Ohio EPA: Niles property meets standards

NILES -- The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that 12 acres where Phillips Manufacturing operates a plant meets environmental standards.
Jim Leach, an Ohio EPA spokesman, said the Walnut Street property is owned by New NGC Inc. of Charlotte, N.C.
It was once owned by National Gypsum Co., which manufactured building materials. National Gypsum leases the property to Phillips, a metal fabricating facility.
Samuel Schiffman, National Gypsum vice president and general counsel, said Wednesday that it took eight years to clean up the property so it can be used as a commercial and industrial site.
Reclamation included both the plant and land around it, Schiffman explained, noting that National Gypsum has no plans for the property.
The Ohio EPA's Voluntary Action Program gives property owners the opportunity to assess and remediate pollution.
In exchange, the agency agrees to take no further action against the property and lifts all environmental liens against it, Leach said.