I-Team: Is Kipp Corp. Pollution Making Neighbors Sick?
Part II
Posted: 1:50 pm CDT May 26, 2004Updated: 3:42 pm CDT May 26, 2004
In Part I of this investigative report, I-Team reporter Linda Eggert looked at the ongoing controversy over air pollution at the Madison Kipp corporation. In Part II, she investigates another kind of pollution coming from Kipp -- and why that's causing concern.
News 3 has found state officials aren't only monitoring air quality, they're also investigating whether chemical soil and water contamination from Kipp could be harmful. It's just part of the pollution puzzle plaguing some east side residents.
MADISON, Wis. -- Flo Blair says the plants she's nurtured for years are dying and she doesn't know why.
"These were beautiful when we came here," she said. "I feel so bad because, look at them, they look horrible."Blair said the plants started turning black last year, after the landscaping business she works for moved next to one of two foundries run by Madison Kipp.There's no proof Kipp's pollution is hurting any plants -- or neighborhood residents. But health and odor complaints continue, after more than a decade. Some say if Kipp were a good neighbor, it would add filters to its smokestacks."We have to have catalytic converters on our cars and take all kind of pollution measures there," said 17-year resident Barry Carlsen. "It's a huge stack -- two huge stacks, it seems only right."Kipp says it's been a good employer and a good neighbor for more than 100 years."We're far below any of the health standards on the air quality issue," said Mark Meunier of Kipp's human resources department.At Deanna Schneider's house, the front yard is blooming, but the back yard is abandoned.
"They're not being a very good neighbor to me right now," she said. "I no longer eat any of the things that are growing in the back yard."Two summers ago, the Schneiders found out their soil is contaminated with hazardous chemicals from Kipp, specifically tetrochloroethylene or PCE."That that is, I believe to be, a carcinogen," Constantine Tsoris of the DNR, told News 3.DNR officials say the PCE levels at the home and three others are too low to be a health concern, so Kipp doesn't have to clean it up. But Schneider claims Kipp has always said it would."Through two rounds of testing, coming up on two years, they had said they would remediate," Schneider said. "From what the experts say, we should be fine if we don't eat the dirt. Well, I can't tell my 14-month-old not to eat dirt and be sure that's not going to happen."But News 3 finds the contamination goes beyond a few homes.Ten years after the first Kipp contamination was discovered, high levels of hazardous chemicals remain in Kipp's soil and in the groundwater.
"There's a lot of soil and groundwater pollution," said John Hausbeck of the city public health department.Over the last few years, tests taken from numerous monitoring wells show half a dozen chlorinated solvents far above the state's groundwater standard for public health.In one test, the PCE level was 8,800 micrograms per liter -- thousands of times more than the state limit of five.State officials don't believe the groundwater contamination is dangerous to residents because their drinking water comes from deep city wells.But News 3 found that state health officials are still investigating. They're worried toxic vapors from the contamination may be migrating from Kipp and seeping into nearby homes.A state health department report calls it an "indeterminate public health hazard."
"It could be a potential health risk," Tsoris said. "We do not see it as a primary potential for being a problem, but we are going to move forward with investigating that potential."
The contamination comes from a degreaser Kipp hasn't used for decades. It was vented, condensed and fell to the ground. State officials think they know the extent of the contamination, but soil probes will be installed to watch for toxic vapors. The DNR says Kipp is working on a plan to clean everything up.Work *could* begin next fall.
NEWS 3 I-TEAM News 3's Linda Eggert has been following the Kipp pollution case. Read and watch her special I-Team reports: PART I:  Watch It  Read ItPART II:I-Team: Kipp Contamination, Part IIRead ItFollow-Up: Kipp Responds More I-Team Reports Contact Linda EggertKipp Corp. StatementRESOURCES |
MADISON, Wis. -- Flo Blair says the plants she's nurtured for years are dying and she doesn't know why.
"These were beautiful when we came here," she said. "I feel so bad because, look at them, they look horrible."Blair said the plants started turning black last year, after the landscaping business she works for moved next to one of two foundries run by Madison Kipp.There's no proof Kipp's pollution is hurting any plants -- or neighborhood residents. But health and odor complaints continue, after more than a decade. Some say if Kipp were a good neighbor, it would add filters to its smokestacks."We have to have catalytic converters on our cars and take all kind of pollution measures there," said 17-year resident Barry Carlsen. "It's a huge stack -- two huge stacks, it seems only right."Kipp says it's been a good employer and a good neighbor for more than 100 years."We're far below any of the health standards on the air quality issue," said Mark Meunier of Kipp's human resources department.At Deanna Schneider's house, the front yard is blooming, but the back yard is abandoned."They're not being a very good neighbor to me right now," she said. "I no longer eat any of the things that are growing in the back yard."Two summers ago, the Schneiders found out their soil is contaminated with hazardous chemicals from Kipp, specifically tetrochloroethylene or PCE."That that is, I believe to be, a carcinogen," Constantine Tsoris of the DNR, told News 3.DNR officials say the PCE levels at the home and three others are too low to be a health concern, so Kipp doesn't have to clean it up. But Schneider claims Kipp has always said it would."Through two rounds of testing, coming up on two years, they had said they would remediate," Schneider said. "From what the experts say, we should be fine if we don't eat the dirt. Well, I can't tell my 14-month-old not to eat dirt and be sure that's not going to happen."But News 3 finds the contamination goes beyond a few homes.Ten years after the first Kipp contamination was discovered, high levels of hazardous chemicals remain in Kipp's soil and in the groundwater."There's a lot of soil and groundwater pollution," said John Hausbeck of the city public health department.Over the last few years, tests taken from numerous monitoring wells show half a dozen chlorinated solvents far above the state's groundwater standard for public health.In one test, the PCE level was 8,800 micrograms per liter -- thousands of times more than the state limit of five.State officials don't believe the groundwater contamination is dangerous to residents because their drinking water comes from deep city wells.But News 3 found that state health officials are still investigating. They're worried toxic vapors from the contamination may be migrating from Kipp and seeping into nearby homes.A state health department report calls it an "indeterminate public health hazard.""It could be a potential health risk," Tsoris said. "We do not see it as a primary potential for being a problem, but we are going to move forward with investigating that potential."The contamination comes from a degreaser Kipp hasn't used for decades. It was vented, condensed and fell to the ground. State officials think they know the extent of the contamination, but soil probes will be installed to watch for toxic vapors. The DNR says Kipp is working on a plan to clean everything up.Work *could* begin next fall. Copyright 2004 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
