Mayor urging state to re-test multiple sites

Former manufacturing sites, a former gas and oil distribution facility, an energy and agriculture business and homes that have already been tested are all on Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett’s watch list.

Some of them have been under ongoing cleanup orders that are typical of former manufacturing sites or plants that used contaminants. But Barnett wants Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials to get updated information and check them all — again — so that he can assure the residents that the cleanup is working, that no contamination is present, or advocate for a better action plan if needed.

Check again, Barnett has asked. Test further. Is this the best clean-up? And he wants to know if it is working, he said.

“Prove it to me,” Barnett said. “So that we have proven to our citizens and put them at ease that they are safe.”

Concerns were raised earlier this year by a group of county residents, known as If It Was Your Child, who are concerned about the rate of childhood cancer and raise questions about a possible link to contamination.

The area in question is confined to an older manufacturing neighborhood northeast of downtown, and no widespread contamination across the city is suspected.

IDEM has conducted testing across the city and installed air monitors, in addition to testing that Franklin schools and Franklin College has had completed, and found no concerns.

The sites that are being investigated at the mayor’s urging include:

The former Franklin Power Products facility at 400 Forsythe St. Ambient air has been tested and more testing is planned.

The former Arvin site

Warrior Oil, at Overstreet Street and Hamilton Avenue, where above ground storage tanks are housed. A water well was tested last week.

The former Hougland Canning facility on Eastview Drive

Homes that were initially tested by Mundell & Associates on behalf of Edison Wetlands Association. Edison got involved at the request of the group of residents. Testing has been completed at two homes.

This week, the state reopened an investigation on a former plant on Terre Haute Street that at one time was a holding station for an oil and gas distribution business. IDEM had closed the case on the facility, but Barnett asked officials to re-open the case and test one more time.

His reasoning: It’s only logical to do a full, current vetting of all sites in this area. Most communities have former manufacturing or other sites that could at one time have used contaminants and may have undergone cleanup. Barnett is asking for a new look at these sites in Franklin because of the ongoing concerns that have been raised.

But he asks residents to understand that a thorough process is going to take time, but he also wants work, results and plans quickly. Results won’t come as quickly as anyone wants, he said. State officials have continued to be responsive and forthcoming with information, and he is in constant communication with them, he said.

“This is going to be ongoing,” Barnett said. “I’m dedicated to seeing this out and that all parties are held accountable in the cleanup process of any contamination that’s there.”