HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – The EPA held a press conference in York on Thursday to update people about progress in their effort to decontaminate groundwater in the region.
The EPA has been aware and trying to secure funding to start decontamination since the early 2010s, but has had no luck.
The harmful chemicals that have seeped into the groundwater were caused by drycleaners improperly discarding chemical waste in the 1950s.
Two sites have been set up in York to remove contaminates, which could take years.
In the meantime, the EPA has connected 16 locations to clean city water, as well as installed two full house filtration systems.
According to Meg McCollister, the EPA Administrator for region 7, the project was put on hold for years because of lack of funding, until the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed.
“We want to make sure that communities like York that have been underserved, rural communities that maybe don’t have the resources to be able to invest on their own into infrastructure or cleaning up these sites that we are still getting that money into those communities so that they can experience that expedited cleanup,” McCollister said.
The main worksite, which is at the intersection of N Platte Ave and W 5th St., should reopen by the end of the year, but the full decontamination of the groundwater will take years, according to Bo Hull, the Section Supervisor for EPA Remediation.
“To be honest, groundwater remediation can take decades,” Hull said. “But we will be here monitoring everything and ensuring that folks aren’t exposed.”
Senator Fischer voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, along with representative Bacon from Omaha. Senator Sasse and representatives Fortenberry and Smith voted against the bill.
A spokesperson for representative Smith has previously told Gray TV that he does not regret his vote against the bill.
The spokesperson from his office said, “Congressman Smith supports responsible infrastructure investment; however his concerns about the Democrat-led effort to shove Build Back Better through the House led to his opposition. He does not regret his vote.”
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