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Ohio EPA cleaning up contamination from last summer in Sawmill Creek Mahoning County

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters
The Ohio EPA and Material Sciences Coil company started a contamination clean-up in a ditch near the MetroParks Bikeway toward Sawmill Creek in Canfield.
The Ohio EPA and Material Sciences Coil company started a contamination clean-up in a ditch near the MetroParks Bikeway toward Sawmill Creek in Canfield. Ohio EPA

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Material Sciences Coil company started a contamination clean-up in a ditch near the MetroParks Bikeway toward Sawmill Creek in Canfield.



It happened during a routine cleaning at Material Sciences Coil Coating Facility at 460 W. Main St. in Canfield near the Sawmill Creek.

Sealed pipes had deteriorated, and while they were being cleaned, contaminated process fluid started flushing to a ditch next to the plant along the MetroParks Bikeway.

The Material Sciences Coil company called environmental professionals for assistance and worked with the Cardinal Joint Fire Department, as well as the Ohio EPA to collect samples from impacted water towards Sawmill Creek.

The Ohio EPA found that fluid had leaked from the facility over time. It started to accumulate in sediment and groundwater in an adjacent ditch heading downstream towards Sawmill Creek.

Since July, MSC has been coordinating with Ohio EPA regarding next steps to address the contamination.

In collaboration with the Ohio EPA, MSC has taken the following remediation measures:

  • Installing temporary dams and five sumps within the Adjacent Ditch to collect impacted stormwater into onsite storage tanks and stop any migration into the surface water feature that is located north of the site;

  • Diverting clean stormwater away from the adjacent ditch;

  • Collecting impacted water from subsurface drainage pipes into on-Site storage tanks;

  • Properly disposing of approximately 115,000 gallons of impacted water offsite as hazardous waste;

  • Installing a fence between the adjacent ditch and the bikeway, with additional fencing planned to be placed around the surface water feature west of the bike path;

  • Installing liner on approximately 1,200 feet of the adjacent ditch in accordance with the Nov. 15 2024 Ditch Interim Measure Work Plan, which was approved by the Ohio EPA.

Details of the plan can be found here.

Up next, MSC is going to do additional ecological assessments, soil sampling within Sawmill Creek, and adding a fence along Sawmill Creek.

They’ll also be in charge of lining the adjacent ditch to prevent direct contact and bypass clean storm water.

The Ohio EPA is still monitoring the clean-up effort and communication lines remain open with the City of Canfield, Canfield Local School District, Cardinal Joint Fire Department and Mahoning County Public Health to ensure the community is safe and informed.

Is it a danger to the public?

According to the Ohio EPA:

“There is no danger to any person who does not breach the restricted area. The cyanide in the process fluid has been stabilized with a caustic solution so that it does not emit gas. The liquid in the ditch also contains caustic so that cyanide gas is not emitted from the liquid. Fencing has been installed between the ditch and the MetroParks Bikeway and extends from the entry point of the piping into the ditch to the wooden bridge to the north.”

Is material continuing to leak from the plant?

“Drains, pipes and manholes have been resealed, and discharges are being monitored to make sure they are intercepted and collected before entering the ditch. However, sampling in and around the facility has discovered evidence of leaks from past operations at the facility,” according to the Ohio EPA.

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