Oil Remains In Storage Tank

By Gordon HopkinsThe City of Fairbury has decided to sell off assets of the now defunct municipal power plant, including a storage tank that still contains some oil, which will need to be drained.According to City Administrator Jacob Matthews, the remaining municipal power plant assets no longer serve a practical purpose, but may constitute future liability and maintenance expense. The storage tank is located in an area that creates difficulty for a current Line Department project. Matthews indicated its removal would greatly assist the Line Department. Therefore, the city council voted unanimously to sell or dispose of the remaining components of the power plant at meeting of the council on Tuesday, August 16.Jacobs told FJN via email, “Sometime ago the Line Department received a quote of $129,651 to move, clean, and demolish the Storage tank.”Selling the tank would therefore be more financially advantageous as disposing of the contents will be the responsibility of the purchaser. Jacobs said, “The plan is for the prevailing party, if there is one, to empty the contents of the storage tank and to dispose of the contents and to do so all according to all applicable state and federal laws. They will then remove the tank accordingly to all applicable state and federal laws.”A former employee of the power plant expressed concern that there is more than just oil in the tank but other chemicals, including possibly PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulates the handling of PCBs through the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976.Jacobs said, “I have only been told by city staff there is oil in the tank. There may be PCBs or other chemicals in it, but until I am able to conduct a more thorough investigation on the matter I am unable to comment on whether there are actually PCBs or other chemicals inside the tank. Should a prevailing party emerge, they will be responsible to remove the contents of the tank and dispose of them in a manner that is consistent with all state and federal laws.”

Steele City Church Gets New Window, New Light

Fairbury Housing Authority Received $40,000 Grant

Related Articles

Area Ravaged By Wildfires

State Auditor Finds No Issues Worth Pursuing In Jansen

Personnel Committee Votes To Table Employee Survey

Early Voting Begins For Upcoming Election