EPA Begins $7 Million Cleanup At Little Scioto River Site

6/26/2002

From: Mick Hans of EPA Region 5, 312-353-5050, or Pam Hall of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, 740-382-2181

CHICAGO, June 26 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has begun a projected three-year, $7 milion to $10 million cleanup of polluted sediment in the Little Scioto River in Marion, Ohio. The sediment was contaminated by the Baker Wood Preserving Co., a wood treatment plant that operated from the 1890s to 1960s. A separate EPA cleanup has been under way at the Baker Wood property, a few blocks east of the river, since 1998.

The project, expected to be paid for by EPA using Oil Pollution Act funds, aims to remove up to 40,000 cubic yards of material (about 60,000 tons) from the 0.5-mile North Rockswale Ditch and a 3.5-mile stretch of the Little Scioto River, which flows south toward Columbus 40 miles away. EPA believes chemical waste from Baker Wood, which used creosote and other petroleum byproducts to pressure-treat wood, was discharged directly from the plant to the sewers that drain into the ditch and the river.

EPA has mobilized equipment in recent weeks and will begin clearing and excavating the ditch after the July 4 weekend. Ditch work is expected to run through August. After that, EPA will establish a series of 200- to 400-foot long "cells" in the river, which will be drained prior to sediment removal. The excavated material will be laid out to dry on a de-watering pad and then shipped to an appropriate disposal facility. The river portion of the cleanup will take about 12 months, spread over two full constructions seasons Area businesses and residents can expect to see increased truck traffic and workers in protective clothing over the course of the project.

Work at the former Baker Wood plant site has been temporarily halted while the river excavation begins. The plant property is one-half mile northwest of downtown Marion at the corner of Holland Road and Kenton Street (State Route 309). To date, 3,000 tons of contaminated soil have been excavated, treated with a mixture of water and liquid fertilizer, and staged for off-site disposal. Following further data analysis this summer, EPA will determine its next steps.

Numerous government agencies, as well as public and private organizations have been actively involved in site research and analysis, and logistical support, that led to this cleanup project. In addition to EPA, these include: Ohio EPA, City of Marion, Marion County Commissioners, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Marion County's Envisioning organization, and Marion CAN DO!, an economic development organization. Private entities involved in the Little Scioto Cleanup Fund that paid for initial site analysis include: Marion General Hospital, Ohio American Water and Verizon.

A fact sheet will be sent to area residents in the next few weeks. Official documents relative to the site are at the Marion Public Library, 445 East Church St. For information contact community involvement coordinator Susan Pastor, 800-621-8431, ext. 31325 or pastor.susan@epa.gov.

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A media briefing featuring EPA's site team, Marion Mayor Jack Kellogg and local officials will be held today at 10:30 a.m. The site command post is at 2100 Marion Agosta Road, just west of the Whirlpool facility and the municipal water treatment plant on State Route 95.