Soil and groundwater of Rocky Mount is still contaminated with residual petroleum. But the officials there have taken steps to ensure that the contaminated soil near the historic train station never poses a public risk. A leaking underground oil storage tank, the remains of which the city removed is the source of the contamination. The tank was removed when it bought the property in the late 1990s to renovate the train station. . The Rocky Mount City Council filed a Notice of Residual Petroleum as an alternative to excavation, which was approved on Oct. 19 by the Division of Waste Management, a part of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The notice restricts the property from ever having a water supply well installed and from any residential development or use. The officials claim that it’s a safe alternative to searching for and removing the tainted dirt because of the way the properties are being used.
Via: Rocky Mount Telegram