In New Albany, Indiana, an initial environmental study conducted on a local car dealership has indicated that the property is contaminated. It is believed that the Coyle dealership has underground fuel tanks, potential contaminants, and even deadly asbestos on the property.
Asbestos was once used in automotive brake pads, fireproofing, and other materials. Exposure to asbestos, even in small amounts, may cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
The New Albany Redevelopment Commission has reviewed the study, and commissioned further investigation into the matter by Specialty Earth Sciences LLC, which will conduct a more extensive environmental survey. The initial study was commissioned by New Albany and Floyd County officials. The Coyle dealership may be purchased by local officials and transformed into a new government complex, but the county’s decision to purchase the land will be influenced by the outcome of the environmental studies.
New Albany Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz announced last week that the initial study had shown at least six underground fuel tanks were present at the site. In addition, contractors believe that the site likely contains both lead paint and asbestos. Both asbestos and lead paint would need to be cleaned up before the county could redevelop the property to build the new complex. The next round of environmental screenings will involve taking soil samples.
Kevin Zurschmeide was recently appointed to the commission studying the pros and cons of purchasing the property. He questions the wisdom of paying for environmental studies on the piece of property. "Why pay for studies when we don’t own the property?" Zurschmeide asked.
Fellow commission member Edward Hancock disagrees, and does not find it unusual that the city and county are financing the tests. "It’s not uncommon for us to get in to this," he said.