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Mahoning River cleanup starting at wrong end

DEAR EDITOR:

Thank you for the follow-up article on the Mahoning River. I appreciate the work Ashley Newman did on this complicated subject. I still have concerns / reservations.

Lingering questions:

1. What is the sense of beginning the project in Lowellville? That is the last dam on the Mahoning River in Ohio. Clean up should begin up-stream so as not to risk re-contamination of the Lowellville site when the other projects are done.

2. Who has over-arching authority / responsibility to act on this project in the Mahoning Valley? We need a regional authority to interface with all entities (municipalities, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and local groups) regarding funds, timing and plans. I suggest Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, an entity ”responsible for a variety of federal, state and local planning projects and programs.”

Perhaps this could be JOB1 for the incoming director – due in June.

It seems absurd to me that this project has lingered for so long without the direction of an over-arching authority – and the idea of starting in Lowellville underscores the need for such.

Thanks again to Ashley and keep at it.

— Leanne Turner, Champion

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