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EPA, General Latex sign DOW Legacy site corrective action agreement

Release Date: 03/06/2009
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov Rafael Gonzalez, 312-886-0269, gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov

CONTACT: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov
Rafael Gonzalez, 312-886-0269, gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA027

CHICAGO (March 5, 2009) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has signed a voluntary agreement with General Latex Chemical Co. to investigate and clean up if necessary a 7-acre vacant property at 1526 Cleveland Ave., Ashland, Ohio. General Latex is a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co., and this location is one of three "legacy sites" in the region where Dow has agreed to investigate and clean up possible contamination.

In what is called a "corrective action" agreement, Dow will investigate, stabilize and clean up historic releases of hazardous waste at the rural site. Latex and polyurethane products were manufactured there from 1954 to 2001. Pollutants of concern include a family of chemicals called volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds.

The Ashland agreement requires a full environmental investigation currently underway be completed by Dec. 31. A proposed cleanup plan is due one year later. A site condition report will be submitted to EPA by May 11.

Under the legacy site program, Dow voluntarily identified three locations where hazardous waste was handled and contamination possibly occurred. The three areas were not previously on EPA's list of known regulated places.

Official documents about the General Latex site can be viewed in a file to be set up at the Ashland Public Library. EPA will give the public an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed cleanup plan when it is eventually released.

EPA regulates hazardous waste from production to final disposal under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act.