[Peace] Dec. 8 Community Meeting to discuss toxic site

[Brian Dolinar]

COMMUNITY MEETING TO DISCUSS LOCAL TOXIC SITE AT FIFTH & HILL STREETS IN
CHAMPAIGN  -  SATURDAY, DEC. 8 AT 12 P.M. AT DOUGLASS BRANCH LIBRARY

Neighborhood residents and community organizations meet  to learn about the
toxic site at 5th and Hill Streets in Champaign and to discuss process for
developing site remediation plan. You are invited to attend this important
meeting!

Please read below for more information about the meeting, and background on
the site.

******************
ABOUT THE MEETING:
On Saturday, December 8, 2007 from 12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m., the CU Citizens for
Peace & Justice, in  collaboration with the Champaign County Health Care
Consumers (CCHCC) and the UIUC Department of Urban & Regional Planning will
hold a Community Meeting to discuss the toxic site at 5th and Hill Streets
in the north end of Champaign, IL.

The meeting will address concerns of community health and environmental
problems in the neighborhood associated with the site. Topics to be
presented at the meeting include:

*  Presentation of research findings regarding the site and neighborhood;

*  Report on recent meeting between community members, Ameren IP, and City
of Champaign regarding the process for developing a plan to remediate the
site;

*  Testimony from local neighborhood residents about their experiences and
concerns;

*  Plans to establish a coalition to ensure that community health and safety
needs are met throughout the site remediation process.

WHO: CU Citizens for Peace & Justice in collaboration with Champaign County
Health Care Consumers and UIUC Department of Urban & Regional Planning

WHAT: Community Meeting on Toxic Site at 5th and Hill

WHEN: Saturday, December 8, 2007 - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Douglass Branch Library - 504 E. Grove St., Champaign

Click here to RSVP:
http://www.healthcareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display%20Page&id=557


******************

BACKGROUND:
The 3.5 acre lot at 5th Street and Hill Street in Champaign is a former
manufactured gas plant (FMGP) site from 1887 until 1953. Gas was
manufactured by heating coal, and then following a process to remove coal
tar and other impurities. The coal tar and other production wastes were left
on the site until the closing of the plant. According to information
provided by Illinois Power (now Ameren IP) in 1990, the lightweight chemical
compounds found in coal tar, known as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
and xylene), move easily through soils and are associated with various
health problems.

Ameren IP has registered this site, and 24 other sites like it, with the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under their Site Remediation
Program (SRP). Under this program, Ameren agrees to clean up this site, with
a cost estimate between $3 and $15 million dollars.





-- 
Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
303 W. Locust St.
Urbana, IL 61801
briandolinar at gmail.com
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