Inside INdiana Business is reporting that the city of Kokomo has drafted a plan to clean up contaminated soil at the Kokomo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Kokomo Tribune reports the contamination led to a major plant expansion being halted.
The contaminated soil is located on the northeastern side of the plant’s property and was discovered last year. Tests found arsenic, lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, at levels that exceeded Indiana Department of Environmental Management limits, according to the publication.
In its plan submitted to IDEM, the city says all areas contaminated by PCBs will be excavated and the soil will be removed to a dump site approved for hazardous waste. Any areas that aren’t able to be excavated will be controlled to avoid exposure.
The city says it will also ensure no PCBs become airborne during the remediation effort and spread to nearby areas.
In a previous interview with the Tribune, Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore said the PCBs are left over from the Continental Steep Corp, which operated a 183-acre site that includes the current wastewater plant.