Many readers know that Lima Pallet Co. has served our community and region since 1977, custom-building a wide variety of pallets, skids and wood crates. We employ 53 workers, support a number of civic activities and are proud to be counted among the ranks of responsible, local businesses.
However, we have serious concerns about a proposed new regulation by the federal government that could harm our industry and threaten our company’s ability to thrive and grow. I am referring to a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the current regulation for ground-level ozone from 75 parts-per-billion (ppb) to 65 ppb.
Ozone levels in Ohio’s 88 counties currently range from a high of 81 ppb to a low of 66 ppb. Allen County’s level stands at 73 ppb and is therefore in “attainment” with federal regulations. If the proposed new federal EPA regulation is approved, all 88 Ohio counties would tumble into “non-attainment” status. Every last one of them.
To me, this proposal goes well beyond “drastic” and all the way to “ridiculous.” If approved, the new ozone regulation would be the costliest federal regulation ever issued. A study by the National Association of Manufacturers showed it would cost Ohio $22 billion in gross state product loss from 2017 to 2040, or the equivalent of 23,000 lost jobs.
Being environmentally responsible is one of our highest priorities at Lima Pallet Co. We always strive to limit emissions, participate in recycling and we take the quality of air seriously — we live here too!
We certainly are open to any reasonable proposal that would further safeguard our environment. Unfortunately, the proposed new federal ground-level regulation is abut as unreasonable as it gets.
