Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News
Shelbyville - Local residents are finding out soil under their homes has been contaminated for decades. The people living in the neighborhood around North Tompkins Street and River Road in Shelbyville have been asked to move immediately.
After three and a half years in his River Road apartment, Ronald Blake is moving out. But it's not by choice.
Residents and property owners had no idea that dangerous contaminants were buried in the soil for years.
Duke Energy gave all 22 units 30 days to vacate the area before they tear down the apartments. Soil samples taken from the area show chemical compounds including lead, arsenic and cyanide.
"In the 1920's, this was the site of something called a manufactured gas plant," said Angeline Protogere, Duke Energy.
The gas was manufactured from coal without environmental regulations, leaving residue buried ever since. Duke Energy plans to clean up the hazards, which they don't believe harmed residents' health.
"The levels of compound found on the site would have to be much higher to pose a health risk," said Protogere.
Ronald Blake is not so sure. "I can't really specify until I have testing done. I'm gonna see an internal medicine specialist and we'll just go from there and hope for the best."
The contaminants concern Lisa Hounshell, too. "We've raised all three of our children here."
Duke didn't ask her to move despite the danger next door.
"Very black liquid, very thick with a lot of odor in the ground in our backyard. We saw that," said Hounshell.
She's lived here for 20 years and used well water for 19. Now she wonders what may have seeped in from the soil, what's lurking under her home, still hopeful that she and her neighbors' health won't be harmed.
"That's what keeps me strong and I try not to worry about things because I know I don't have a lot of control."
