TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Tuesday afternoon, the EPA, IDEM, and Mayor Brandon Sakbun came together to let residents know that cleanup at the old Columbian Enameling and Stamping Company is nearly complete.
The structure was demolished in 2021. However, Anne Vogel from the Environmental Protection Agency said the site contained hazards to the community, so government agencies stepped in.
“We’ve got a time-critical removal happening”, Vogel said. “That is something that when the federal government and EPA realizes that there is something here that is a danger to the community, in this case there were a number of contaminants and a lot of asbestos containing materials left from the demolition that had been done here improperly. That stuff needs to go somewhere.”
Commissioner at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Clint Woods, said their focus was on resident health.
“Making sure that we can assure that we’ve struck the right balance between environmental protection and economic prosperity” Woods said. “That folks who live in this community and for any future use of this site, that they know they are going to be healthy. From their soil, their air, their land, and their water, will all be meeting rigorous standards.”
Moving forward, Terre Haute has received $500,000 in the form of a Brownfield grant, helping to redevelop the site to meet EPA standards.
Mayor Sakbun said the city does not have any set plans, but they are looking at a number of options, including more housing.
“We are looking at a couple of different projects, ranging from multi-family to single family, and integrating some green space in this portion of the city”, Sakbun said. “There is no option off of the table currently, but it’s definitely going to be shaped by that Brownfield assessment grant.”
The city is currently looking at an area that would use 27 parcels for housing.
