Ameren is another step closer to start expanding their substation on the northeast side of Carbondale.
Ameren recently purchased nine acres of land southeast of the power substation on north Wall Street.
Just to the north is the old Koppers wood treating site that is now designated by the EPA as a brownfield because of contaminated soil.
Community Development Manager John Lenzini says the planning commission recommended the city council add some conditions to the request before approving the special use permit.
“Reaction to, you know, the concerns of the public, you know, the planning commission asked, you know, that we place the stipulations on there that they had to do some soil testing and they also had to protect some existing monitoring wells which are basically right on the property line between Koppers and the Ameren property and the and Ameren access road.”
Out of 32 samples 4 detected contaminates, but they were below levels that could pose a threat to the environment or human health.
The city council approved the special use permit last week.
