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EPA picks cleanup plan for two creeks near Nease Superfund site

Release Date: 10/01/2008
Contact Information: Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov Susan Pastor, 312-353-1325, pastor.susan@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA150

(Chicago, Ill. - Sept. 30, 2008) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has selected a plan to clean up mirex-contaminated soil and sediment in two creeks near the Nease Chemical Superfund site in Columbiana County, Ohio.

EPA evaluated three cleanup options and held a public comment period this past summer. The $3.8 million option selected includes:

• Removal of the most contaminated sediment in the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek.
• Removal of Feeder Creek sediment.
• Removal of the most contaminated floodplain surface soil.
• Disposal of contaminated soil and sediment at the former Nease facility, where it will be covered with clean soil.

EPA considers this plan protective of human health and the environment. It will provide long-term effectiveness and is cost-effective.

The Nease Chemical Co. operated from 1961 to 1973, producing household cleaning products, fire retardants and pesticides-some using an uncommon chemical called mirex. Unlined ponds were used to treat chemical waste, which seeped into the area's soil and ground water. The Superfund site consists of 44 acres along state Route 14, 2.5 miles northwest of Salem on the Columbiana-Mahoning county line. Rutgers Organics, based in Germany, acquired the property in 1977, but never operated there. The site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983.

Next steps include negotiation of a consent decree with Rutgers to perform the engineering design work in the cleanup plan, and additional sampling by Rutgers to further refine the areas to be addressed. On-site cleanup construction work is expected to begin in 2011 or 2012.

Separate from the work outlined in the two creeks cleanup plan, EPA approved a cleanup plan in 2005 to address the portion of the site known as Operable Unit 2. Ground water and mirex-contaminated soil cleanup work for this portion of the site is under way and is expected to continue through 2011.

Background information is posted at https://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/nease. Information repositories are also maintained at the Salem Public Library and the Lepper Library, 303 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon.