CLEANUP Nease Chemical

Here’s a recap of events in the mirex contamination at the former Nease Chemical Co.

1961: Nease begins operations, which included use of an uncommon chemical called mirex.

1963: Columbiana County Board of Health tells the company to eliminate air pollution. The company was also told to end water pollution that was killing fish.

1973: Plant closes after the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sought fines for pollution.

1977: Rutgers Organics of Germany acquired the property but never operated it.

1983: The site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List.

1990: A class-action lawsuit was brought against the company and was eventually settled for $18 million in 1999.

2007: The U.S. EPA begins new round of cleanup at the site. The Ohio EPA announced that chemicals in the Middle Fork of the Little Beaver Creek have degraded over time. People were allowed to eat common carp, sauger and freshwater drumfish once a month. The warning area ran from the plant to Williamsport in the southern portion of the county. All other fish in the creek could be eaten once a week.

2008: The U.S. EPA announces new effort to remove and decontaminate silt and soil.

Source: Vindicator files