July 22, 2025
Franklinton Chemical Leak is the Latest in a Series of Environmental Incidents: What Will it Take to Make a Change?
For Immediate Release:
July 21, 2025
Contact:
Karlena Wallace, Communications Director
media@theoec.org or 614-487-7506
Franklinton Chemical Leak is the Latest in a Series of Environmental Incidents: What Will it Take to Make a Change?
Columbus, OH — Last week’s leak was just the latest in a string of environmental incidents in Central Ohio over the past few years, from the 2021 Yenkin-Majestic paint factory explosion on Columbus’ Near East side to the 2024 massive fire at Columbus Auto Shredding on Alum Creek Drive and the illegal kerosene dumping that befouled the waters of a beloved Metro Park earlier this year.
We applaud the fast response by Columbus’ first responders to last week’s chemical leak, including the shelter-in-place order for residents near the facility. We also applaud the Ohio EPA and GFS Chemicals, the responsible party, for sharing information on the incident with the public within the first 24 hours. However, there is much work to be done to prevent incidents like this from occurring again, and to better protect and inform residents when they do.
“Community members deserve more than reactive measures—they deserve a system that prevents environmental emergencies before they happen,” said Annalisa Rocca, Central Ohio Regional Director for the Ohio Environmental Council. “We’re seeing a pattern of industrial incidents that put people at risk. While we commend the swift response to last week’s leak, we urge city and state leaders to adopt a proactive—not just reactive—approach to environmental safety.”
The OEC calls for the following actions:
- Increased community engagement, especially in low-income or environmental priority neighborhoods like Franklinton, where residents can share their concerns with city and state officials, ask questions about incidents or companies operating in their neighborhoods, and participate in decisions that impact them.
- Enforce tougher penalties for companies like GFS Chemicals with repeat violations.
- A proactive review by the Ohio EPA and City of Columbus of legacy industrial sites with potential for future incidents, including sharing of results and action plans with community members.
Every Ohioan deserves timely, clear information about threats to their health. The OEC is committed to advocating for the safety and dignity of Ohio communities and to ensuring that what happened in Franklinton does not happen again—anywhere in Ohio.
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The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) protects the environment and health of all Ohio communities through legal and policy advocacy, decision-maker accountability, and civic engagement.
