TribToday 1/21/14 Letter to Editor
 

First Major Step to A Clean Mahoning River.

Dear Editor,

It seems so often we read about Corporations not doing their part when it comes to the

Environment. Well this past Summer I had the opportunity to witness just the opposite.

FIRST ENERGY CORPORATION, Where, the Mahoning River one mile below Lowellville

A few hundred yards from the Pennsylvania State Line. Basically from a Request from a

newly formed, ever growing group, Mahoning River Paddlers, and without hesitation, First

Energy removed 12 concrete piers that spanned across the river that had served as a

Rail line / Low head dam, since then logs and debris were constantly piling up against the piers

creating a death trap for approaching paddlers. First Energy realizing their responsibility to

safety and the environment, and as river traffic continues to increase, and with Lowellville

working aggressively to remove the Dam located in the Village this summer, First Energy

Removed all twelve piers, thirty plus semi trailer loads of logs and debris, and restored

severely eroding river banks, costing millions of dollars. Today, when you paddle that

section of the river you experience a park like setting. To reference this first hand, Go

to You tube, type Mahoning River, a six minute video has been created, showing Before,

During, and Completed footage, and you can see how First Energy had taken the first

Major step to clean the lower mahoning river for future generations to experience and

Enjoy.

Mahoning River Paddlers

Chuck Miller

Boardman Ohio