Ground Contamination Clean-up Underway in Southern Portion Of Oskaloosa
Clean-up work is underway at 407 South H St. and 902 3rd Ave. West in Oskaloosa to remove coal tar from the ground. The contamination went undetected from the nearly 100 year old site until last year.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – History has a way of making itself relevant today, with choices of the past still influencing today.
The Iowa DNR, along with MidAmerican and MWH met with concerned citizens and neighbors of 407 South H St. and 902 3rd Ave West on Monday night to discuss the ongoing efforts to remove coal tar located at those properties.
The investigation began just over a year ago, when a local homeowner called the City of Oskaloosa about some problems with his home settling.
The City of Oskaloosa responded and began to investigate if there was a possible sewer collapse or similar type of issue that may have lead to the problem with the home. Upon initial excavation, the City then became aware that there may be possible underground contamination near those homes and then notified the DNR.
According to a statement by MidAmerican Energy, “MidAmerican Energy volunteered to investigate the situation and subsequently reported the results to the Iowa DNR and the affected property owners. MidAmerican Energy found coal tar residue underneath two properties and volunteered to remove it. In order to efficiently and effectively excavate on the properties, the houses were purchased by MidAmerican Energy and demolished.”
The excavation, which is currently ongoing at the properties, to remove the coal tar from the site began back in April of this year. The coal tar is buried under several feet of fill dirt. According to MidAmerican Energy, “Because the coal tar residue has been buried, the potential for any health risks to the general public is limited. However, to prevent any future concerns, the coal tar residuals will be removed and disposed at a landfill approved by the Iowa DNR.
To better understand how coal tar could end up under a residential home, one has to step back in time over 100 years to when Oskaloosa was a major supplier of coal. The coal was processed into manufactured gas, which was used to power street lamps.
The plant, which sat at the intersection of 3rd Ave West and South G St from the early 1870’s until the mid 1930’s, was known at one point as Oskaloosa Power and Light, but through the years, be it mergers and purchases, the site became MidAmerican property.
The company has performed past work in the area of the plant, with those being in 1997 and again in 2004, with the excavation of impacted soil. The Iowa DNR oversaw those projects as well, and at the time, tests indicated that the contamination was limited to that site.
When the presentations were completed, area residents spoke of concerns about how the site may impact their properties, and also how current excavation work could be impacting their homes as well.
Another meeting is scheduled for in the future, as work at the site nears completion.
