WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s Parks and Recreation Committee held two votes on Monday to further the discussion on soil testing in Riverside Park this spring.
In addition to a handful of new tests to be conducted in high-traffic areas of the park, the committee would like the full council to have a formal discussion with the Wisconsin DNR about their standards for dioxin levels and what’s safe.
Committee Chair Pat Peckham says they don’t have a target for the number of tests to be conducted, but he expects they will happen soon.
“The city is already being required to test along the railroad corridor. So, if we have to test there, [why not] tack on some in the park. I think we are going to end up with four or five tests,” said Peckham.
Those railroad tests are being required for reasons unrelated to the issues presented in the park.
Both Peckham and Citizens for a Clean Wausau advocate Tom Kilian agreed that tests should be conducted in areas where high returns have already been recorded.
“Retesting those [areas] would make sure that, over time, [the levels] did indeed decline,” said Kilian. “So I think starting with the areas that we knew had exceedances would make logical sense, then we can take it from there.”
Kilian and his group have been vocal about their desire for testing from the beginning, and he says he is glad to see that conversation moving forward. But, his group still has questions for the DNR which is why he is also glad the committee has chosen to facilitate a discussion with those representatives.
Those concerns included questions about why the testing results have been interpreted to show no elevated health risk in the area, despite showing levels that do exceed the DNR’s lifetime cancer risk.
“We expect that the regulatory standards are followed, regardless of any subjective opinion,” he added.
Peckham says he expects the committee to approve the specifics of the testing request during their February meeting. If that happens, the results of the testing could be in as soon as late April.
A date for a Committee of the Whole meeting with the entire city council and a representative from the DNR will be scheduled as soon as possible.
