PIERCETON - Levels of petroleum and other contaminants found during soil testing on the site of an abandoned gas station are classified as "moderate."

Some of the findings of the report submitted by Avant Group Inc. of Pierceton were released during a special meeting Wednesday. However, the expected explanation of the report was not received because representatives of Avant failed to show up for the meeting.

Pierceton Town Council members assumed there was a mix-up regarding the meeting date and hope to reschedule it for early next week.

The cleanup of the Perry property, located at the northwest corner of Market and First streets, is projected to cost a minimum of $160,000. The greatest concentration of contaminants seems to be around a leaking underground storage tank on the property and, the report noted, it is possible that the contamination extends "off site." This means that some leaching of contaminants may extend under the street(s) adjacent to the property.

"The problem is, you can't know what's underground," said town attorney Jim Walmer.

Bob Murphy, of Murphy & Associates, Larwill, agreed: "We're not gonna know the true cost of cleanup until we start." Murphy is working with the town in securing grant money for the cleanup and plans to erect a senior center on the site. The town is seeking a $500,000 grant to fund both the cleanup and the building of the senior center. In a worst-case scenario from what is known at this point, Murphy said, the cleanup costs could push to as much $300,000 and the town would then have to borrow $100,000 to complete the senior center.

The fact that contaminants were detected is required to be reported to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Murphy said that has already been taken care of and the town now has a spill number, although IDEM is aware that the town does not own the property.

The next step is to remove the underground storage tanks, install monitor wells and test ground water. The cleanup proposal calls for digging out and hauling away the contaminated soil.

In the meantime, officials will look into how to take title to the property if the town chooses to move ahead with cleanup, and whether the absentee owner would have a chance to redeem the property after the cleanup is complete. The town is hoping to take over the property because of back taxes due, but now is concerned with the possibility that the owner could pay the delinquencies and redeem the real estate after the town expends cleanup funds. [[In-content Ad]]