According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, AmerenCIPS–a central Illinois utility company–will launch a $20 million cleanup of underground contaminants at a defunct gas-manufacturing plant in Quincy.
Manufactured-gas plants were industrial facilities that produced gas from coal, oil and other feedstocks. The gas was stored, and then piped to the surrounding area, where it was used for lighting, cooking, and heating homes and businesses. Today, natural gas is used instead of manufactured gas.
People are still concerned about former manufactured-gas plants because of contamination issues. For example, the Quincy plant’s operations ended in 1943. However, underground contaminants remain, including “coal tar, which contains carcinogens, and could pose a health risk if disturbed.” Workers “will first take precautionary steps, such as putting up a tent with carbon filters to contain dust and vapors. After that, they will install a new sewer system, remove the contaminants and replace the soil.” The clean-up is expected to take up to two years.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
