Erie County Property Receives Covenant Not to Sue Under Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (RealEstateRama) — Ford Motor Company has received a covenant not to sue under Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program (VAP) after investigating and remediating the former ACH Sandusky Plant property.

The property at 3020 Tiffin Ave., Margaretta Township (Erie County), consists of about 356 acres previously used as a manufacturing facility for metal and plastic automobile parts. Beginning in 1994, the facility ceased manufacturing metal parts and continues to make plastic parts.

Following standards developed by Ohio EPA, Ford hired a certified professional to assess the property and address areas of environmental concern. Thirty-two areas were investigated. The chemicals of concern identified include volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, PCBs and total petroleum hydrocarbons.

Contaminated ground water is being controlled using pump and treat methods. Vapor intrusion concerns are being addressed by restricting the use of certain parts of buildings. Contaminated soil and sediment was removed and properly disposed.

A covenant not to sue protects the property owner or operator and future owners from being legally responsible to the State of Ohio for further environmental investigation and remediation relating to known releases. The protection applies only when the property is used and maintained according to the terms and conditions of the covenant.

In the 19 years since Ohio EPA issued the first covenant not to sue under the VAP program, more than 8,800 acres of blighted land have been revitalized at nearly 450 sites across the state.

-30-

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.

PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER, (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Lauer
CITIZEN CONTACT: Darla Peelle