CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Chillicothe’s toxic past isn’t staying buried. Once again, the city is in hot water with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency—this time over its long-abandoned landfill on Seney Road, a site that, during its years of operation, received over thousands of tons of chemical waste from DuPont, according to an old Chillicothe Gazette article from the 1980s.
The Ohio EPA issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the City of Chillicothe, citing failures to comply with state laws governing closed landfills. At the center of the issue: the city’s repeated failure to submit and implement a revised Explosive Gas Monitoring Plan (EGMP)—a requirement meant to protect nearby communities from dangerous gas migration and other hazards linked to buried industrial waste.
A Dump with a Deadly Legacy
The Seney Road landfill is no ordinary trash heap. According to historic waste records, DuPont used the site to dispose of thousands of tons of chemicals, making it a toxic time bomb that still shadows the community decades later.
Instead of putting those concerns to rest, the city’s mismanagement has reignited fears about what could be leaking—or exploding—underground.
Ohio EPA’s Findings
The letter, dated September 5, 2025, was addressed to Dean Carroll, City Engineer. It laid out clear violations under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3734 and Ohio Administrative Code 3745-27-12.
Among the findings:
- Failure to prepare, submit, and implement a revised EGMP despite being told as early as August 19, 2021 that a new plan was due by March 28, 2022.
- Failure to respond to an October 31, 2022 Notice of Deficiency, where Ohio EPA explicitly outlined what revisions were needed for compliance.
For more than three years, the city has ignored EPA orders. Now, patience appears to be wearing thin. The agency warned that failure to comply could result in administrative or civil penalties.
Silence from City Hall
The violation notice was also copied to Stephanie Chester, City of Chillicothe, and Jason Martin of Pandey Environmental, LLC—the city’s environmental consultant. Yet, despite repeated warnings, there’s been no documented response.
The EPA has now given the city 14 days to show proof of corrective action. Without it, Chillicothe risks not only fines but also increased state scrutiny over how it handles its contaminated sites.
A Pattern of Neglect
This latest violation continues a troubling pattern for Chillicothe: environmental ghosts from its industrial past keep resurfacing, while city officials scramble—or fail—to keep up with regulatory demands.
From the Wear-Ever aluminum plant contamination to ongoing concerns about air quality and water safety, the city has been forced time and again to answer for its legacy of toxic industries.
The Seney Road landfill is just the latest reminder that what was buried decades ago hasn’t gone away.
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