WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The Ohio EPA will conduct air testing this week at a coal ash landfill in Clermont County following resident complaints of a strong rotten egg-like sulfur odor.
Neighbors have reported the stench causing migraines, body aches, breathing difficulties and nausea. Some residents say they have left their homes for days at a time to escape the symptoms.
Texas-based Vistra Corp. owns the landfill at the site of the retired William H. Zimmer Power Station. The company has said it is working with the Ohio EPA to monitor the air and address potential health concerns. Officials identified the source as leachate from a sedimentation pond in an older section of the landfill.
The landfill, spanning about 1,453 acres, continues to accept waste, including from other power plants. Residents have complained about the odor since at least 2017, with issues intensifying recently.
The Ohio EPA said it will work with the company on measures to reduce odors from the pond and conduct monitoring to better identify the source. The agency noted the pond falls under surface water permitting, which does not include specific odor-control requirements.
Local officials, including township trustees and county commissioners, have raised concerns and pushed for testing. Some residents have also contacted environmental advocacy groups regarding potential water quality issues in nearby creeks.
