EPA orders 5-year review of Nease superfund site, 2 years early

Men removing dirt from Nease Chemical Plant back in 1990's (WFMJ)

SALEM, Oh. - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will be conducting another five-year review on the Nease Chemical Manufacturing Plant — a federal superfund site located in Salem. The 44-acre site operated between 1961 and 1973 producing chemicals including Mirex, a "reasonably anticipated" carcinogen according to the National Institutes of Health. 

The chemical plant's operations contaminated soil and groundwater with Mirex, along with various other chemicals, according to the EPA. Surface water runoff was also found to have carried significant contamination into the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek.

A five-year review of the site was ordered in August of 2022 as well. It is unclear at this time what triggered the new review of the site, especially before the 2022 order had been completed.

Some reasons the EPA may order a new five-year review before an old one has expired can include changes to site conditions, the discovery of additional contaminants or local policy changes.