Logan/Kentucky/Exposition/Center Indoor Air Testing

EPA began an environmental investigation of the area around Interstate 25 and Logan Street in the fall of 2004 after CDOT detected low levels of TCE in a dewatering system along I-25. Initially, EPA sampled groundwater at locations along Mississippi at Lincoln, Sherman, and Grant Streets. The primary purpose of the investigation was to determine if there was groundwater contamination under residential or commercial buildings, and if it might pose any potential health risk to nearby residents. The investigations expanded north along Logan Street across I-25.

In a cooperative effort with the EPA, Cherokee teamed up with the Gates Rubber Company to conduct indoor air testing on approximately 30 homes that were randomly selected on blocks in the area. The indoor air testing was done in a closed environment during the winter months. Selected homes were given a pamphlet of information informing them of items that needed to be removed from the home in order to prevent a false positive. Test results were presented at a March 1, 2006, community meeting. Only one home out of the 28 actually tested, was found to have TCE results above the amount usually found in the background. This home will be re-tested in the near future.

This testing confirms that though there is an underground plume of TCE in the area, it is not vaporizing and coming in to the homes. Therefore, there is no risk to human health.