[CPEO-BIF] TCE in Meramec Caverns, Franklin County, Missouri

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

[This seems to be an unusual example of subsurface intrusion. - LS]

Meramec Caverns suspends tours due to air, water contamination

BY CAITLIN SCHOONERS
Belleville News-Democrat (MO)
April 1, 2016

FRANKLIN COUNTY, MO. - Meramec Caverns confirmed Friday that it is temporarily closed until further notice due to what the Environmental Protection Agency believes to beunsafe levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminating the cave air and groundwater as well as its entry building containing a restaurant and gift shop. It says it “voluntarily closed” the large commercial cave off to visitors and staff earlier in March.

TCE is described by the Agency of Toxic Substances & Disease Registry as a colorless liquid “mainly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts.” Meramec Cavern Enterprises, Inc. decided to cease cave tours for the time being based on historical data trends and recommendations from the Agency of Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to a March 10 letter from EPA Region 7 to Lester Turilli Jr., director of operations at Meramec Caverns. Turilli is also an independent candidate in Missouri’s governor race.

…

The public health issue has been under investigation at Meramec Caverns for 30 years. It was first detected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources during a routine sampling of a well in 1986. The EPA believes that TCE vapors originate from two sources: the former TRW/Ramsey facility in downtown Sullivan, Mo. and the Sullivan landfill. Turilli says the old manufacturing plant is 4.5 miles away from Meramec Caverns.


…

For the entire article, see
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article69498107.html

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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