City of Martinsville recently issued the following announcement.
BACKGROUND
Before pipelines brought natural gas to the Midwest, gas was manufactured locally from coal, oil and coke to serve the energy needs of hundreds of communities. These historical plants provided gas for heating and lighting to local communities. Gas lamps lit streets and buildings until electricity became commonplace in the early 20th century.
Manufactured gas continued to fuel cooking and heating until the mid-20th century. By the end of World War II, there were approximately 3,000 plants nationwide manufacturing gas from coal. Eventually, these plants were closed when natural gas pipelines began to distribute gas across the country.
One of these former manufactured gas plant sites was located at the corner of West Highland and North Mulberry Streets in Martinsville. The Martinsville Manufactured Gas Plant was owned by predecessor companies of Duke Energy and CenterPoint Energy and operated from approximately 1894 to 1930. Gas production created byproducts, primarily tar, which were often sold for use in roofing and paving materials. When the plant was closed, tar and other residues remained on the property.
ARE MANUFACTURED GAS PLANT BYPRODUCTS A RISK TO HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT?
The byproduct (tar) that was produced when gas was manufactured contains chemicals known as hydrocarbons, including benzene and naphthalene, which can be an environmental concern if not handled properly. Hydrocarbons are present in many common products used today, such as gasoline, fuel oil, asphalt and charcoal. Based on the studies conducted at the site, there is no indication of a health or environmental threat under current conditions. It is important, though, to make sure the area is consistent with today’s environmental standards. Duke has voluntarily undertaken efforts to address environmental impacts at the site in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The site was enrolled in IDEM’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) in 2004.
WHAT CONSTRUCTION IS PLANNED FOR THE SITE?
Duke Energy is planning a construction project for spring/summer 2022 to upgrade equipment within the existing Martinsville substation. Some older equipment will be removed and replaced along with new concrete footers. While this is not an environmental project, Duke is proactively working with the Community and contractors to ensure that there are no hazards associated with this project.
Soil excavated from the site will be placed in dumpsters for disposal at a permitted landfill. Aside from the soil removal, we anticipate that this will look like a regular construction project with minimal impact to the nearby residents.
WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
Documents related to site investigation and remediation can be found electronically in the IDEM Virtual File Cabinet by accessing the Department’s Web Site (currently www.in.gov/idem/) by searching by the site VRP number (6031001).
If you have questions regarding this project, please contact Duke Energy’s environmental project manager, Jessica Keener, at 919.247.3814 or via email at Jessica.Keener@duke-energy.com.
Original source can be found here.
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