<p><strong>A</strong> Franklin neighborhood near a former manufacturing facility where contamination was found in the past is being tested to make sure nothing concerning has spread to the air or water.</p>
<p>The testing, which will cost about $20,000, is being paid for by the city in an effort to address concerns raised by the community about potential contamination in Franklin, the mayor said.</p>
<p>City officials have been working with both the state and the federal government after concerns were raised about possible contamination at the site of the former Amphenol facility. That site and its cleanup has been monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more than 20 years.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>In recent months, residents have raised concerns about the possibility that contamination is still present and is spreading to other nearby homes.</p>
<p>The city asked the EPA to test for any contamination on nearby properties, but officials said that wouldn’t be done for at least two months, Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett said.</p>
<p>Barnett didn’t want to wait that long.</p>
<p>Now, the city has hired EnviroForensics, an Indianapolis-based firm, to do its own testing.</p>
<p>“IDEM has been to our city nearly every day since I contacted them earlier this month and we are pleased with their work and response time,” Barnett said. “Partnering with EnviroForensics ensures an even more rapid turnaround. Our ultimate goal is to bring comfort to our residents as quickly as possible.”</p>
<p>The company is planning to begin testing this week, collecting both water and air samples from the area around Glendale Drive and Ross Court. In total, the plan is to collect seven groundwater samples, and four air samples, according to the city’s contract with the company.</p>
<p>Experts determined that site would be the most likely place for any contamination to travel, which is why the city decided to do the testing there, Barnett said.</p>
<p>The testing is in addition to other tests done at Franklin College, in and around Needham and Webb elementary schools and another property on Forsythe Street, all of which have showed no issues.</p>
<p>In addition, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management continues to do testing in the area, and was in Franklin this week drilling for samples, Barnett said.</p>
<p>Barnett doesn’t believe the city’s testing will find any issues, but if it does, EnviroForensics will also be responsible for working with the state and EPA to make sure clean-up happens, Barnett said. The city is paying the firm $5,000 per month through the end of the year to do any coordination needed with state and federal agencies so that any local issues found are addressed, Barnett said.</p>
<p>The company’s goal is to have the results by the end of the week.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="At a glance" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>More testing is being done in Franklin to look for any possible contamination:</p>
<p>Who: The city of Franklin hired EnviroForensics, an Indianapolis-based firm, to do testing in the city.</p>
<p>Where: Along Glendale Drive and Ross Court. Experts determined that if contamination has left the Amphenol site, that would be the most likely location it would go.</p>
<p>What: The company will collect seven groundwater samples, and four soil gas samples.</p>
<p>When: Testing was planned to be done this week. Results could be available by the end of the week.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
