EPA still can’t say when cleanup of Lammers Barrel Factory site in Greene County will begin
EPA representatives had no response Thursday night when they were asked when the cleanup of the contaminated Lammers Barrel Factory site in Greene County will begin.
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The meeting agenda was to gather public comment and answer questions about the proposed method of cleaning the site at East Patterson Road and Grange Hall Road, Beavercreek city officials said.
A fire at the factory in 1969 forced the closure of the facility.
According to the EPA, Chlorinated volatile organic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbon chemicals were stored on the site in above-ground storage tanks.
The EPA selected cleanup plans in 2011, but held Thursday night’s public meeting at Beavercreek City Hall to talk potential changes to those plans because the site holds both contaminated soil and groundwater.
“Now we are dealing with more soil that will need to be treated than visually anticipated, almost four times as much,” said Nabil Fayoumi, with the EPA.
Jeff Moorman, city engineer and director of public services, said, “When the contaminants get into the groundwater table, it can affect wells and other people in the surrounding areas and it’s important that people know that there’s a plan in place to help clean up the site, and to help protect the public at large.”
The proposal involves treating the soil by heating it to get rid of the contaminants.
The EPA is accepting public comment until July 15. Comments may be submitted to the EPA’s website under “Public Comment Period,” by regular mail postmarked by July 15 and directed to Adrian Palomeque, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RE-19J, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604 or by email: palomeque.adrian@epa.gov.
Robert Merritt, who said he has lived in Beavercreek for 25 years, wonders why it has taken twice that long to clean the site.
“Hopefully, they get all the contaminants up. You know, it’s been 50 years,” he told News Center 7.