korleski, a former attorney for Honda of America Manufacturing, understands their concerns and backs their efforts to change the agency’s regulatory and permitting process. Last year, Korleski and Honda favored parts of industry-backed Senate Bill 265, which became law in August and will change who needs EPA permits.
Environmentalists, on the other hand, might find hope in Korleski’s tenure with the Ohio attorney general’s office, where he aggressively sued polluters. Still, they’re concerned about his ties to S.B. 265, which they said will make Ohio’s air — already among the most polluted in the nation — even dirtier.
DIRECTOR’S GOAL
Korleski said his goal is to improve Ohio’s air and water quality while making the state more enticing to business. He also wants to rebuild the image of the agency in the eyes of the public.
People are generally willing to give Korleski some time.
“There’s not been a noticeable change in direction,” said Kevin Schmidt, of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “But he’s saying the right things about regulatory reform.”
“It’s too early,” said Jack Shaner of the Ohio Environmental Council. “I don’t have enough data, experience or observation to really form an opinion.”
Within the next six months or so, Shaner said, Korleski will have a hand in a number of important decisions that will indicate the agency’s direction. Those include wetlands protection, ozone and air particulate reduction, and construction debris disposal.
“We’ll see how the agency responds to the seemingly unending effort of industry to weaken and water down any and every statute,” he said. “Will this administration stall the potential chipping away of air and water protection that we saw by the previous administration and General Assembly?”
MASSIVE PROBLEMS
“The new director faces massive problems at the agency,” said Richard Sahli, an environmental attorney and former state EPA official.
“He really has to rebuild the agency’s credibility after the last two governors, in which the Ohio EPA became a national laughingstock. The agency doesn’t follow good science and is completely divorced from the public.”
Sahli, who represents citizens opposed to the expansion of Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Stark County, said “a lot of people are watching” what Korleski does.
One of those is Peter A. Precario, also an environmental attorney and former EPA official.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that there will be a change in direction to a more environmentally sound attitude,” he said.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce so far likes what it sees, according to Linda Woggon, vice president of governmental affairs.
“I don’t think we will see a change in direction,” she said, “but we will see a change in attitude.”
Woggon, who practiced environmental law, said she has heard Korleski stress Gov. Ted Strickland’s “interest in strongly protecting the environment, but to understand the economic ramifications for decisions. For the chamber, that’s good news. The regulatory process is cumbersome and difficult to get through and it’s costly for business. Our businesses clearly want to comply, but they want the process to be consistent and timely.”
SCORING POINTS
Korleski scored some points with environmentalists when, on his second day on the job, he tramped around the Countywide landfill trying to understand a yearlong odor problem residents have had to cope with. He recommended the landfill’s operating permit not be renewed unless its owners find a way to put out two underground fires and control the stench, runoff and other problems. The case is pending while state officials hold closed-door meetings with landfill officials.
Tuscarawas County Commissioner Kerry Metzger is not pleased with Korleski.
“I would hope there’s more substance to his reign as director,” he said. “It’s not just being physically there to see what’s going on. If that’s as far as he goes, then it continues the policies and procedures the EPA has operated under for so many years.”
Woggon said environmental issues can be “difficult to understand and they’re scary” for the public. She said she has been impressed by the director’s ability to communicate. “People are going to be very pleased as he proceeds,” she said.
Schmidt said Korleski’s challenge will be getting his message to his employees.
“I’ve seen where the message gets lost on the way down,” he said. “It’s difficult to change the views of staff. Previous directors had difficulty doing that.”
Precario said he has a lot of contacts within the EPA and “there’s a certain sense of optimism among the employees. There’s improvement in morale, so that’s a good sign. There’s a certain sense of getting the program back to protecting the environment.”
“It is certainly a very challenging position,” Korleski said. “It has had its share of controversy, potential disagreement and stress.”
GOING GREEN
Korleski said he is still forming his vision for the EPA, but it will fall in line with that of his boss.
“Gov. Strickland believes very much that we need to revitalize Ohio’s economy, including becoming involved in the manufacture of green products, green technology,” Korleski said. “It is safe to say this is not an anti-business administration.”
At the same time, the director said, “a good indicator of quality of life is people’s belief that their environment is healthy. They can raise their families in clean air; they can go swim in a clean river; that the landscape has been cleaned of any waste that’s been dumped some time ago.”
Korleski said he has to figure out how to harmonize the economic and environmental goals of the Strickland administration.
He credited his predecessors, Jones and Joseph P. Koncelik, with making progress in a more efficient permitting process.
“I want to focus our resources on where the most significant environmental problems are and what we need to do about them,” he said. “I want people to know that we are a valuable, well-intentioned agency, staffed with passionate employees who care very much about what they do.”
Metzger said his constituents lump Korleski with Jones and Koncelik.
“They are part of the culture of bureaucracy at the EPA,” he said. “We need somebody to break that mold.”
The Canton Repository
COLUMBUS - Attorney Christopher Jones, with clients in tow, had to check in recently with security like any other visitor to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. But for most who do business with the EPA, it might seem that little has changed since Jones led the agency from 1999 to 2004 as an appointee of former Republican Gov. Bob Taft.
That could have businesses and manufacturers breathing a sigh of relief, while environmentalists hold their breath. No one at the moment has a clear idea of what direction the agency will go under its new director, Alliance native Chris Korleski.
After six weeks, there are signs.
Businesses have good reason to believe Korleski, a former attorney for Honda of America Manufacturing, understands their concerns and backs their efforts to change the agency’s regulatory and permitting process. Last year, Korleski and Honda favored parts of industry-backed Senate Bill 265, which became law in August and will change who needs EPA permits.
Environmentalists, on the other hand, might find hope in Korleski’s tenure with the Ohio attorney general’s office, where he aggressively sued polluters. Still, they’re concerned about his ties to S.B. 265, which they said will make Ohio’s air — already among the most polluted in the nation — even dirtier.
DIRECTOR’S GOAL
Korleski said his goal is to improve Ohio’s air and water quality while making the state more enticing to business. He also wants to rebuild the image of the agency in the eyes of the public.
People are generally willing to give Korleski some time.
“There’s not been a noticeable change in direction,” said Kevin Schmidt, of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “But he’s saying the right things about regulatory reform.”
“It’s too early,” said Jack Shaner of the Ohio Environmental Council. “I don’t have enough data, experience or observation to really form an opinion.”
Within the next six months or so, Shaner said, Korleski will have a hand in a number of important decisions that will indicate the agency’s direction. Those include wetlands protection, ozone and air particulate reduction, and construction debris disposal.
“We’ll see how the agency responds to the seemingly unending effort of industry to weaken and water down any and every statute,” he said. “Will this administration stall the potential chipping away of air and water protection that we saw by the previous administration and General Assembly?”
MASSIVE PROBLEMS
“The new director faces massive problems at the agency,” said Richard Sahli, an environmental attorney and former state EPA official.
“He really has to rebuild the agency’s credibility after the last two governors, in which the Ohio EPA became a national laughingstock. The agency doesn’t follow good science and is completely divorced from the public.”
Sahli, who represents citizens opposed to the expansion of Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Stark County, said “a lot of people are watching” what Korleski does.
One of those is Peter A. Precario, also an environmental attorney and former EPA official.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that there will be a change in direction to a more environmentally sound attitude,” he said.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce so far likes what it sees, according to Linda Woggon, vice president of governmental affairs.
“I don’t think we will see a change in direction,” she said, “but we will see a change in attitude.”
Woggon, who practiced environmental law, said she has heard Korleski stress Gov. Ted Strickland’s “interest in strongly protecting the environment, but to understand the economic ramifications for decisions. For the chamber, that’s good news. The regulatory process is cumbersome and difficult to get through and it’s costly for business. Our businesses clearly want to comply, but they want the process to be consistent and timely.”
SCORING POINTS
Korleski scored some points with environmentalists when, on his second day on the job, he tramped around the Countywide landfill trying to understand a yearlong odor problem residents have had to cope with. He recommended the landfill’s operating permit not be renewed unless its owners find a way to put out two underground fires and control the stench, runoff and other problems. The case is pending while state officials hold closed-door meetings with landfill officials.
Tuscarawas County Commissioner Kerry Metzger is not pleased with Korleski.
“I would hope there’s more substance to his reign as director,” he said. “It’s not just being physically there to see what’s going on. If that’s as far as he goes, then it continues the policies and procedures the EPA has operated under for so many years.”
Woggon said environmental issues can be “difficult to understand and they’re scary” for the public. She said she has been impressed by the director’s ability to communicate. “People are going to be very pleased as he proceeds,” she said.
Schmidt said Korleski’s challenge will be getting his message to his employees.
“I’ve seen where the message gets lost on the way down,” he said. “It’s difficult to change the views of staff. Previous directors had difficulty doing that.”
Precario said he has a lot of contacts within the EPA and “there’s a certain sense of optimism among the employees. There’s improvement in morale, so that’s a good sign. There’s a certain sense of getting the program back to protecting the environment.”
“It is certainly a very challenging position,” Korleski said. “It has had its share of controversy, potential disagreement and stress.”
GOING GREEN
Korleski said he is still forming his vision for the EPA, but it will fall in line with that of his boss.
“Gov. Strickland believes very much that we need to revitalize Ohio’s economy, including becoming involved in the manufacture of green products, green technology,” Korleski said. “It is safe to say this is not an anti-business administration.”
At the same time, the director said, “a good indicator of quality of life is people’s belief that their environment is healthy. They can raise their families in clean air; they can go swim in a clean river; that the landscape has been cleaned of any waste that’s been dumped some time ago.”
Korleski said he has to figure out how to harmonize the economic and environmental goals of the Strickland administration.
He credited his predecessors, Jones and Joseph P. Koncelik, with making progress in a more efficient permitting process.
“I want to focus our resources on where the most significant environmental problems are and what we need to do about them,” he said. “I want people to know that we are a valuable, well-intentioned agency, staffed with passionate employees who care very much about what they do.”
Metzger said his constituents lump Korleski with Jones and Koncelik.
“They are part of the culture of bureaucracy at the EPA,” he said. “We need somebody to break that mold.”
