ANDERSON, Ind. —
When people ask about landfills under Mounds Mall and the shopping center across Scatterfield Road, Rob Sparks is right there with them.
Environmental impact was the second question raised as serious consideration of Mounds Lake Reservoir began taking shape.
“The public is going through the same questioning we went through,” said Sparks, executive director of the Anderson/Madison County Corporation for Economic Development.
The landfill question has been a key issue fueling public skepticism about a proposed reservoir on social media sites, along with concern about businesses and homeowners being displaced.
The proposed reservoir would begin just east of East Lynn and 18th streets in Anderson, backing water up seven miles into Delaware County to around County Road 300 South and South High Banks Road.
Phase I environmental assessments show the landfill sites are small — amounting to perhaps six or seven acres — and consist primarily of construction debris. “I’ve had eight different firms look at the data,” and none have said those sites represent a fatal flaw, Sparks said.
In addition, test wells installed to monitor groundwater quality at former General Motors Corp. sites on Scatterfield Road upstream from the proposed reservoir haven’t revealed any significant problems with pollution.
Although monitoring stopped when GM declared bankruptcy in June 2009, it was reactivated last year under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant to the city of Anderson.
Well samples were evaluated by a firm hired by the EPA, which only knew the information would be used for redevelopment, but not specifically creation of a reservoir, Sparks said.
The city is currently pursuing a second EPA grant to continue more detailed environmental evaluation and monitoring.
Chad Pigg, president and CEO of Sesco Group, and former brownfield coordinator for Anderson, is consulting on the project.
He said more than 700 acres of the proposed 2,100 acres that would become the reservoir was evaluated in the initial study.
Despite Anderson’s automobile manufacturing legacy and the number of brownfield industrial sites, only a small percentage of locations evaluated meet criteria that warrant further investigation in a more thorough phase II feasibility study. Pigg and Sparks said nothing will be taken for granted.
Pigg said some gaps exist in the environmental data that has been collected so far that he wants to see filled.
And Sparks said he wants to see monitor well test results from three or four seasons.
He added, however, that if the landfills were as toxic and polluted as some people fear, evidence of that environmental hazard would have surfaced long before now.
Yet it hasn’t.
That said, Sparks said if the reservoir proposal moves ahead, any mitigation required by state and federal officials as part of a permitting process would be subject to public scrutiny and comment.
Find Stu Hirsch on Facebook and @StuHirsch on Twitter, or call 640-4861.
Local News
Related Photos
-
A pond is located behind River Ridge Plaza in Anderson. The proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir would cover two old landfills, one at the site of Mounds Mall and the other across Scatterfield Road at River Ridge Plaza. Don Knight
-
The proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir would cover two old landfills, one at the site of Mounds Mall and the other across Scatterfield at River Ridge Plaza. Don Knight
-
The proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir would cover two old landfills. One at the site of Mounds Mall and the other across Scatterfield at River Ridge Plaza. Don Knight
Discussion
Existence of landfills worries reservoir skeptics
Sparks: Eight firms have looked at data
- Local News
-
-
Off to the races
For the past 15 or so years, Jack Lloyd's pursuit of race cars has had him camping out at Anderson Speedway for the Pay Less Little 500, which marks its 65th birthday this Saturday.
-
ACS to reopen Killbuck Elementary
With an increase in enrollment forecast for 2013-14, especially among younger students, Anderson Community Schools has decided to reopen Killbuck Elementary and transport kindergartners from Valley Grove and Eastside to the school in Richland Township.
-
ACS board selects new principals
The Anderson Community Schools board selected principals for the reopening of Killbuck and Southview elementary schools on Wednesday.
-
Flagship Microloan program expands
The Flagship Enterprise Center is making $500,000 more in loan funds available to local small businesses.
-
Madison County burglary suspect found in Fort Wayne
A man believed to be responsible for a double burglary a month and a half ago was arrested Tuesday.
-
Cooler, showers and thunderstorms possible again
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for today, and temperatures will continue to decline into the upper 60s.
-
Poll question for Thursday, May 23
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Report: State is both ‘leader and laggard’
A newly released report card on where Indiana ranks nationally in key economic measures shows the state is both “a leader and a laggard” in areas that signal potential for more prosperity.
-
AARP Driver Safety Program on May 31
There will be an AARP Driver Safety Program offered on Friday, May 31, sponsored by the Park Place Community Center.
-
Local Briefs: May 23
A compilation of news items of local and statewide interest as published in the Thursday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
- More Local News Headlines
-
