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EPA removes 1,324 leaking drums
Concerned that paint, solvents could seep into drinking water
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
By Tiffany Y. Latta
Staff Writer
Extras
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has discovered thousands of drums leaking paint and solvents near the Kings Mills Army Reserve where contaminated soil and groundwater was found 20 years ago.
Concerned that the contamination at 6451 Striker Road in Maineville could be seeping toward the nearby Little Miami River or Deerfield Twp.-Hamilton Twp. well field — a primary drinking water source for Warren County — the Ohio EPA requested federal assistance in April.
Federal EPA officials have found and removed 1,324 paint drums – some buried 20 feet deep – containing elevated levels of metals and solvents, including tichloroethylene, a colorless liquid used as a solvent to clean metal parts since the cleanup began in November, said Steven Renninger, the U.S. EPA onsite manager.
"The hope is to remove the waste before it impacts the well field," Renninger said. "We're not calling it an emergency at this point, we're calling it a time-critical removal action, which means it needs to be done as soon as possible."
The cleanup, which has cost $500,000 so far, will be paid for with funds from the EPA's federal Superfund program, unless authorities determine who buried the drums.
Scott Glum, an Ohio EPA environmental specialist, said numerous companies operated there since 1959, including the former Diversified Products sheet metal.
The company was cited and later sued by the state EPA for disposing of paint and solvents there in 1985, but filed bankruptcy in 1997.
Michael Reis of Thames River, Ltd. purchased the land six years ago because he thought it was a great place to picnic with his family. He had no idea the property was full of toxic waste.
"I was just as surprised as everybody else," Reis said when asked about the EPA's findings.
Reis isn't sure what will happen with property after EPA officials finished with the cleanup.
Warren County Administrator Dave Gully said the EPA helped the county avoid what would have been a major disaster.
"Our primary concern is the health and safety of Warren County residents," Gully said. "A lot of people use the bike trail and we want them to be able to enjoy that without being in danger."
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or tlatta@coxohio.com.
