Owners unveil plan to keep Chillicothe toxic plume underground

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The owners of a former manufacturing site in Chillicothe have released a plan on how they will deal with a plume of toxins leaked into the ground decades ago.

NBC4 Investigates first showed you how EPA documents outline a toxic plume, a result of historical manufacturing, underneath the former WearEver site.

That’s near the Pixelle Paper Mill, which has played a critical role in physically holding back the chemicals from the WearEver site. The toxins leaked from the former WearEver plant have been held in place by multiple wells on the paper mill property, which reduces the groundwater level so it does not hit the contamination.

Now, the WearEver site owners have submitted a plan on how they will address the potential spread of chemicals after the mill closes.

There is quarterly monitoring at the WearEver site and the site owners will be installing two wells that the Ohio EPA proposed. These will be two additional wells to monitor the toxins in the groundwater.

The document also said the company will collaborate with the Ohio EPA to determine the potential human health and environmental risks, identify alternative responses if there is an unacceptable risk, and work with landowners who may potentially be impacted by the chemical spread.

When asked, the Ohio EPA said it was preparing a statement about the site plan.

The full remediation plan can be read below.