New Castle residents on the east side of town will likely be pleased to learn representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency have told city officials clean up efforts at the former Firestone manufacturing site at 1125 S. 25th St. are scheduled to begin early next year.
“Some people from the EPA did come to town not too long ago and they are expected to start surface clean up at the former Firestone site in March of next year,” New Castle Mayor Greg York said. “We had a very good meeting with them, the first meeting we’ve had with them in six months, and it was very positive. They sent some people down from Chicago to take a look at it. They said they were finishing up a project in Goshen, Indiana and that as soon as they were done there they’d be starting here.”
The mayor announced in February that the EPA had agreed to take the lead on surface clean-up efforts at the former industrial site, a development he said would save the city around $500,000.
At present, the EPA’s focus appears to be on surface debris only. They are not expected to do any sub-surface work.
“After we get the surface cleaned up, we’ll have to do some more soil boring tests and then we’ll deal with that, after we get the surface cleaned up,” York said. “That’s going to be on the city and the redevelopment commission.”
The mayor said he was pleased and excited to learn the federal agency has established a timeline for removing the debris piles at the South 25th Street location, noting the area is an eyesore and a nuisance to those who live near it. He has stated in the past he would like to see it cleaned up so it can be marketed to businesses with an interest in locating in New Castle.
“It’s in a residential neighborhood and it’s dirty, so public safety is my number one concern,” York said. “If we get it cleaned up we can market it as a property for a new business to come to town. It’s got rail service and it can be another tool in our economic development efforts,” he said.
The possibility of having Firestone and/or other former tenants share in the cost of mitigating any subsurface contamination that might exist at the site is being explored. City attorney Dave Copenhaver previously said the city, through its legal counsel, has opened discussions with Firestone regarding the site.
“We are hopeful those discussions prove fruitful,” Copenhaver stated in an emailed response to The Courier-Times.
The 9.3 acres involved has been home to several businesses over the years. The site is adjacent to 30 acres already owned by the Henry County Redevelopment Commission, all of which is served by a railroad line and zoned for heavy industrial use.
Meanwhile, New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Corey Murphy reports several sites are being tested for possible contamination as part of a brownfields assessment made possible by a $500,000 grant from the EPA.
Those sites being assessed are 1700, 1810 and 2200 Troy Ave. as well as 1111, 2020 and 2023 Broad St.
Questions about this process may be directed to Murphy at 765-521-7402.
