Industry and Pollution-Abatement
in the Ohio River Valley
Edward J. Cleary
Executive Director and Chief Engineer
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Cincinnati, Ohio
Some people are saying that the pollution-abatement program in the
Ohio River Basin is destined to call a halt to further industrial expan¬
sion. This statement is a startling one, but that is exactly what was
said a few weeks ago by a delegation of industrial-promotion men who
called upon the Commission.
It seemed, therefore, that it might be useful to relate what tran¬
spired at that meeting. In so doing it is hoped that questions that may
arise regarding the objectives and operations of the Ohio River Valley
Water Sanitation Commission may be clarified.
Shortly after the Commission had been organized, a major chemical
concern, called Company "X" sought a permit from one of the states
in the valley to dispose of wastes from a proposed new plant. In its
application the company furnished an analysis indicating that these
wastes would be large in volume and would contribute a substantial
amount of hardness to the water of the Ohio River; furthermore no
method of disposal other than controlled dilution was offered.
Obviously, here was a potential pollution situation of concern to
more than one state. The Commission placed the matter before the
chief sanitary engineers of the states affected. This led to a study,
following which unanimous agreement was reached that a permit for
this operation should be denied.
Backed with such support, the health authorities in the state wherein
the "X" Company sought to locate, refused to sanction operation of
the plant without adequate provisions for waste disposal. As a conse¬
quence, the company decided it would not go ahead with its building
program.
Many people had worked hard to attract this industry to consider
their particular state. You can be sure that they had a lot of questions
to ask when the project was stymied because of pollution-abatement
requirements.  Thus it was that the state director of commerce and top
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