ELKHART, Ind. - The first phase of Northern Indiana Public Service Company's (NIPSCO) project to excavate soil containing coal tar from a downtown Elkhart site is nearing completion. The coal tar is the byproduct of historic manufactured gas operations located here.

The windy weather this week has generated strong odors, similar to roofing tar. Because of the strong odors, air monitors have been used to test the area's air quality. The results of those tests update that the odors are not a health risk. The monitors are designed to alert workers before emissions reach unsafe levels in order for preventive measures to be taken.

A second area will be excavated following the completion of the current work. As before, sheet piling will be installed around the second area to provide stability and keep groundwater out of the excavation.

"We expect to finish removing the soil in the first two excavation areas this week," said Sidney Rice, NIPSCO project manager. "If we cannot complete the work, we will put down a layer of clean soil in the excavation area and resume work after the weekend."

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is overseeing the project under the state's Voluntary Remediation Program. NIPSCO estimates 20,000 tons of soil and demolition debris will be removed from the former gas manufacturing site and transferred to a landfill this summer. Once excavations are completed, the areas will be filled with clean soil and the surface of the site restored to a level condition. Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource, is a regulated utility that provides natural gas to nearly 700,000 customers and electricity to 416,000 customers across the northern third of Indiana. NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state of Indiana. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com.