The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided an update on its heating system at the former Velsicol plant site in St. Louis.
“The soil heating for the in-place thermal treatment system proceeds as planned,” said Diane Russell, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, in an email.
The average treatment zone soil temperature on June 15 was around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
In March, the heating process began; at the time, the temperature was under 20 degrees centigrade (or 68 degrees Fahrenheit) and has gradually increased.
Once the soil reaches the boiling point of water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), the system will run for at least 90 days to remove the soil contaminants.
To date, more 14,000 pounds of pollution has been removed from the soil.
The contaminants are treated on-site.
Water vapor or steam can be seen periodically coming from the on-site stack. Air monitoring and testing continues, with no issues found so far.
Soil sampling will take place at the end of the project to ensure the contaminants have been removed to a safe level.