« Ind. Decisions - Court of Appeals issues 1 today (and 11 NFP) | Main | Ind. Decisions - Transfer granted yesterday »

Friday, December 19, 2008

Environment - Still more on: Who is responsible for cleanup costs?

Updating this ILB entry from Dec. 2, here again are some quotes from the earlier WLKI story:

Steuben County Commissioners and Angola City Council members met with representatives from Univertical yesterday and last night to discuss solutions to enviromental problems at the former Dana Corporation site in Angola which may force Univertical to leave Indiana. * * *

Dana had an agreement with IDEM to clean up the property after they left Angola some 15 years ago. But Dana is no longer liable for the clean up after they went into bankruptcy. Angola Mayor Dick Hickman said during last night's City Council meeting that solutions were still being explored by company, state and local officials. * * *

No IDEM representative was at last night's City Council meeting which prompted Council Member David Martin to say that spoke volumns to him. Steuben County Commissioners are expected to discuss the matter further during their December 18th meeting. A representative from IDEM has been invited to attend.

This WLKI story from yesterday reports:
(ANGOLA) - Indiana Department of Enviromental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly presented several clean up options for the former Dana Weatherhead site in Angola at this mornings Steuben County Commissioners meeting.

He said the site where the Univertical plant is now located is heavily contaminated and that groundwater there is unusable. Easterly said at best, the pump and treat system operated by Dana for the past 10 years has slowed the spread of the pollution but an October sampling showed the first evidence of Angola's water supply being contaminated. It was also added in the presentation that the water supply is still considered safe for all uses.

Easterly said a multi party clean up would include use of a Dana stock settlement. But Dana stock was trading at 70 cents a share yesterday. It has been as high as $12 per share during the past year.

In addition, Univertical would contribute to the clean-up costs and the Indiana Finance Authority State Revolving Fund would provide low interest loans to the city and county for the balance of the funding. There would also be economic incentives to keep Univertical in Angola.

Other options include a federal government Superfund and an Indiana Brownfield Grant but certain criteria would have to be met.

With Univertical pledging $1 million towards the clean up, it's estimated the local share would come to $6.4 million. The cost for the entire project is estimated to be about $7.5 million.

Angola Mayor Dick Hickman said the city hopes to have a response shortly. County Commissioners took no formal action following Easterly's presentation and a question and answer session.

The Commissioners meeting room was packed for the presentation this morning with numerous state and local officials as well as representatives from Univertical on hand.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 19, 2008 01:16 PM
Posted to Environment