Water and soil samples in areas affected by the Carus Chemical fire in LaSalle are safe, according to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards. LaSalle’s third-party environmental consultant Brad Brown presented to the city council and residents last night about the samples taken at several properties located north of the fire and at the lake in Rotary Park. He says the samples tested were for potassium and magnesium. Although there was no scale to measure the safety of the potassium, the magnesium levels were safe in the soil.
Brad Brown addresses LaSalle residents questions about the testing of magnesium and potassium in the soil and water samples.
Some residents at the meeting were still concerned about how the potassium permanganate affects their homes. Linda Battaglia says her lawn was covered with the compound and she’s worried about her dog that eats grass.
Brown says tests could happen on other things like the grass to see how it could affect people. He was also asked by resident Lisa Dyas about how her pool should be drained because of the compound being on the pool cover. Pat Walters asked about how the compound was measured. Some residents also used their opportunity to speak to again question the city’s response to the fire claiming that they lied to residents about the severity of the potassium permanganate when it came down. The third-party consultant was hired by the city to give an extra opinion on testing related to the fire.
Dawn Hicks shows her air filter at her home. She says it was used for thirty days and was concerned about the air quality in her home.
LaSalle residents affected by the Carus Chemical fire pack LaSalle City Hall to hear the results of soil and water testing from the third-party environmental consultant.