This is kind of a test for them to see: Is the new odor-control equipment going to work, how are things going to go? This is by no means a green light for them to go back into full operation.

We do have their plan. It was submitted here this afternoon. We'll be taking a look at it today, and going over it tomorrow with company officials and the attorney general's office.

The department is taking a cautious approach on this. At the end of this time period (March 6), we will evaluate the performance of RES and see if it is able to move up to the next step. If problems develop, we will rescind the authorization.

The department is taking a cautious approach on this.

Ombudsmen must possess skills of communicating with different entities and providing that information back to the department. Elected officials often possess many of these communication skills and a broad knowledge of the regions they are responsible for serving.

But the ball is in their court. They've got to prove to us that they can do this without impacting the community the way they have in the past.