us. environmental protection AGENCY, REGION 5
ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN AND 35 TRIBES
TARGETED BROWNEIELDS ASSESSMENT
SK HAND TOOL 135 HICKORY STREET
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Defiance, Ohio
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's
Targeted Brownfields Assessment, or TBA, Program assisted
Defiance County, Ohio by completing a TBA at the former
SK Hand Tool facility Completion of the TBA helped
toward redevelopment of the property The property consists
of six parcels of non-contiguous land totaling about 8.245
acres and is currently vacant. Prior to 2010, the facility
was used for manufacturing for at least 65 years. The most
recent operating entity, SK Hand Tools, functioned as a
manufacturing plant for the production of hand tools. The
tools were manufactured from raw bar stock to finished
goods. Processes conducted by SK Hand Tools included
forging, die sinking, blanking, machining, broaching,
polishing, heat treating, plating and coating of steel.
Previous property environmental investigations included a
Phase I Property Assessment, or Phase I PA, completed in May
2014. Findings of the Phase I PA concluded that contamination
could be present at the property due to previous site activities.
It determined that groundwater underneath the site could also
potentially be contaminated due to previous on-site activities.
A commercial real estate developer plans to use a Jobs Ohio
grant to demolish onsite structures and clean up asbestos-
containing material and contaminated soil. These activities
are anticipated to begin in the spring of 2018. The property
is then projected to be redeveloped as a warehousing and/or
logistics facility.
DETAILS OF U.S. EPA'S SITE ACTIVITIES
The purpose of the TBA was to complete a Phase II PA
to investigate the property for the presence of hazardous
substances and petroleum products. U.S. EPA took samples
of soil and groundwater. The Phase II PA was completed in
general accordance with the Ohio EPA Voluntary Action
Program, or VAP.
CONTACT US
Brad Stimple
TBA Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 5 Brownfields
stimple.brad@epa.gov
440-250-1717
January 2018
Former SK Hand Tool facility.
REPORT/INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
Findings of the TBA indicated that property soil contained
levels of contaminants above state standards. Detections of
contaminants found in groundwater at the property were at
levels considered acceptable for drinking water.
What is a Targeted Brownfields Assessment?
U.S. EPAs TBA program provides technical assistance
to states, communities and non-profit organizations,
to minimize the uncertainties of contamination on
brownfield sites. U.S. EPA, at no charge to the community,
will characterize a brownfield to determine the nature
and extent of contamination. For more information
on TBAs or to request a TBA go to: https://www.epa.
gov/brownfields/brownfields-and-land-revitalization-
illinois-indiana-michigan-minnesota-ohio-and
REUSE/REVITALIZATION

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