New sampling and testing has shown that Manners Park and the area around Manners Park is deemed safe by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Testing was done by Universal Engineering Sciences (UES) to perform surface soil and soil vapor sampling and testing at the Park. The sampling and testing were done to assess potential exposures to Park visitors. More than 20 surface soil samples and six soil vapor samples were collected. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons or PNA/PAHs, were within IEPA concentration levels or below those levels. Soil vapor results did NOT indicate an exposure risk via Construction Worker or residential scenario.
Ameren Illinois has implemented in-situ soil solidification and stabilization (ISS) in August and September 2023. Implementation of ISS caused mobilization and partitioning from subsurface soil to ambient air due to the mechanical mixing process. The park does say that odors from those volatile organic compounds or VOCs did create a public nuisance and possible air inhalation exposure risk to Park visitors. After Ameren stopped the work the odors went down. New studies show there is no risk whatsoever to the park from those odors after the pump and treat system was sealed.
Independent sampling and testing at Manners Park supports that there is NOT a current exposure risk to Park visitors from the Ameren MGP site. To see the full release from Manners Park, click here.