The huge stockpile of tobacco at the Biomass facility in South Point continues to concern local officials, who worry about pollution from the mounds and mounds of plant material.

Lawrence County Commissioners discussed asking state and federal officials to prohibit any more shipments of tobacco to the Biomass site until something is done with what's already there.

OhioEPA representative Clint Shuff told commissioners that Biomass does not have a permit to burn the tobacco, only one to burn wood waste, which is also piling up at the facility, located near The Point industrial park.

Shuff said he has contacted officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the shipment of tobacco has been stopped.

Commission President George Patterson wondered how the county could deal with the 225 million pounds of tobacco already at the site. If the facility does not have a permit to burn it, what will happen to it?

"Let's prohibit any more anything from coming in there until this

matter is resolved," Patterson said. "It stands to reason if you've got that kind of material laying around its not going to be environmentally

safe."

"This concerns me," Commissioner Jason Stephens agreed. "Its tobacco this time, but what's it going to be the next time?"

Shuff said Biomass will be the subject of a meeting next Tuesday, March 25 at the EPA office in Columbus, Shuff. said the meeting had actually been scheduled several times and canceled. He said he was not aware what the reasons were for the multiple cancellations.

Lawrence County Economic Development Executive Director Pat Clonch and The Point Industrial Park Manager Roger Haley, as well as South Point Mayor Bill Gaskin also attended the Tuesday special session of the commission meeting. They also expressed concern about the Biomass situation.

Also yesterday, Federal Emergency Management Agency Community relations Director Bill Vowles told commissioner

that FEMA now has a 1-800 number for individuals to call and get information about assistance with ice storm losses.

"Our main message is to anyone with uninsured losses. There is grant money available," Vowles said.

This would include people who lost food stored in freezers

because they had no electricity, and people who had to be housed elsewhere because their homes had no heat. The number to call is 1-800-621-3362.