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Money released for cleanup at steel mill
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A state lawmaker panel released nearly $300,000 Monday for cleanup activities at a former Republic Steel property in Trumbull County.
The $292,628 OK’d by the Controlling Board will go toward the second phase of a state-backed environmental assessment of the 26-acre site, located at 1818 N. Main Street in Niles.
According to documents, the property was used for steel manufacturing from 1908-76, primarily by Republic. It is owned by the BR Property Group and is being used by its affiliate, BRT Extrusions Inc.
The latter employs 125 people and has “invested over $5 million in new presses, paint lines and thermal fill lines” at the site, according to documents. It has outlined plans for a third expansion that would create an additional 20 positions and a $2 million investment in new equipment.
The funding released by the controlling board will be used to pinpoint potential cleanup needs at the site. The funds will be used for soil borings, monitoring wells, an asbestos survey and other environmental assessments, according to documents.