Bombs In Our Backyards: Report Reveals Dangerous Sites In Ohio

The Department of Defense has scores of sites across the nation, some that still owns and others that have been sold, that still contain toxic waste and explosives, revealed a report by the independent journalist organization ProPublica. In Ohio, there are 86 such properties that have at least one hazardous site and 10 of these installations have at least one high or medium risk hazardous site, according to data released from the DOD that was acquired and published by ProPublica.

According to ProPublica, which has been documenting toxic pollution left behind by the military across the country, there are more than 40,000 such hazardous sites polluted by U.S. military operations.

Through its reporting, ProPublica found that many of these sites have extensive groundwater and soil pollution or present a risk of exploding bombs and munitions. Some of these sites are part of old facilities that may not be known locally even though a risk of exposure to contaminants may still be present. ProPublica also notes that contamination could affect an area much larger than the site itself.

Among the Top 20 riskiest installations, as ranked by the number of "high" and "medium risk" hazardous sites, Ohio has one: the Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant. There are some 52 active sites on the Ravenna operation, including an open explosive disposal area, unexploded munitions and ordnance areas, and contaminated buildings.

According to ProPublica, the government has already spent some $41 billion on cleaning up the sites in the Ohio. The government has estimated it will spend another $28 billion on the future cleanup operations. The past and estimated future costs of hazardous sites cleanup in Ohio is $868 million.

The Ohio installations with at least one high or medium risk site are:

Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant in Ravenna
– 5 sites deemed high risk, 24 medium risk
– $132 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $26.8 million additional cost to complete cleanup expected by 2031

Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus
– 6 sites deemed high risk, 2 medium risk
– $32.4 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $33.3 million additional cost to complete cleanup expected by 2051

Plum Brook Ordnance Works in Sandusky
– 3 sites deemed high risk, 4 medium risk
– $68.1 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $22.6 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2021

JFHQ OH ARNG in Columbus
– 1 site deemed high risk, 1 medium risk
– $8 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $16.3 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2019

Lordstown Ordnance Depot in Lordstown
– 2 sites deemed high risk
– $8 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $3 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2034

Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton
– 2 sites deemed medium risk
– $219 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $82.4 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2045

Camp Sherman Artillery Range in Chillicothe
– 1 site deemed medium risk
– $131,000 already spent on cleanup, estimated $9.16 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2030

Youngstown Municipal Airport in Youngstown
– 1 site deemed medium risk
– $821,000 already spent on cleanup, estimated $1.74 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2020

Rossford Ordnance Depot in Rossford
– 1 site deemed high risk
– $974,000 already spent on cleanup, estimated $23,000 additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2018

Air Force Plant 85 in Columbus
– 1 site deemed medium risk
– $11.5 million already spent on cleanup, estimated $7 million additional cost to complete cleanup, expected by 2017

Here is the complete list of all the military installations across Ohio with hazardous sites.

File photo by MORT FRYMAN/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT via ASSOCIATED PRESS