By Wayne Allen

Wallen@

communitycommon.com

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) in a released statement to the Common, stated that the city of Portsmouth is still not in compliance with its wastewater treatment plant. The OEPA did state that the city is in compliance with its water treatment plant.

OPEA has had ongoing dialog with the city and is working to resolve the operator issue.

In January officials with the OEPA came to Portsmouth to meet with city officials to help address the issue of a Class 4 Operator. At the meeting the city was advised it could be facing $10,000-a-day in fines, until the issue is resolved.

"Ohio EPA recognizes that the city is making an honest effort to resolve this issue by advertising for its Class 4 Operator position and soliciting resumes/applications," Erin Strouse, Media Relations Coordinator/Environmental Public Information Officer, Ohio EPA Public Interest Center stated in a released statement.

An inspection of the cities wastewater plant was preformed on February 17 and the OEPA stated that Mike Yandrich with the OEPA did not note any major violations. The final report on the inspection is due in the coming weeks that will note his findings.

"We're still advertising and trying to find someone interested in the position. We have several people taking their tests in May. One is a class three operator, he may be able to sit for his class four," Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray said. "Yes we are still out of compliance, everything continues to be operated as it has been."