By Sara Strong
The pollution investigation under the former Jubilee parking lot will be ongoing, but the city is getting reimbursed for most of the costs so far.
After the latest round of environmental testing, the Luverne Economic Development Authority, as one-time owner of some of the property, is getting reimbursed through a petroleum clean-up program, for all but $1,600.
That will be split with Papik Motors, which used to own some of the property under investigation.
The process started about five years ago when city water tests showed levels of trichlorethylene (TCE) and other chemicals. Although the trace amounts of TCE were considered safe for drinking water, the chemical has been linked to cancer in humans exposed to the chemical over a period of 30 years.
Contaminated soil under the pavement was identified as a probable source of the TCE and other petroleum-related chemicals.
TCE is used for degreasing metal, which is consistent with some of the activities reportedly having occurred on the property, which included A.R. Wood.
The monitoring wells are still in place and most recent tests showed chemicals from any polluted areas weren’t likely going toward current water supplies.
There’s still monitoring and reporting to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency before the process is complete.
