Now that an environmental cleanup is nearly finished in Clinton, supervision will be transferred from federal to state agencies. The US EPA and Iowa DNR have agreed completion of the cleanup at the Coal Gas Superfund Site will be the responsibility of the state.
EPA project manager, Diana Engeman, says her agency began organizing the cleanup in the mid-1990's - on land owned by Interstate Power and Light. It's located on the west side of Riverview Park, between 4th Avenue North and 2nd Avenue South. After 120,000 tons of soil were removed, she says there's still contamination, but it's well below the surface.
The approximately 7 acres is now considered safe but with restrictions. It would be safe as a park, but only certain types of buildings will be allowed.
What's left to do is for the Iowa DNR to continue monitoring the groundwater, and to make sure the former Superfund site is used safely. A DNR spokesman says the power company plans to keep the land, and complete whatever cleanup work is still required.