On May 5, 2004 , the Cincinnati City Council enacted the Cincinnati Clean Air Act. This ordinance promotes public health and the comfortable enjoyment of life, property and recreation by Cincinnati ‘s residents, workers, and visitors. The ordinance was enacted as part of Title X of our city legal code. Under Title X, air pollution like dust, heavy smoke, or foul-smelling fumes which jeopardizes your health or quality of life is now prohibited as a public nuisance . Suspected pollution sources must be investigated and they may be fined and required to improve their operations.
HOW TITLE X WORKS
Local citizens serve as the eyes, ears, and nose for the City of Cincinnati . When a citizen registers an air pollution complaint, the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services investigates and reports their findings to the City of Cincinnati.
A complaint must be documented by an investigator for an official inquiry to move forward. To document a complaint, an investigator would visit you to confirm the pollution and to record your observations in detail. It is always best to contact the Hotline as soon as you detect nuisance pollution. Calling each and every time you detect the nuisance will enable investigators to document the severity and persistence of the pollution and to better enforce the Cincinnati Clean Air Act.
If you would like a record of the follow-up to your complaint, ask the investigator to send you a copy of the completed Complaint Investigation Report.
To contact the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services
Air Quality 24 Hour Hotline call: 1-513-946-7777 or 1-800-889-0474
Please don’t risk your health. Move away from any pollution which produces symptoms such as nausea, eye or nose irritation, headache, or shortness of breath.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office reviews all complaint investigations to determine if there is sufficient evidence to take action – by sending a warning letter, issuing a citation, or fining a suspected public nuisance.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO
ODOR LOG
An odor log is used to record the specifics about an air pollution problem and can serve as evidence that a nuisance exists. All you need to do is write a description of the pollution, time of day, and duration of the problem whenever it occurs.
DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE
Documented evidence of property damage is very useful when talking to officials, your neighbors, community groups, news media, or elected officials about your neighborhood nuisance. Photos or videos of heavy smoke billowing from a smokestack or dense dust clouds or sweepings of dust blanketing your property also provide good evidence for county investigators and city prosecutors.
TESTING YOUR AIR
Air samples may be useful in enforcement and may provide information for you about the type of pollutants you are detecting. Please click here for additional information if you are interested in testing your air.
FILE REVIEW
Residents may review county files about a facility by making an appointment with the Hamilton County Dept. of Environmental Services. The file may include air permits, other complaints about the facility, correspondence between the facility and the agency, and records of violations. A file review can provide good insight into the history of a facility, their compliance with the law, the vigor with which authorities are pursuing ongoing problems, and whether or not the facility has a cooperative attitude.
SPREADING THE WORD
Community Council meetings may be a good place to inform others. You could also encourage your neighbors to call with their complaints and to keep an odor log. Your neighbors may share your concerns and be willing to help you make positive changes for your neighborhood and your community.