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Residents urge action after Ohio EPA findings cited; public meeting planned on possible contamination near school site
Summary
Public commenters told the Canfield school board that an Ohio EPA investigation found hazardous contaminants near a plating facility, including arsenic, barium, mercury, lead, cyanide and hexavalent chromium. Citizens announced a community meeting in early February to share information and next steps.
Residents raised contamination concerns during public comments at the Jan. 8 Canfield Local School District Board of Education meeting, citing Ohio EPA documents and an environmental firm’s reports that allege hazardous releases near a plating operation west of the district’s high school.
Brad Kincaid, who identified himself from 185 Willow Bend Drive, said the Ohio EPA's director’s findings and related orders dated Dec. 31, 2024, describe contamination that Kincaid said includes "arsenic, barium, mercury, lead, cyanide, and hexavalent chromium." He said environmental sampling indicated contamination extended across a ditch, wetlands and toward Sawmill Creek, past the high school and to the east side of Cardinal Drive. Kincaid referenced an environmental report from a cleanup contractor he named as "August Mac" and identified a report number, jy230.372.
Kincaid urged public officials to treat the findings as immediate and substantive, saying that the record shows the Ohio EPA concluded "a release of hazardous waste had occurred and still may be occurring from plating operations to facility." He told the board that a 2000 cyanide spill at the same site once prompted a hazmat response and an evacuation.
Former Canfield council member Bruce Knapp, speaking after Kincaid, thanked local residents for raising the issue and said he had contacted more than 30 agencies and organizations to gather information. Knapp said a public meeting to present information to the community was being planned for the first Monday in February; board and community members discussed using the high school auditorium for that meeting.
Superintendent Noel told the board he had been in contact with "August Mac," the environmental cleanup group Kincaid named, and had been communicating with their attorney and public relations firm to keep the district informed. Noel said the firm had been responsive to district inquiries but did not provide technical findings at the meeting.
The board did not take any formal action on the environmental concerns during the Jan. 8 meeting. Board members and staff said they would continue to monitor communications and allow community groups to organize the planned public meeting.
