State to analyze Mapleton data on TNT

MAPLETON — The chief of Utah's Department of Environmental Quality says the department will analyze information gathered by a Mapleton-hired independent contractor that suggested a local plant is emitting toxic levels of TNT.

"As we looked at the analysis provided a week ago, the levels of TNT that were reported in the air samples were well below the levels that would cause concern," said Dianne Nielson, DEQ executive director.

The samples now being examined by the DEQ were collected in November and December by Industrial Hygiene Resources, the independent contractor.

The city hired the contractor to inspect possible contamination areas around Mapleton, outside of the underground aquifer, that might have been overlooked in other tests.

"Little or perhaps nothing was done to test soil or airborne contaminates," said City Councilman James Brady. "The city thought it was necessary to try to quantify where the contamination was and that's what led the city to test the soil and air for contamination. We were concerned that it was further spread than just underground in the aquifer."

Industrial Hygiene Resources first tested the air quality in Mapleton and found TNT residue. A second "dust swipe" sample found HMX and RDZ — particles of explosives made by Ensign-Bickford — in five test areas in the city.

Alarmed by the results of the test, Mapleton contacted the DEQ through a lawyer.

The DEQ met with representatives from Mapleton and the Utah County Environmental Health Department last week to discuss the findings and to make sure that all lines of communication are open between the DEQ, Mapleton and Ensign-Bickford.

But before additional sampling will be done to recheck contaminated levels in the soil and air, Nielson said, the contractor-gathered data must first be analyzed to make sure it complies with standard sampling procedures determined by the EPA.

"We're talking with the consultant to make sure we understand how he collected the samples and how he presented the information," Nielson said. "Beyond that, we're also talking to Ensign-Bickford and looking at the sampling sites and evaluating additional sampling that we could do to provide information that would be helpful to the community."