EPA Order to protect homes in Washington, Mo., from chemical vapors
A local neighborhood is under close watch tonight after the federal government said harmful chemicals could be in the groundwater.
Eduardo Gonzalez and Jennifer Meckles, KSDK 11:57 PM. CDT August 05, 2016
WASHINGTON, MO. - The EPA is warning people who live in central Washington, MO of the possibility of contaminated soil and shallow groundwater.
The organization said 25 homes could be eligible to have free protective vapor mitigation systems installed. This is part of an order issued to SV Land, LLC, where industrial chemical solvents polluted soil and shallow groundwater.
The EPA said a polluted groundwater plume could have a negative impact in nearby areas, which includes residential properties. The organization went on to say that the contamination came from the solvents the Sporlan Valve Company used.
The EPA contacted the owners of the areas that were potentially affected and assured them that any work that must be done to solve the issue will be at no cost to the homeowners.
The EPA will hold a public meeting to share information and answer questions about plans for the site, including details of the upcoming environmental sampling and VMS installation activities.
The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, at the Washington City Council Chambers, 405 Jefferson Street, in Washington, Mo.
Byron Stolte has lived across from the former plant site for more than 30 years. He said the EPA visited his home a few times.
“They put in a couple of holes in the basement with some testers in them, and I don’t think they ever really found very much though,” he said. Stolte isn’t sure yet if he can make the Tuesday meeting, and isn’t too alarmed by the testing. However, he would like more information about what’s happening beneath his home.
“I would like to know what they found, if anything. If it amounted to anything,” he said.
Just next door, Rebecca Johnson said her family opted out of EPA testing after several neighbors told her their results showed nothing significant. She still got a letter from EPA in recent weeks, explaining the testing and concerns about contamination.
Johnson also has questions, and plans to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
“Is it an issue on our own yards, or in our own house? Is it still a fume issue on our house? We have an 18 year old who spends a lot fo time in the basement, is that a health issue?”