Post by JB on Apr 3, 2008 7:09:22 GMT -6
Indian Prairie ready to release environmental reports
By Justin Kmitch 4/2/2008 4:34 PM | Updated: 4/2/2008 9:13
Nearly a month has passed since Indian Prairie Unit District 204 first promised to unveil the results of environmental testing done at its proposed Metea Valley High School site.
On Wednesday, project director Todd Depaul said the district has been given permission to release the Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report and will do so during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
Depaul said representatives from Testing Service Corporation will be at the session to detail the findings of the study of 87 acres along Eola Road south of Diehl Road near Aurora.
The first phase outlines historical data from both the site itself and commentary collected from previous property owners.
The second phase concentrates on the results of 96 soil borings and ground-water samplings that were collected to determine the presence of contamination.
The environmental status of the property owned by Midwest Generation and St John AME Church has been a source of debate in the community.
Environmental attorney Shawn Collins released a position paper last month outlining concerns involving a former power plant that operated on the site and power lines and gas pipelines that run through part of the property.
School officials already have confirmed that traces of diesel fuel were found in six of 55 soil borings taken at the site, but they say that issue easily can be fixed.
"The district has had this information for several weeks and has reviewed the studies so there will be no surprises on our end," Depaul said Wednesday. "We just haven't been able to share them publicly as long as they've been covered under the confidentiality agreement."
Depaul was not able to comment on what held up the release and calls to Midwest Generation officials Wednesday were not returned.
The conclusion of Monday's meeting will complete the second of three contingencies placed on several millions of dollars of construction contracts the district already has approved.
The first was met last week when Aurora approved annexation of the site based on the district taking ownership of the 87 acres.
"This basically satisfies two-thirds of the contingencies with the only thing left being the actual purchase," Depaul said. "We're still in negotiations of those purchase contracts but I imagine those will be wrapping up in the near future."
The 3,000-student school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. Some have feared the delay in releasing the reports would hamper that timeframe. Have no fear, Depaul said Wednesday.
"The goal has always been for this school to open in August 2009 and we're still on target for that to happen," he said.
By Justin Kmitch 4/2/2008 4:34 PM | Updated: 4/2/2008 9:13
Nearly a month has passed since Indian Prairie Unit District 204 first promised to unveil the results of environmental testing done at its proposed Metea Valley High School site.
On Wednesday, project director Todd Depaul said the district has been given permission to release the Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report and will do so during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
Depaul said representatives from Testing Service Corporation will be at the session to detail the findings of the study of 87 acres along Eola Road south of Diehl Road near Aurora.
The first phase outlines historical data from both the site itself and commentary collected from previous property owners.
The second phase concentrates on the results of 96 soil borings and ground-water samplings that were collected to determine the presence of contamination.
The environmental status of the property owned by Midwest Generation and St John AME Church has been a source of debate in the community.
Environmental attorney Shawn Collins released a position paper last month outlining concerns involving a former power plant that operated on the site and power lines and gas pipelines that run through part of the property.
School officials already have confirmed that traces of diesel fuel were found in six of 55 soil borings taken at the site, but they say that issue easily can be fixed.
"The district has had this information for several weeks and has reviewed the studies so there will be no surprises on our end," Depaul said Wednesday. "We just haven't been able to share them publicly as long as they've been covered under the confidentiality agreement."
Depaul was not able to comment on what held up the release and calls to Midwest Generation officials Wednesday were not returned.
The conclusion of Monday's meeting will complete the second of three contingencies placed on several millions of dollars of construction contracts the district already has approved.
The first was met last week when Aurora approved annexation of the site based on the district taking ownership of the 87 acres.
"This basically satisfies two-thirds of the contingencies with the only thing left being the actual purchase," Depaul said. "We're still in negotiations of those purchase contracts but I imagine those will be wrapping up in the near future."
The 3,000-student school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. Some have feared the delay in releasing the reports would hamper that timeframe. Have no fear, Depaul said Wednesday.
"The goal has always been for this school to open in August 2009 and we're still on target for that to happen," he said.